Sutherland Estates offer Dornoch woodland to the community for £25k

An area of woodland in Dornoch could soon come under community ownership.

Current landowner Sutherland Estates has offered Earls Cross and Station Woods to the community for £25,000 plus legal costs.

Dornoch Area Community Council (DACC) discussed the prospect of its purchase at its meeting earlier this month.

Sited closed to the town, the woodlands are bordered by Station Road and Stafford road to the west, fields to the north and residential accommodation to the east.

A full tree and woodland survey was undertaken on behalf of the community council in March last year after it became clear Sutherland Estates was sympathetic to a community purchase.

The woodlands comprise Scots pine, sycamore, Norway maple, ash, oak and elm as well as larch.

Tree experts concluded that “overall the woodland is robust, sustainable and healthy”.

A report before councillors stated: “From a community standpoint the woodland is central to Dornoch and quite a unique resource in the local area.

“Opportunities exist to upgrade and encourage access including for educational, environmental or wellbeing projects and programmes.

“The purchase of the woodland provides a unique opportunity for Dornoch to protect a unique asset in the town and enhance community engagement and recreation.”

The community council is constitutionally unable to buy the woodlands but is proposing that Dornoch Trust raise the funds to do so and take on the ongoing liabilities and maintenance costs.

Community council chairman Patrick Murray said: “We intend to propose to the Dornoch Trust that it purchase these woodlands for £25,000 and a sub committee of the trust be charged with maintaining them.”

He added that an application could be made to the Dornoch Common Good fund for a one-off grant of £10,000 to help with the costs of initial works identified as necessary from a tree safety standpoint.

“We would not rely on the common good for ongoing maintenance - we can fundraise for that,” he said.

Treasurer Jerry Bishop pointed out that the community run Evanton Wood was a “fantastic facility”.

Community councillor Lesley Strang said: “I think it is a great proposal for the community and I fully support it.”

Councillors agreed to continue discussion concerning the purchase at their next meeting on March 16.

Landowner to be approached over valuation of Dornoch woods: Community councillor says woods are 'asset' to town

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