Community woodlands

What are community woodlands and community woodland groups?

Community woodland groups are formed by members of a community. They partly or wholly manage a community woodland.

There are around 200 such groups in Scotland and they vary in size, activities and goals.

Some community woodland groups have a formal constitution while others do not. Some are run by volunteers, while others employ staff.

The woods they manage are also diverse, varying in size and type.

Some communities own woods, others lease them or work in partnership with a landowner.

We fund the Community Woodlands Association (CWA) to provide support and advice to communities.

They help communities considering setting up a community woodland. They also support established community woodland groups.

The CWA can help with a whole range of issues, including:

acquiring woodland
governance and funding
woodland management and the responsibilities involved in owning and managing woodland
delivering social, economic and environmental benefits

We recommend you visit the CWA website if you are thinking about setting up a community woodland, or if you need further advice.

Contact the Community Woodlands Association (CWA)

We also provide a range of grants that can be used by community woodland groups to support their activities.

The Forestry Grant Scheme provides financial support for the creation of new woodlands and the practical management of existing woodland

Our Community Fund is aimed at supporting communities to use, manage, and own woodlands.

Available funding and support from the Forestry Grant Scheme Explore our Community Fund