Woods In and Around Towns

The benefits of urban and peri-urban woods

All forests and woods deliver multiple benefits, which can include:

Social benefits such as:

improving mental health and well-being
increasing social cohesion and inclusion
providing a space for activity and recreation

Economic benefits, such as:

providing tourism and job opportunities
helping to regenerate degraded urban landscapes
helping attract business investment and development

Environmental benefits, such as:

helping to address the climate and biodiversity crises
improving air quality
contributing to natural flood management

What makes urban and peri-urban woods special?

92% of Scotland's population lives in our towns and cities. By providing greenspaces to use and enjoy, urban woods can enhance the quality of life of millions of people.

They have a vital role to play in ensuring our urban areas are sustainable, liveable and productive places.

Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT)

Since 2005, under the banner of Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT), we have been supporting efforts to plant more urban and peri-urban woodlands, improve their management and promote their use.

About Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT)

WIAT focuses on the protection and management of existing woodlands, the creation of new woodlands, and activities that help people use and enjoy their local woods.

Forestry Supports Scotland's Urban Communities

Learn how grants are transforming a city park — enhancing biodiversity and supporting community wellbeing.

Since our work to support urban and peri-urban woodlands began, some significant successes have been achieved.

For example, between 2005 and 2021, we’ve made support available to:

bring almost 12,000 hectares of urban/peri-urban woodland into active management
create nearly 2,000 hectares of new urban/peri-urban woodlands
restore over 75 hectares of vacant and derelict land to woodland
create or upgrade almost 600 km of paths

We deliver our support in a number of ways, including:

targeted forestry grants
partnership funding to support project development
research and evaluation of delivery activities

Climate forests

Our partnership work is currently focused on supporting the delivery of three climate forest initiatives:

Clyde Climate Forest (Clyde Climate Forest website)
Fife Climate Forest (Climate Action Fife website)
Forth Climate Forest (University of Stirling website)

They all aim to increase tree planting and woodland cover in their area.

Collectively, the area covered by these initiatives is home to around 50% of Scotland’s population.

Grants for urban and peri-urban areas

The Forestry Grant Scheme provides specific grants aimed at owners of existing urban and peri-urban woods:

woodland improvement grants for WIAT, covering the management of urban and peri-urban woods
- this includes developing opportunities to use and enjoy woods
sustainable management of forests, covering public access to WIAT woodlands

Financial Support for Managing Urban Woodlands in Scotland

Grants are also available for woodland creation in urban and peri-urban areas.

If your project is within an area called the Central Scotland Green Network, you may be eligible for an extra grant.

Woodland Creation Grant