Woodlands Development
The
Community Woodlands Social Enterprise is a partnership with Cassillis Estates.
The project will work 600 acres of coppice and non-commercial woodlands
on bio diversity and environmental projects, creating employment & training
opportunities in woodland management, environmental, dry stone dyke, hedging,
charcoal and woodcraft.
Through this project a commercial woodchip scheme will provide employment
on manufacturing woodchip for bio diversity wood fuelled boilers at Maybole
Castle, Ayrshire & Arran Health Board sites, South Ayrshire Council
and other Ayrshire projects.
The Scottish Executive Bio-mass fund has offered a grant of £16,000
towards the cost of a wood chipper, the Banks Foundation are offering two
years funding of £10,000 per year towards equipment.
Discussions have taken place with the Scottish National Trust at Culzean
Castle , Ayrshire Initiatives and Heritage Lottery regarding training placements
for Stone Masonry, The Scottish National Trust are also interested in developing
Wood Craft training courses.