Historical Perspective
The enlightened planting of this ‘relatively new’ woodland on a previous government farm was carried out in the late 1980’s by Major David Balfour Scott. He envisaged commercial plantings ‘softened’ by patches of native hardwoods and he left further areas as open grassland. He constructed a large pond on the wettest land.
He sold the developing woodland to Christopher Lambton in 2001. Christopher shared Balfour Scott’s vision and worked to enhance the developing habitats at the same time welcoming the visiting local community.
In 2021 Christopher encouraged the creation of a woodland community ‘action group’ – Friends of Broughtonknowe (FoB).
Due to the owner’s deteriorating health the woodland was put on the open market in 2023 with the desired objective of achieving a community buyout.
The Way Ahead
Throughout the buyout process ‘The Board’ had a clear and simple aspiration to protect and develop the wishes of our regular visiting community. For many years Broughtonknowe has been appreciated as a safe and very attractive destination for walks (dogs included!), relaxation and to gain that general feeling of ‘well-being’ a woodland visit can instil.
Our mission statement therefore is to protect and conserve this asset for present and future appreciators that constitute our community. This will require management and some carefully considered business options.
The woodland management we see as appropriate is a continuation and development of that practiced over 20 years by the previous owner, Christopher Lambton i.e. ‘Irregular forestry’ – a regime of continual thinning rather than clear fell. Letting in the light encourages the natural regeneration of a range of more biodiverse woodland habitats. Community involvement with additional native species plantings will continue to enhance this natural ecological process.
Business opportunities extend around the timber extraction, the plan being to continue selling to the local biomass market. In addition there is an income stream from the sale of firewood logs cut from felled Ash. An educational opportunity here would be to host chain saw classes to assist with the control of the ‘die back’ affected Ash trees.
Education is seen as an important component of community ownership. The diverse habitats lend themselves to school field work and projects. To encourage such activities a number of ‘hubs’ have already been established (by ‘Friends of Broughtonknowe’). A ‘fire-pit’ is already used by local scout cubs and church youth groups. A wildlife watching hide is a wonderful donated asset at the ponds. We plan to build a further ‘shelter’ at another ‘picnic area’ to accommodate visiting groups. This will also provide an additional amenity for the general Broughtonknowe community.
‘Green Ash Chairs’ run regular courses in bespoke chair making from a small workshop and temporary yurt in a disused quarry close to the woodland car park. When not in use for chair making the yurt has hosted a number of community workshops and educational / wellbeing events including ‘foraging workshops’ and yoga. We plan to add bee keeping and coppicing to the quarry based activities.
Friends of Broughtonknowe (FoB)
This community ‘action group’, the inspiration of the previous owner, was established with the dual aims of ‘improving amenity and increasing biodiversity’ in the woodland. A significant grant from SSE Clyde wind-farm enabled considerable path construction, pond digging and wildlife enhancement (bat and bird boxes, wildflower / non-herbaceous plantings, etc.). FoB has a considerable following on Facebook (450+). We aim to offer BCW ‘membership’ to our ‘friends’, so enabling greater community involvement in the Board’s future decision making.
The present BCW board of directors intend to fully support and maintain all the woodland amenity and biodiversity infrastructure created by the previous owners and the ‘Friends of Broughtonknowe’.
Broughtonknowe Community Woodland Ltd.
Scottish Charity SCO53888 and Company Limited by Guarantee SC824232