Foresight Sustainable Forestry Company (FSF) invests in UK forestry and afforestation assets. FSF’s principal activity is investing in United Kingdom forestry, afforestation and natural capital assets. The company seeks to generate an attractive net total return for shareholders over the longer term, comprising capital growth and aperiodic dividends, targeting sustainable impact through investment predominantly in sustainably managed forestry assets (including standing forests and afforestation assets).
The Glaisters Bridge Community Woodland Site was created following an agreement between FSF and the Upper Urr Environment Trust (UUET), a local environmental charity, providing a 20-year lease of land (owned by FSF) for the UUET to develop for public amenity and environmental purposes – including plans for a dedicated community woodland area, habitat improvements, and peatland restoration work. The first tranche of work has resulted in the planting of 250 native broadleaf trees and the creation of pathways enabling access around the site.
Once completed, the site will provide recreational and educational opportunities in the area whilst simultaneously achieving biodiversity benefits and environmental habitat enhancement.
Robert Guest, Managing Director, Foresight Sustainable Forestry, commented: “We are thrilled with the progress made at the Glaisters Bridge Community Site. This first-round planting of 250 native broadleaf trees and completion of pathways is a real milestone for the project, improving accessibility and laying the groundwork to enhance biodiversity whilst delivering a publicly accessible recreation and educational site. We are excited to see the next stage of work beginning on this project and hope to see more schemes like this one appear at forestry projects across Scotland and the rest of the UK, providing a template for sustainable timber production to operate alongside local communities and environmental charities for the benefit of all.”
Scottish Land Commission Chief Executive Hamish Trench commented: “It is good to see this milestone reached as a result of collaboration. Investment in land use change in Scotland should be delivering benefits for local communities and arrangements to lease land as in this case, or to discuss shared ownership and decision-making offer ways to deliver more directly on community ambitions. The Scottish Land Commission has published guidance to support communities, landowners and project developers to adopt this approach more widely.”
Joe Seed, Chairman of the Upper Urr Environmental Trust, commented: “It’s great to get the first stages of the project underway. Hopefully forestry developers working with local communities to protect biodiversity and create amenity will become the norm rather than the exception”