A HIGHLAND community is marking 25 years since a community buy-out which reversed its fortunes, leading to a boost in population and nature restoration.
Residents of the Knoydart peninsula, just north of Mallaig on the west coast of the Scottish mainland, are set to be the subjects of a new film documenting their journey since the community bought the estate in 1999.
The population of the area has doubled from just 60 at the time of the community buy-out to 120 today, and holdings have also been extended – such as through the purchase of the local pub in 2022.
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Lorna Schofield, the manager of the Knoydart Forest Trust, said that the 25 years since the estate became community owned had also seen 600,000 trees planted – for a total of 450 hectares of new woodland.
As a source of timber and firewood, the new forests also provide employment on the peninsula, and Schofield said they intend to expand it further.
“We also have plans for a nature restoration area of about 3000 hectares,” she said. “We aim to keep the deer numbers down in this area. There will be deer but fewer in this area which will allow restoration and help young saplings to grow.
“If you look at the woods alone, we have pathways and cycle tracks. They are a fantastic space for physical well-being as well as being beautiful and peaceful for mental well-being.”
The forest trust falls under the umbrella of the community-controlled Knoydart Foundation, which also supervises the local shop, a bunkhouse, and hydro scheme.
Knoydart is not connected to the main UK grid, and residents are considering a second renewable energy scheme in the area.
Davie Newton, the chair of the Knoydart Foundation, said the community will prioritise financial security for the years to come.
“We make various amounts of income for the community through areas such as the shop, the bunkhouse, holiday lets, and the Post Office,” he explained.
“We'd like to build and stabilise that income so that we can feed more investment into the community.
“We want to look at things like more renewable development and are considering options around a second hydro-scheme at the other side of the estate.”
However, Schofield said that the “biggest single challenge” facing residents on the peninsula is affordable housing.
“There are lots of things we can do but we need more people to do these things and for more people, we need more housing,” she said.
“So, affordable housing is always a top priority and we are developing temporary accommodation for six workers and looking at more affordable housing options.”
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Community Land Scotland will make the film documenting the last 25 years on the Knoydart peninsula, with the organisation’s archive curator Iain Craig saying: “Happy anniversary to the Knoydart community.
“We have worked with the community to document their reflections on 25 years of achievement, challenges and hard work. It's been a real privilege to do so and I hope the film gives the community the opportunity to reflect on all they have done together.
“After a celebratory screening, we look forward to sharing the film on our archive website which celebrates the legacy of community ownership of land in Scotland – 100years.scot.”
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