Highlands and Islands Enterprise is supporting a remote Argyll community in its bid to buy and capitalise on the economic potential of its surrounding forest land.

The Kilfinan Community Forest Company (KCFC) near Tighnabruaich, a Scottish charity, is working to raise £130,000 to buy 125 hectares of Acharossan Forest from the Forestry Commission, as a first phase in its greater ambition to buy approximately 450 hectares.

Under the National Forest Land Scheme, the group has to buy the forest by March 2010 and HIE has awarded almost £6,000 to allow it to prepare documentation on the social and economic impacts that the project would have for the area.

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"Although this is an ambitious project, with focused development, we can concentrate on opportunities to open up training and employment for our young people in forest management, timber processing and construction; we may even see some of the first woodland crofts emerge. Certainly, we want to develop a project which is exemplary in terms of environmental and economic sustainability and education," said David Blair, director of KCFC.

HIE funding will allow the group to create a robust application and funding plan. Helen Macdougall, who works with the HIE Community Land Unit in Argyll, commented: "HIE is delighted to be supporting KCFC to progress its case for ownership of the forest. The group has already worked for many years to get to this stage and the determination and adaptability of those involved is driving this proposal forward.

"Our funding will allow practical activities including commissioning a business plan for this phase; offering advice on the benefits of setting up and running a multi-facetted social enterprise; and ensuring that work is done to engage with the community, liaise with partners and report progress, including redeveloping the KCFC website."

(GK/KMcA)