Border Forest Trust: Driving Community Engagement and Environmental Conservation
Borders Forest Trust received funding from Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund to support their mission to conserve, restore, manage, and promote native woodlands and associated habitats in the Scottish Borders.
About Borders Forest Trust
Established in 1996, the Borders Forest Trust (BFT) is a registered charity and its primary mission is to conserve, restore, manage, and promote native woodlands and associated habitats in the Scottish Borders, benefiting both people and wildlife. With an active membership of 560 worldwide, including 32 in the Langhope Rig area, BFT owns three large tracts of land north of Moffat and three smaller ones across the Borders, collectively known as the Wild Heart Sites.
BFT's work extends beyond land management. The Trust provides woodland creation advice to various stakeholders, runs volunteer sessions, and operates an education programme. This programme offers outdoor classrooms to nurseries and primary schools across the Scottish Borders, teaching woodland skills to college students and youth groups. BFT's commitment to environmental education is evident in its diverse range of activities, encouraging children and young people to explore and learn about their environment.
The Need for the Project
BFT's ability to deliver its services was hampered when its minibus failed its MOT in April 2023 and had to be SORN. This setback forced the Trust to rely on staff using their vehicles, volunteer goodwill, limited public transport, and expensive minibus rentals (costing approximately £150 + VAT per day). The situation was unsustainable and restricted BFT's capacity to transport participants to its various events and workshops across the Ettrick Valleys and wider Borders area.
A new minibus would enable BFT to continue and expand its diverse range of activities in woodland locations. Beneficiaries include local schools, colleges, youth groups, and individuals participating in volunteering, therapeutic activities, and traditional forestry skills training.
The Project
To address this challenge, BFT sought funding to purchase a new minibus. The vehicle would be instrumental in transporting children and other attendees from across the Fund area, to events and workshops held on a weekly basis. These events included forest nurseries, NHS-funded projects, skills development sessions, and training for the John Muir award.
The total cost of the new minibus was estimated to be around £65,000. BFT planned to contribute £10,000 to £15,000 from its reserves and sought additional funding from various sources, including a funding request from Langhope Rig Sub Fund A, for £20,000 to contribute towards the project.
Fund Support and Challenges
BFT approached the Langhope Rig Fund to support with a contribution towards the project. After careful consideration the Panel agreed to award BFT a contribution of £10,000 to support the project, recognising its potential to make a significant impact within the fund area.
However, the project faced unexpected challenges, due to the cost-of-living crisis and increased prices of second-hand vehicles, BFT found it difficult to find a suitable vehicle that met all their requirements within the initial budget. Despite these obstacles, BFT persevered. Through rigorous searching and careful consideration, they eventually succeeded in securing an appropriate vehicle in July 2024.
Impact of the Project
The project will have a ripple effect, benefiting not only the direct participants but also the local environment through increased understanding and improved management of woodland areas. By making it easier and more cost-effective to run events, the project will indirectly support the fund's priorities of building the local economy and developing community assets. The fund area is rural and consists of vast wooded area, the work delivered by BFT elevates people’s awareness of the natural environment.
Fund Alignment
This project aligns with the fund's purpose of encouraging community activity and promoting community spirit. By enabling more people to participate in activities located in the fund area, the minibus will play a crucial role in fostering community engagement. Moreover, the project indirectly supports other fund priorities such as building the local economy and maintaining community assets like community woodlands.
Long-term Benefits
The acquisition of a new vehicle to transport participants will have lasting benefits for BFT and the communities it serves. It will allow for the expansion of educational programmes, increase participation in conservation activities, and enhance the Trust's ability to deliver its services efficiently. This investment in transportation infrastructure will enable BFT to reach more people, particularly those who might otherwise struggle to access woodland areas, thereby fostering a greater connection between the community and their natural environment.
Conclusion
The support provided by the fund has been instrumental in helping Borders Forest Trust overcome a significant operational challenge. The £10,000 grant, combined with BFT's own contribution and additional fundraising efforts, has enabled the purchase of a vehicle that will serve as a vital tool in the Trust's work.
The successful completion of this project, despite the challenges faced, highlighted the importance of flexible and responsive grant-making. It demonstrates how targeted financial support can help organisations like BFT adapt to changing circumstances and continue to deliver valuable services to their communities. As BFT moves forward with its vehicle, the positive impact of this grant will continue to ripple through the Scottish Borders, fostering a stronger, more connected, and more environmentally conscious community.