ECONOMIC & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Overall Objectives

In line with conservation objectives, to ensure that Anagach Woods
 provides opportunities for small business development, based
on the products and activities of Anagach Woods.

 To maintain a positive flow of financial resources from timber and non-timber
 forest product revenues and from grants and donations that
will sustain the management of the woods.

Employment
 

Wherever possible, use local contractors to provide services

Work with the community Council and the Grantown Initiative to maintain a member of staff position for administering projects within Anagach Woods

Identify work opportunities for school leavers from Grantown

Sustainable Timber production
 

A timber management area of 52 hectares (13% of the area) has been identified as priority areas for timber production with high regard for conservation

Timber Working areas will focus on producing quality Scots pine timber on a 120 year rotation, with high initial stocking densities, regular thinning and high pruning to produce high value sawlog material. 

Healthy populations of birch and juniper scrub will be maintained and thinning intensities will be aimed at encouraging blaeberry dominant ground flora.  Group felling (coupes no more than 0.5ha) will only be used if regeneration cannot be secured under single tree selection systems of silviculture. 

Harvesting will not damage areas of twinflower, nest sites, and stumps suitable for the pine sawfly and will only take place during the months October to February.

Leave representatives pine trees (2 per hectare minimum) to grow to natural maturity

Develop a sustainable timber harvesting plan

Ensure regeneration of the coupes felled with regeneration year of 1994:

Research local markets for outlets for firewood, chip wood, bars and rails, and other sawlogs and research the opportunities for sawlog quality material from Anagach being milled and dried locally and made available to Grantown based wood-workers and for use within the woods for seating and other purposes. 

Timber harvesting will start again in 2008

Non-timber forest products
 

For the short and potentially long-term, the current agreement for the sale of
 the roe stalking to Strathspey Estate will be maintained. 

Options for producing and selling Christmas trees will be researched

It is not known whether fungi are collected commercially in the woods.  All commercial collections should be approved by the Trust in advance and only after we have more information from a mycological survey to determine the presence of rare species of fungi.

Wildlife tourism will be encouraged in exchange for a voluntary contribution from the tour companies

The agreement with the Ministry of defence that allows the RAF centre to use the woods for recreation and training will be maintained

Orienteering events that are not Scottish training events and not organised by the local orienteering club will also be asked to make a donation to the Trust.

There is a general presumption against selling or leasing of any part of the land for non-forest activities, such as private accommodation or permanent holiday accommodation.

Grant Support
 

Grant funding will be secured to assist with woodland operations.  The bulk of this can be done under the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS), with top up funding to 100% of costs from the Forestry and Rural Development Scheme (FRDS) (until 2006).

Submit this management plan to FCS and Highland Birchwoods (FRDS) along with an application for 5 year funding for projects.

Identify source of grant funding for additional projects and for funding to match SFGS when the FRDS expires

Local businesses will be approached to sponsor certain projects and to improve their identity with the woods.

Donations from the members and the general public will help with core funding and to boost reserves.  An appeal may be run every few years if necessary, or a subscription will be requested for membership.

Sale of Goods and Other Services
 

Publications: The new guide leaflet for the woods will retail at 50p.
All proceeds will be accounted for as part of the path maintenance budget.

Research is currently on-going regarding the sale of goods
(e.g. sweatshirts and baseball caps) carrying the Anagach Woods logo