Exchange Visit to Dunnet Community Forest

Friday 28th February and Saturday 1st March 2025 (for CWA member groups, and all their own group members and volunteers only) 

On the back of our recent successful site visits at our October Conference, CWA are excited to announce our Exchange Visit to Dunnet Community Forest https://dunnetcommunityforest.org/ - our most northerly community woodland group, set on the North Coast 500 route in Caithness.  

CWA members often talk about their desire and joy of sharing with other community woodland groups and Dunnet Community Forest have kindly offered the opportunity for CWA members to do exactly that. This exchange visit will support those who wish to learn a little more about what goes on at Dunnet, and have the opportunity to share stories, collaborate, network and make new friends during the visit.   

Cost 

There is no charge to attend this exchange visit, but you will need to cover the costs of travel and potential accommodation.   

Do not worry about money!  

All our members have access to Community Learning Exchange Funding, who support travel costs, accommodation and sustenance – more information can be found here.  

Early applicants will receive their funding in advance – it takes about 3 weeks to receive confirmation of funds. 

Where is Dunnet Community Forest? 

 

Dunnet Community Forest site map

Some extra information 

Dunnet Community Forest’s objectives are to promote the conservation, restoration and improvement of the woodlands in the geographic area of Dunnet Bay, Caithness, for the public benefit, an important part of Scotland’s heritage. In doing so, Dunnet Community Forest advances education and provides recreational facilities and training in a variety of skills, benefitting residents of the Dunnet Bay area and the wider Caithness community. 

The land was purchased in 1954 by the Forestry Commission, when planting began as an experiment into silviculture on poor soils. The forest owners, Scottish Natural Heritage, acquired the land from the Forestry Commission in 1984. A range of tree species were planted, but the forest is now dominated by sitka spruce and pines including lodgepole, corsican and mountain, with a few broadleaf species, such as sycamore. 

There is an ongoing threat to the long-term future of the forest; as trees mature, they reach a height that makes them vulnerable to windthrow, particularly in such an exposed location. 

Located in the far north of Scotland, the forest has been community managed since 2002 and in community ownership since 2020. 

What will the visit entail? 

Starting at 12.30pm on the Friday 28th February, with tea and coffee (please bring your own lunch) the team will welcome you to the site. 

Thereafter you will visit the two separate areas of the forest, on car and on foot, to see and experience the forest in its totality.  

After, you will return to the on-site Heritage Centre to warm up, and hear from the team at Dunnet about their hopes and aspirations, have an opportunity to share your collective knowledge and experience, hear how DCF has accessed funding, and find out all about the wonderful work the group does with young people around the John Muir Award and SCRA (Scottish Countryside Rangers Association). 

Then you can leave for the evening and check into their accommodation (please email sharon@communitywoods.org for information about accommodation). Weather dependant, you may wish to walk to the local hotel along the beautiful Dunnet Bay.  

On Saturday 1st March, you will convene at DCF at 9.30am, where everyone will have the opportunity to help at the log sale and learn about this small enterprise at DCF. And, to offer a helping hand in return, take part in some beating up as a way of thank you.  

During the Saturday morning you will be joined by some of the youth volunteers, and you will have the opportunity to hear about what they do and how DCF support them.  

Following a light lunch at midday, you will then leave for your onward destinations.  

Learning outcomes 

  • Learn some of the methods Dunnet Community Forest has used to sustain engagement with different community demographics.  

  • Learn about the results achieved and the plans created for the future.   

  • Learn about some of the extensive collaborations that support this community woodland group. 

  • Joining for Saturday morning log sale to hear about this small but mighty enterprise  

  • Learn from each other and share experiences on how to overcome challenges in other community woodlands.   

 

What have other said before about exchange visits in other community woodlands   

“What a brilliant space, and clearly so well looked after. Thank you so much for being wonderful hosts. I learned a huge amount and the visit was an absolute highlight for me!”  

“Thank you all for such an informative and well-planned site visit. It was great to meet so many of your team and hear about your different experiences and thoughts on your woodland.”  

“A fantastic visit, thank you for a very in-depth explanation of your history, your working practices and aspirations for the future. Thank you for going the extra mile to take us on the woodland visit. The whole visit from start to finish was fascinating, I personally learnt a lot including things I didn't even realise I needed to know. I will be taking the information back to my team as I feel we can benefit greatly from the work you are doing. I especially learnt a lot about the tree nursery and hope to be able to visit again in the future when we are that bit closer to building our own nursery. The baking and cooking was also fantastic, what a treat. A truly excellent eye-opening and learning experience. Thank you.”  

“The funding and the work by the CWA team has made community connections happen, enabling working relationships to be developed. This has enabled best practice and experiences to be shared which in turn supports groups to develop, good ideas to grow and flow benefiting us all.”