Tarras Valley Nature Reserve Exchange Visit
Friday 31st January 2025 (for CWA members only)
Do you want to be inspired by others on a site visit to another community wood?
Well, following the success and highlights of our recent site visits at our Annual Conference in October, we are excited to be offering you an opportunity to join us on an exchange visit to Dumfries and Galloway, to the beautiful Tarras Valley Nature Reserve.
Let’s start the new year, with a shared visit to this beautiful part of Scotland, to learn from the team managing the woodland, and to share your knowledge and expertise whilst out and about together.
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.
Where is Tarras Valley?
The meeting point for the start of the visit is the Tarras Valley office which is found at W3W: https://w3w.co/pyramid.shining.polygraph
Find out more information here: How To Find Us - Tarras Valley Nature Reserve
Some background information
Following 2 historic community buy-outs between 2021 -2022, the Langholm Initiative, a local community development trust, are now leading one of the largest pioneering community-led nature restoration initiatives in South Scotland with the development of the 10,500 acre Tarras Valley Nature Reserve in Dumfries and Galloway.
With people at its heart, the land buy-out has attracted local, national and international support due to its community- led approach and large scale of restoration ambitions. The aspiration is to create a world class community asset that supports community regeneration, restores nature at scale and ensures a meaningful contribution to the climate emergency.
What will the visit entail
Starting at 10.15, with tea and coffee, the team will provide an overview of the work being undertaken at the Langholm Initiative.
Thereafter there will be a tour of the reserve to see ancient oak woodlands, native woodland restoration on a former sitka-spruce plantation, natural regeneration and wider development opportunities with community owned properties.
Lunch will be served out on the tour, al fresco, under the gazebo with the Kelly kettle boiling to warm you up!
The day will continue until mid-afternoon and finish before dark.
Learning outcomes
To learn about the team at Tarras Valley’s aspirations for the land and expanding its woodlands
To hear about the challenges of nature recovery within a designated site
To learn about how the team engage the community in their plans and woodland activities
To learn about their plans to build financial resilience
For all participants to share their own experiences, make connections and learn from each other.
Travel
Getting to Tarras Valley without a car is extremely difficult, so travelling by car is really the only option. There may be options for car-sharing depending on those who sign up for this visit, but please only commit to attending if you have access to car transport. Should you wish to request a lift, please do contact sharon@communitywoods.org to discuss.
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.”
