A ‘Land Use in the Glenkens’ meeting was held on 8th July 2024 in The Smiddy, Balmacellan to report and discuss the recent land use projects.

This feasibility study provides recommendations and guidance on how the potential of the Vision for Land Use in the Glenkens could be realised. In 2023 the communities of the Glenkens adopted this Vision, which sets out their aspirations for creating a landscape which is environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, where all voices are heard, respected, and valued, and where empowered communities have more control over the market and policy forces which currently shape the use of land.

Dalry Community Council with GCAT commissioned three complementary reports studying Land Use and Local Place Planning in the Glenkens. The studies were funded by SoSE and Nature Scot, to set out the next steps required to embed land use considerations in the Glenkens into the medium term.

This grant is for small tree and woodland planting projects which fall below the size eligible for the Forestry Grant Scheme. The maximum grant available is £1,000 per applicant per year.

This Vision and the associated recommendations are intended as the first step to creating a balance in Glenkens land use where all voices are heard, respected and valued.

The project assessed the evidence for the history of Barhill Wood, identifying that woodland existed there in the late medieval period, with a subsequent period of woodland absence, before tree cover was reintroduced as part of estate-wide plantations in the late 18th century.