Borders Forest Trust - News

These are our current Borders Forest Trust news articles.

To download a full Job Description for the Director vacancy, please click here

02/02/2011 - Vacancy: Director, Borders Forest Trust

Borders Forest Trust is seeking a new Director to start as soon as possible. The post requires vision, a commitment to the natural environment, strong strategic acumen and the ability to network and influence at all levels. A demonstrable track record in fundraising, financial management, team leadership and development are required. The salary is £35-40K depending on experience. Job Description available to download above or phone 01835 830750. Apply with CV and covering letter by 25th February to: johnf_hunt@yahoo.co.uk. Interviews will be mid March.

15/11/2010 - Corehead Wins Rural Award

The Trust is delighted to announce that its Corehead Building Biodiversity with People project has won the Safer and Stronger category of the Dumfries & Galloway Rural Awards. The category was judged by Dr Kate Braithwaite, Director Rural Programme, Carnegie UK Trust and the award made at a ceremony at the Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries on 12th November. The Corehead project will feature in a new Good Practice Guide from Dumfries and Galloway LEADER.

01/09/2010 - Next phase of Woodland Work Experience project gets underway

On the 9th of March Borders Forest Trust took on three new Woodland Workers through the Future Jobs Fund for a period of six months. This fund enables BFT to employ the three young unemployed people and develop their skills in the woodland sector with a view to preparing them to either set up their own contracting business or be more employable in the sector with local contractors. The team are managed by BFT’s Site Manager, a position funded by the Scottish Borders 2007-13 LEADER Programme. In September, BFT was able to take on two more employees via the Future Jobs Fund and we're pleased that they are gaining good experience and making a valuable contribution to the Trust's work.

13/08/2010 - New tree planting volunteering dates at Carrifran Wildwood

A new series of volunteer planting days has been announced for autumn/winter at Carrifran Wildwood. Over 50,000 trees have been planted to date by volunteers already and their help is invaluable - why not get involved? Visit the Events page for full details and dates.

13/08/2010 - New project underway to map and promote Borders woodlands

A new project is underway to map existing woodlands in the Scottish Borders with a view to encouraging more native woodlands to be planted in the future. Borders Forest Trust was chosen to deliver the project following research by the Scottish Borders Woodland Strategy Group which identified the need to evaluate the development of forest habitat networks in selected catchments and to assess what progress has been made in delivering the Scottish Borders Woodland Habitat Action Plans. The project will use GIS map data to create a picture of the existing forest habitat network, assessing biodiversity gains due to the expansion of native woodland habitats in five selected Borders catchments over the last ten to fifteen years and will provide a planning tool to guide the development of new native woodlands within a forest habitat network. The areas of new native woodland will be benchmarked against the suggested targets for native woodland expansion in the Scottish Borders Woodland Habitat Action Plan.

08/07/2010 - Almost £1m funding received for Corehead native woodland creation

Borders Forest Trust is pleased to announce that it has been successful in its application for funding through the Scottish Government and European Union’s Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) for woodland habitat creation at Corehead Farm near Moffat. The Trust has been awarded £927,620.38 to create 194 hectares of new native woodland planting in three valleys at Corehead, near Moffat from 2011 to 2013. Planting is scheduled to begin this autumn, with 104 hectares being planted in 2010-11. Native species such as oak, ash, birch, willow, rowan, hazel and holly will create new woodlands on the hills, providing a valuable habitat for wildlife, and a place for people of all ages to enjoy. Part of the SRDP funding will also go towards improving access on site, creating paths and installing finger post signs for walkers.

03/06/2010 - Wednesday Volunteer Days at Corehead Farm

BFT is pleased to announce a new weekly volunteering day at Corehead Farm & the Devil's Beef Tub. Why not join Site Manager Ed Glenwright to help with conservation tasks, including tree-planting, fencing, tidying, wildlife monitoring surveys and drystone walling. These volunteer days offer a great chance to learn new skills and make a valuable contribution to safeguarding our natural habitats. Volunteers should meet at the Moffat Ram statue on Moffat High Street at 9.30am on Wednesdays to be transported to the site. Please bring waterproofs, sturdy footwear and a packed lunch. To register interest email ed@bordersforesttrust.org

02/04/2010 - Over 90% think we need more ecological restoration

Over 90% of delegates attending the Borders Forest Trust conference on 25th March in Peebles said that they would support setting aside large areas of the Scottish countryside for ecological restoration Land managers, environmentalists and interested parties have given their overwhelming backing for the urgent need to put ecological restoration at the heart of Scotland’s Land Use Strategy. The question was posed at the Opportunities for Ecological Restoration Conference, organised by Borders Forest Trust and supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. Over 90% of attendees also agreed that not enough is currently being done to promote and initiate ecological restoration.

17/03/2010 - Borders Forest Trust on Facebook

BFT now has a Facebook page which is being regularly updated with all our news plus photo galleries. If you're a Facebook user please do pay the site a visit and join in with comments and photos of your own.