WIREDGOV

The Scottish Land Fund has yesterday announced financial assistance to The Findhorn Village Conservation Company, in Moray, to take forward its plans for community ownership of part of the Novar Estate Holdings.

Thanks to a grant of £520,000, the community are now one step closer to owning the holdings which includes 61 hectares of amenity land within the village of Findhorn, and 800 hectares of the foreshore and intertidal land adjacent to the village.

Peter Hall Chairman of The Findhorn Village Conservation Company, said: “The Company is delighted with this award. This is an exciting project for the residents of Findhorn Village. Owning and managing the land and foreshore will give community empowerment to the people of Findhorn.  This will provide opportunities to both enhance and safeguard our unique environment for the benefit of all.”

Announcing the funding Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair, John Watt, said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Land Fund is helping the people of Findhorn move closer to their goal of community ownership. Initiatives like this give local people greater control of their own futures which also benefit future generations. I wish The Findhorn Village Conservation Company every success as they go onto the secure the final funding required to make their dream a reality.”

Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Dr McLeod, said: “I am delighted to see the latest round of Scottish Land Fund awards which will help communities in Moray to bring land into community ownership. These three communities have worked hard to identify land and develop plans for that land which will make a real difference to their long-term sustainability. I look forward to watching these projects develop and see the benefits that the Scottish Land Fund is bringing to communities throughout Scotland as the Scottish Government seeks to bring more land into community ownership by 2020.”

The First Minister recently announced the Scottish Land Fund will treble from £3 million this year to £10 million a year from 2016. This will make it easier for communities around Scotland who are interested in owning their land collectively to do so.

For more information on this release please contact

Big Lottery Fund Scotland
Landa.rolland@biglotteryfund.org.uk 
0141 242 1458 / 07823 552889

Highland and Islands Enterprise Press Office  
kim.thain@hient.co.uk 
01463 244238

Notes to editors

• The Scottish Land Fund has £9 million over four years to assist communities in rural Scotland to acquire, develop and manage local land and land assets. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the Big Lottery Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.
• The SLF Committee was appointed following the normal procedures for public appointments. Committee members are non remunerated.
• The BIG Lottery Fund distributes lottery funding to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. It also uses its expertise in grant-giving to distribute non-Lottery funding. Full details of the BIG Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website:http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk. BIG Lottery Fund Public Enquiries Line call: 0300 123 7110
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) delivers the Scottish Government Economic Strategy across more than half of Scotland - from Shetland to Argyll and from the Hebrides to Moray. It aims to support businesses and social enterprises; strengthen communities and fragile areas; develop key sectors, and create the conditions for a competitive and low carbon region. HIE has an annual budget of more than £75m and employs around 250 people in locations around the Highlands and Islands. See more at www.hie.co.uk