The latest community land buy-out in the Highlands has seen an area of woodland in Forres return to public control.

The Muiry Wood, on the south east edge of the town, has been bought by the Forres Community Woodland Trust, who want to encourage local involvement in the maintenance, management and improvement of the 16 hectares of woodland.

The Trust purchase was supported with a £23,000 investment package from the Community Land Unit at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

The woodland originally comprised part of a large area of land in mixed use which was owned and managed by the last Town Council of Forres as part of the Forres Common Good Properties, but was sold to a private buyer in 1973 in order to fund a new community centre.

The new Trust's Draft Management Plan proposes a diverse range of activities covering education and training, job creation and fuel and timber production, all helping to increase the community's awareness, understanding and participation in sustainability issues.

The Trust wants to enhance the area by improving paths and car parks, as well as producing leaflets illustrating the wide variety of wildlife and vegetation, and including a map showing the network of paths.

There has been enthusiastic support from the community and public participation in the maintenance and management of the wood is planned with working parties for tree planting , removal of exotic species and the clearing of footpaths. In the longer term, cycle routes and bridle paths for horse-riders are to be investigated and the opportunity exists for the regeneration of the woodland to its natural state.

Chairman of the Forres Community Woodlands Trust, Fabio Villani said: "We are delighted to be able to purchase Muiry Wood. We have been looking forward to having the woodland returned to the community for some time and although there is a great deal of work to be done in order to improve the area, this in itself will bring tremendous benefits.

"For example, we are organising tree planting parties in the coming weeks which will bring social benefits and in turn, create various eco-systems improving the environment."

The Trust will work closely with the Muiry Wood Community Woodlands Association (MWCWA), set up in partnership with Moray Council to manage the 15 adjoining hectares of woodland owned by the council.

The Community Land Unit's Project Manager, Lorna Campbell, said: "The Community Land Unit does not work exclusively with large estate projects such as Knoydart or Eigg. Muiry Wood is just one example out of over 50 small projects that the Community Land Unit has helped with acquisition or technical assistance since it was set up in 1997. Muiry Wood is very important to the Forres community providing recreational, educational and environmental benefits."