A proposal for a community purchase of the 60 hectare Distillery Wood at Tomatin near Inverness, will now not go ahead.

Forest Enterprise confirmed in mid 2001 that the woodland was to be sold off and the community registered an interest in buying it.  A local ballot provided the mandate to investigate further.

The Community Land Unit at Highlands and Islands Enterprise provided a grant and helped set up a steering group to manage a feasibility study into the viability of running the wood as a community venture.  The study, by professional foresters IM
Forestry of Kiltarlity who are retained to help the Abriachan community forest, concluded that Distillery Wood could be managed as a viable woodland.  The report findings were made available to help local residents decide on whether or not to
proceed.

The report showed the mature Scots Pine in the wood could provide a modest cash flow coupled with woodland management grants.  This would be sufficient to fund small scale pathwork and conservation activities while safeguarding the wood for local people and as a landmark for travellers on the A9.

The final stage in the process was a community ballot, conducted by The Highland Council, which was concluded last week and which showed a narrow majority (55%) against the purchase.

Spokesperson for the steering group, Duncan Bryden, said:  "We believe there was considerable potential for community ownership and management of the woodland.  The new Strathdearn Primary School is right beside the wood.  We always stated however that the views of the community as a whole were important and would ultimately decide on whether or not to go ahead.  While there were 107 votes in favour of the purchase, there were 128 against and we respect this as the majority view.  Even though we won't now be going ahead with the purchase, it has been a very useful process and the steering group is extremely grateful to everyone who has taken an interest in the matter and contributed to the debate.  Sixty-five percent of the community voted which shows a healthy interest in local matters."

Head of HIE's Community Land Unit, John Watt, added:  "Making a community purchase of any kind is a big commitment and can be very daunting.  It is crucial that members of the community know exactly what it is they are taking on and are as informed as they can be when coming to a decision.  I am pleased that we have been able to help by funding the steering group and the feasibility study."