Sunart skills project set to host first Scottish-Italian event

Sgilean Na Coille, the project set up to strengthen the economy of the Sunart Oakwood Initiative area by maximising the benefits of the abundant woodland resource, is to host its first joint event with its Italian partners in Sunart early in May.

The Valvestino communities in Northern Italy share many of the same development challenges as those in Ardnamurchan, Morvern, Moidart and Ardgour, which has led the two groups to form a partnership.

Both face the challenges of rural depopulation, high youth out migration, an abundant but poorly managed woodland resource, a limited skills base for woodland utilisation, and an urgent need to revive and record the traditional woodland culture.

The Sgilean Na Coille project involves a two-year programme of locally-run skills workshops, demonstrations and awareness-raising events being offered to help address some of these challenges.

The first joint event to be held in Scotland will see around 10 people from the Valvestino project and 20 local people attend a three-day workshop to share their experiences of living in remote areas that benefit from outstanding natural resources, yet are threatened by economic decline.

The workshop will start on 7th May with a demonstration day in Morvern where the Italians and local community will witness the extraction and processing of valuable native oak, before moving on to an evening ceilidh at Sgoil na Coille in Salen.

The Sgilean Na Coille project is part of the wider Sunart Oakwoods Initiative, a partnership between local communities and agencies including Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Lochaber Enterprise and the Highland Council. Funding for Sgilean Na Coille has come from Lochaber Enterprise, SNH, Communities Scotland and the EU-funded Leader+ programme. The Sgilean Na Coille project is managed with support from Lochaber College.

Project worker Helen MacGillivray said: "We are very much looking forward to hosting this joint event with the Italian group. It is predominantly an event for local people, but we will have the benefit of sharing experiences - both good and bad - with the representatives from Valvestino.

"Selling timber from Ardnamurchan and Morvern in conventional markets is hampered by high transportation costs and we need to concentrate on more local products. The project is therefore concerned with promoting the local benefits from woodland, increasing the activity associated with this market and in turn increasing the value.

"As well as developing skills to take advantage of timber products we will be looking into woodland tourism, health and fitness and woodland restoration projects."

Lochaber Enterprise has approved assistance of £30,000 towards the total project cost of £140,000. Morven Cameron, head of skills development at the local enterprise company, said: "The area covered by Sgilean Na Coille is designated as fragile, so this project is particularly valuable to the local communities, and Lochaber Enterprise is delighted to be able to support this.

"The aim of the project is to positively impact on the local economy by maximising the benefits of the woodlands and providing the local population with the awareness and skills to utilise this valuable woodland resource."

Further information about the workshops is available by contacting Helen MacGillivray, Sgilean Na Coille, Arainn Shuaineirt, Strontian, Acharacle, PH36 4JJ, on tel: 07771821975 or email: helen.macgillivray@lochaber.uhi.ac.uk