Broadford Community Woodland
Outdoor amenity and catalyst for community projectsUnlocking benefits for all through community land ownership.
Update December 2025: We have been awarded funding to extend Broadford Community Woodland by acquiring the adjacent Broadford North site. Read more in our press release. We have also launched a volunteer programme with lots of opportunities to get involved in woodland nature restoration – find out more.
We purchased the original 23-hectare Broadford Community Woodland site from Forestry Scotland in 2011. Our plans were informed by extensive consultation with local residents. The purchase gave us the opportunity to realise many of the community’s ideas that had previously been held back through lack of land.
Much of the site comprised cleared areas of former forestry. This is where we have been able to build our community growing area, the Growers Hub; our community campsite; and our space for Outdoor Learning.
Soon after acquiring the site we obtained funding to create a recreational path from Broadford village through the woodland. Volunteers learnt how to build the path with training supported by Paths for All. The path creates an attractive route for walkers and wheelers through to the adjacent Broadford Forest, which is managed by Forestry Land Scotland.
In 2025 we commissioned a feasibility study to evaluate the potential of acquiring the adjacent Broadford North Wood (12.4 ha). Following a successful bid to the Scottish Land Fund, acquisition of this woodland will be completed in March 2026. Our plans for the expanded woodland include developing volunteering opportunities, planting mixed native woodlands (in part using trees grown in our Community Tree Nursery), creating paths, and developing income streams. Find out more about these plans in our news article.
READ MORE
In 2001, the Broadford Environment Group (which later developed into the Broadford and Strath Community Company) embarked on negotiations to buy the land. The process eventually took 10 years.
As part of the process we undertook extensive consultation with local residents. There was overwhelming support for the land acquisition. Suggestions for use of the community woodland included:
- Woodland regeneration and removal of invasive and non-native vegetation to create native, mixed woodland
- Network of paths, nature trails and mountain bike tracks
- Community-run campsite
- A picnic area and recreational space
- Events space
- Youth Adventure Site
- Community orchard and allotments
It was identified that these would in turn have the following benefits for the community:
- A safe, managed recreational space for people of all ages to enjoy
- Sustainable sources of income for the communities of Broadford and South Skye
- Economic benefits to local businesses
- A space for native plants and wildlife to thrive, enhancing local biodiversity
- Land for the use of future generation
Many of these projects have now been realised, and nature restoration activities are ongoing – find out more. Following confirmation of our funding to acquire Broadford North Wood we are fundraising for a Community Woodland Manager to take forward our ambitions for the expanded community woodland.
How to get involved
There are a range of opportunities to volunteer in our Woodland Nature Restoration project – contact Phil Knott or complete our Volunteering Form.
More information
Broadford North Wood Feasibility Study, July 2025
Broadford North Feasibiity Map 1: Broadford Woodlands
Broadford North Feasibility Map 2: Woodland types and areas
Feasibility Study – Woodland Development and Enterprise, April 2024
Broadford Community Woodland Forest Plan 2017-26
Forest Plan Map 1: Location Plan
Forest Plan Map 2: Opportunities & Constraints, 2017
Forest Plan Map 3: Long term concept 2018-43
Forest Plan Map 4: Felling and thinning 2018-27
Forest Plan Map 5: Proposed Planting and Natural Regeneration 2018-27
KEY FACTS
Time frame: 2001 – present
Location: Land adjacent to Pairc Nan Craobh, Broadford, IV49 9DF
Benefits to the community: A community owned piece of woodland providing the opportunity to further develop projects and enhance the environment.
FUNDERS
Highland Council | Scottish Executive | Portree Rotary Club | Awards for all Scotland (Lottery) | Community Woodlands Association | West Highland College – UHI | Big Lottery Fund | Coop Community Dividend Scheme | David Thin Trust (Ross-shire) | Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation | Scottish Land Fund
FROM OUR GALLERY
Tree planting event
Volunteers at Community Woodland Day – Tree Week, November 2025
Woodland view
Part of the 23 hectares now in community ownership
Volunteers at work
Today this is a much-loved woodland path
Moth hunt
Getting close to nature in the community woodland
Flower survey
Surveying woodland biodiversity
Woodland moth hunt
A fun workshop
One of our locals
Woodland moth
Woodland view
A valuable asset for our community
Identifying local plants
A great way to learn about nature
View pre-campsite
The site before we built Camping Skye