The information in this section gives more details of the WIAT programme.
The programme provides the focus for Forestry Commission Scotland's work on improving quality of life in towns and cities. Since the launch of WIAT in 2005, FC Scotland has made major investments in this programme.
The next phase of the programme (2011-2014) has evolved to include a stronger emphasis on the role of urban woods in delivering environmental and economic benefits.
For example, this includes helping to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change, and create better places for business to locate and people to live. The WIAT programme document provides more information:
At its core, the programme retains the following objectives:
- Bringing neglected woodland into management
- Creating new woodlands
- Supporting people to use and enjoy their local woods
An Action Plan has been developed to support the delivery of this next programme phase:
An annual report on progress will be published.
The story so far
This progress report summarises the key outputs, outcomes and milestones from the programme's first six years. The highlights include:
- 11,000 hectares of neglected woodland brought into active management
- 1,400 hectares of new urban woodland created
- Over 300 miles of new or upgraded footpaths created
- An additional 4000 hectares added to the national forest estate by FCS to deliver the programme.
Project case studies have been developed to illustrate the impact of the work of FCS and partners under the WIAT programme:
- Don Corridor, Aberdeen (PDF 1.2Mb)
- Ninewells Hospital, Dundee (PDF 985k)
- Craigmillar, Edinburgh (PDF 1Mb)
- Greenlink, Motherwell (PDF 1.1Mb)
- Bishop's Estate Woods, Glasgow (PDF 889k)
- Cuningar Loop, Glasgow (PDF 1.2Mb)
- Castlemilk/Cathkin Braes, Glasgow (PDF 1.4Mb)
- Drumchapel Woods, Glasgow (PDF 1Mb)
- Wester Hailes, Edinburgh (PDF 1.2Mb)
- Windyhill, Renfrewshire (PDF 780k)
Programme monitoring
Programme outputs are captured annually.
In order to evaluate the impact of the programme two longitudinal studies were commissioned. You can view summaries of the report findings and copies of the reports:
- Comparison of perceptions and use of woodlands pre and post-intervention (2006-2009)
- Survey on the status of urban woodland management in Scotland (2004-2009).
Funding for WIAT
- Forestry Challenge Funds are focused on bringing woodland into active management.
- Rural Development Contracts: there are forestry options for the creation and management of a range of woodland types. An additional contribution will be available for woodland creation of at least 1 ha in the WIAT area. See the Forestry Grants page for more information
Evaluating social forestry initiatives
An evaluation framework is being piloted for selected health-related forestry initiatives, built into Woods in and Around Towns and Forestry for People Challenge Funds and various social forestry programmes.
