26 JULY 2004 NEWS RELEASE No: 6917

A new and innovative structure has brought with it a new team for Forestry Commission Scotland's Grants and Licences activities in the Lothians.

The new Central Scotland Conservancy will provide assistance to the many forest managers and landowners throughout east, central and west Scotland.

Stretching from the East to the West coast of Scotland, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, the new conservancy includes the most densely populated areas in the country. Previously the Conservancy covered the Strathclyde area but now extends over the Lothians too.

With two thirds of the Scottish population in its catchment area, the new conservancy has a distinctly urban focus and its driving force will be to create more greenspace in Central Scotland's cities, towns and villages.

Keith Wishart, the new Conservator said:

"There is an increasing drive to establish more woodlands and greenspace in and around the urban areas of Scotland. This is largely a result of a general recognition that urban woodlands can bring many environmental, health, lifestyle, social and community benefits to the most densely populated areas of Scotland. The new arrangements allow us to increase our urban regeneration activity so that we help deliver these benefits, for example by transforming degraded landscapes, making existing woodland more accessible, and contributing to economic and social regeneration.”

Keith takes up the role of Conservator in charge of the new Central Scotland Conservancy and will oversee the work of the whole team. He is no stranger to the east coast, having been brought up in Edinburgh, and often spends much of his free time in the east around the Forth Estuary.

Andrew Jarrott, the conservancy’s operations manager, previously worked in Strathclyde overseeing private woodlands activity throughout the region, and is looking forward to working with new woodland owners, local authorities and communities in the Lothians.

Julie Snodgrass, the new development officer for the Conservancy, lives in West Lothian and is keen to continue to develop new projects and urban regeneration initiatives in the area.

Maida Ballarini, who has recently joined Forestry Commission Scotland and lives in Edinburgh, will be the Woodland Officer responsible for East Lothian, Midlothian and the City of Edinburgh. Trevor Blackburn will have responsibility for West Lothian, in addition to his existing work in Fife and Falkirk.

The new Conservancy's office is based in Glasgow and can be contacted on 0141 941 2611 or e-mail central.scotland.cons@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Conservancy offices are regional offices of Forestry Commission Scotland that support other woodland owners with grants, felling licences, advice and regulation.

2. Forestry Commission Scotland recently reorganised its six Conservancies into five, these being:
· Perth & Argyll - head office in Perth and an outstation in Oban;
· Central Scotland - head office in Clydebank;
· South Scotland - head office in Dumfries and an area office in Galashiels;
· Highland - head office in Dingwall; and
· Grampian - head office in Huntly.

3. Forestry Commission Scotland's Forest District structure remains unaffected by these changes. Scottish Lowlands Forest District will continue to manage Scotland's national forests - public forests owned by Scottish Ministers - across the Lothians.

4. Media can obtain pdfs of the old and new boundaries by emailing steve.williams@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or calling the number at the end of this release.

Media enquiries: Steve Williams, Forestry Commission Scotland press office 0131 314 6508.