28 FEBRUARY 2007 NEWS RELEASE No: 9280

To celebrate 2007 - Scotland's Year of Highland Culture - Forestry Commission Scotland today (Wednesday 28 February) launches 'touchwood' - an inspirational programme of events that will run throughout the year involving art, astronomy, cultural history, education and a new environmental festival.

(For more information about each of the projects refer to Notes to Editors 1)

The events programme ranges from stargazing in Dumfries to the new touchwood Festival in Dingwall; which will showcase the diversity of the Highlands' trees, woods, forests, and environment and those who work within them and enjoy them. The Festival also incorporates the Scottish WOODfair, which leaves its normal Perth base for the first time.

The extraordinary impact that the Commission has had on the landscape, environment, culture, communities and industry of the Highlands and Islands is also being explored through an oral history project that will focus initially on Mid-Argyll and Fort Augustus.

In partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, the Commission will also be creating a specially adapted educational facility - the Green Machine - which will promote environmental learning opportunities.

In Badenoch & Strathspey, the senses will be inspired by 'Between Two Worlds' - a night-time environmental art journey taking visitors on an awe-inspiring walk through and area of Glenmore Forest Park that will feature art, music and light.

In Camore Wood, near Dornoch, the Commission hopes to facilitate the building of a 300-seat covered forest amphitheatre. Present and future generations will relax and unwind at the venue, and be entertained by music, theatre, and dance performances.

Forestry Commission Scotland has been supported by a wide range of partners in creating this highly imaginative programme of events. These include Highland 2007, The Highland Council, the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network, the Scottish Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage, the University of Highlands and Islands, the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Hi-Arts and the Community Woodlands Association.

Scottish Forestry Minister, Sarah Boyack, commented:

"Forestry Commission Scotland has embraced and actively supported Highland 2007 since the very early stages of this Scottish Executive initiative. touchwood will engage communities, educate, showcase Scottish forestry now and in the past, and provide people from all walks of life with additional attractions and new inspiration to visit our national forests. The touchwood programme is an excellent contribution to the overall Highland 2007 festivities planned across the country throughout this year."

The Provost of the City of Inverness and Area, William J Smith, who hosts a Civic Reception to mark the launch of 'touchwood' tonight (Wednesday 28 February) in Inverness' historic Town House said;

"The Highland Council is delighted to host the launch of touchwood in Inverness and to support this flagship Highland 2007 event. The Council works very closely with Forestry Commission Scotland through our Countryside Rangers and Access Officers; our heritage and visitor attractions and through our schools taking pupils out into forests. touchwood will provide a magnificent legacy for us all in the Highlands."

Calum MacDonald, Forestry Commissioner and Chairman of the Forestry Commission Scotland National Committee, said:

"Forestry has played, and continues to play, an important social, economic and environmental role in Highland life and I am delighted to be supporting Highland 2007 through our touchwood programme.

"Highland 2007 is an amazing opportunity to profile the Highlands, its people, culture and values, and touchwood unquestionably adds significantly to this year of celebration. It provides people from all over Scotland with an added chance to celebrate the Year of Highland Culture through a variety of quality events.

"With the wide range of partnership support that has been established, I am confident that touchwood will be a great success and will take forestry to the heart of local communities and schools, and provide a showcase for the national forest estate."

Professor James Hunter CBE, Chair of Forestry Commission Scotland's touchwood Steering Group, enthused;

"I am proud to have chaired the Steering Group that has overseen the development of the touchwood programme. I have been impressed by Forestry Commission Scotland's determination to create an imaginative programme for Highland 2007 - an initiative that some might not immediately associate with the Forestry Commission.

"touchwood promises to deliver a wonderful array of opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy and be involved with. It marries old interests, with new ideas and innovations, and will provide a lasting legacy to future generations to benefit from well beyond Scotland's Year of Culture 2007. I am confident that the Commission together with the project partners will deliver an outstanding programme of events that we can all be proud of."

Further information about touchwood events can be found by visiting www.touchwood2007.org.uk

Notes to Editors:
1) The following six elements make up the touchwood programme of flagship events:

touchwood Arts - 'Between Two Worlds' will be an inspirational night-time journey through an iconic part of Badenoch & Strathspey - an experience involving art, music and light. It will be created by renowned sculptor and environmental artist Diane Maclean and lighting artist Malcolm Innes and be sited in the atmospheric heart of Glenmore Forest Park, in November 2007.

touchwood Astronomy - Forestry Commission Scotland is hosting a series of Dark Sky Scotland events in the national forest estate throughout the year. Scotland benefits from some of the darkest skies in Western Europe and the national forest estate provides an ideal location for stargazing. Dark Sky Scotland is the first pan-Scotland programme of public and educational astronomy events, and is designed to encourage young and old to learn about what's in the skies above them in a fun and exciting way.

touchwood History - This pilot project, being undertaken in partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands, and the University of Aberdeen, will record, both orally and in other formats, the impact that the Forestry Commission has had on the communities of North Sutherland, Fort Augustus and Mid-Argyll, since it was formed in 1919. Of particular interest will be the Commission's impact on the environment, landscape, culture and industry.

touchwood Green Machine - A joint venture with Scottish Natural Heritage, this project involves a mobile learning facility aimed especially at schools. It will tour the Highlands in 2007 and provide educational information and exhibitions about the importance of trees, woods and forests, the environment, wildlife and biodiversity.

touchwood Amphitheatre - Forestry Commission Scotland is planning to build a 300-seat covered forest amphitheatre in Camore Woods on the outskirts of Dornoch. The amphitheatre will provide an ideal venue for musical, theatrical and dance productions, for both present and future generations to enjoy.

2) Photo Opportunity: touchwood will be launched on Wednesday 28 February 2007 at a Civic Reception in The Town House, Inverness between 1900-2030hrs. Photo opportunities will be available throughout the event - if you would like to send a photographer or reporter to the launch please contact Diana McGowan on 07785 527590. Similarly, interviews can be arranged prior for the night or prior to the event if required on request.

3) If you are unable to send a photographer to the launch event (see note 2), photographs will be available from Phil Downie 01463 831249 after the event.

Media Enquiries to:
Diana McGowan, Forestry Commission Scotland, press office, tel: 07785 527 590 or 0131 314 6507