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We were delighted to be chosen as a case study for the Scottish Landscape Alliance's new Landscape Charter. Here is a bit of back ground and below that a link to our case study. In 2009, Scotland’s landscape community came together to create the first Landscape Charter, confirming strong support for the European Landscape Convention. 20 years on from its first publication and in recognition of the significant changes needed to address the climate and nature emergencies we fa

Kilsture Forest Ecosystem Map on Google Earth South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre is currently developing a unique interactive digital map of Kilsture’s ecosystem. The map will feature all the species recorded in Kilsture giving us a wonderful interactive visualisation of the richness of the wildlife in the forest. It can be used by anyone interested in exploring the forest ecology, and also as a key communication tool informing Kilsture Forest Community Gro

In this episode of Let’s Talk Better Forestry , Morag Paterson talks with Julia Farrington , co-chair of the Kilsture Forest Community Group , about the group’s evolving relationship with Forestry and Land Scotland and their efforts to care for this unique community woodland in Dumfries and Galloway. Julia explains how local people campaigned to keep the forest in public hands, and how a volunteer agreement grew into a full memorandum of understanding for joint management.

When we launched Kilsture1000 in April this year, our aim was simple: Could we find 139 as yet unrecorded species in Kilsture Forest, taking us from a total of 861 species recorded by the end of 2024 to our target of 1000? We were lucky enough to have exceptional Elaine Rainey to manage the project whose passion, expertise and knowledge inspired us all to deepen our understanding of the forest. Project Manager Elaine Rainey with a Poplar Hawk Moth at the moth ID workshop All

Example of airborne organism, collected in Crofthead Forest (where Andy works) grown on settle plate. Photo - Morag Paterson The...

What happens when an artist, a scientist, and a forester go into a forest for a day?  The answer is captured in this wonderful visual...

Kilsture Beeches January 3rd 2025 2024 was a really busy year for KFCG. Big Thanks to all our volunteers who keep the trails clear; to all the people who record what they see in the forest; to everyone who shares their knowledge of the forest; to all the children and adults who are part of the developing the Forest School project; to Future Woodlands for funding our citizen science work, and partners who support our work as co-custodians of Kilsture. HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024 JANUAR

This summer Forest School has really taken root in Kilsture Forest. Toni Lamont, known as Ranger Toni, led a brilliant series of 12...

The following fascinating account of the planting of Kilsture Forest is taken from 'Travels in Galloway - Memoirs of South West Scotland'...

An inspiration for artwork, a hidden world of mini-beasts and mycorrhizae, a major consideration in woodland management, a vital player...

Leading ecologists and practitioners share their knowledge about the role of mycorrhizae in forest health and woodland management.

Malcolm Haddow of South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre gives a summary of their records of wildlife in Kilsture, including the fantastic contribution made by KFCG's Citizen Science Project funded by Future Woodlands, and suggests ways forward to develop the work.

A new citizen science programme supporting local people to record the wildlife in Kilsture Forest. A brief history of Kilsture Forest Community Group (KFCG)  In 2018 when Kilsture Forest, a 204 hectare even-aged mixed woodland on the Machars Peninsula, was put up for sale by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) a group of local people came together as Kilsture Forest Community Group (KFCG) to keep the forest from passing into private hands. At first it was assumed we would have t