Forest Policy Group Podcast: Let's Talk Better Forestry

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. The discussion explores Kilsture’s citizen science projects with SWSEIC, biodiversity mapping, and the creation of an ecosystem map to guide future work.

They also cover collaborations with schools, the Arts Science Forest project, and plans to restore natural water flows through the woodland. It’s a story of connection, learning and practical action – showing how community involvement can add real ecological and social value to forest management in Scotland. For video click below

For audio find on Forestry Policy Group; Apple podcasts, Libsyn and more

For transcript https://www.forestpolicygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lets_Talk_Better_Forestry_Julia_Farrington.pdf