From Woodlands to Trust: Our Evolution in Community Land Management
We know many of you are familiar with our previous name: Glengarry Community Woodlands. Our story began in late 2015 when the Woodland organisation was formed specifically to acquire and manage the former Forestry Depot and 30-odd hectares of woodland on the outskirts of Invergarry. For a decade, that name has represented our firm commitment to maintain, enhance and share the woods, to the benefit of the local Community. We continue to be committed to managing these woodlands successfully, initiating valuable projects and building confidence in community ownership.
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Our name change represents an additional commitment to our Community. Local challenges like affordable housing, economic opportunities, and sustainable infrastructure are important issues for our area. Changing our name to The Glengarry Community Development Trust (GCDT) better reflects the role we have grown into. While we’ll probably always be known locally as "the woodlands," we are increasingly involved in strategic discussions with developers and funders. The new name will help these organisations better understand our role in the Community.
Community Land Scotland talk to Tom Cooper from Glengarry Community Development Trust (formerly Glengarry Community Woodland) about Glengarry's community ownership journey.
The GCDT is formed as a Development Trust and a Company Limited by Guarantee with full charitable status (SC046134), and a membership primarily drawn from residents of the Glengarry geographical area.
Our legal mandate is clear: we exist to advance sustainable community development, organise educational and recreational activities, and advance environmental protection.
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We remain a dedicated, community-led charitable company, but our development work is now comprehensive, encompassing all areas of community development. We manage land assets strategically, leveraging ownership not just for environmental protection, but as a dynamic tool to address community needs across the board. Our development projects are focused on initiatives like new affordable housing and the sustainable management of our existing woodland resources.
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Governance, Our Board and Membership
Being a charitable company means everything we do is rooted in strong governance and accountability. The GCDT is led by our Board Members, who are local volunteers dedicating their time to setting our strategic direction and ensuring every decision benefits the people of Glengarry.
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Our board members work to ensure that our organisation is strong and can meet the challenges that our community faces. If you'd like to get involved as a Board Member, we are keen to hear from you. Please contact chair@glengarry.org.uk
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We welcome applications to Membership of the Trust. Please take a look at our dedicated page for more information including our Articles of Association and application form. ​
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We are proud that our structure is community-led, meaning the people who live here drive the vision for our future.
Ben Thompson
Co-opted Member
Deirdre Collins
Board Member
Dion 'Di' Alexander
Co-opted Member
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Andy Witney
Board Member
John Henshall
Treasurer
Carol Littlewood
Board Member
Lynsey Stewart
Board Member
The Glengarry Model: A Blueprint for Rural Communities
In 2022, we completed the transfer of 47 hectares of land at Ardochy Forest into community ownership. Our Woodland Crofts Project, undertaken in partnership with the Communities Housing Trust and the Woodland Crofts Partnership, is widely recognised as 'The Glengarry Model' and serves as a valuable blueprint for other community land projects across Scotland. Our approach combines affordable housing with sustainable land stewardship, providing local people with both a home and a secure connection to the land through crofting tenure. This model is currently being studied and replicated by other community bodies seeking resilient solutions for housing and environmental management.
Glengarry Forest Cabins: Our Sustainable Funding Model
Key to our long-term financial sustainability is our eco-tourism enterprise, Glengarry Forest Cabins.
Recognising the need to generate a stable income to fund our charitable activities, including the woodland crofts and affordable housing, we found that off-grid, bespoke tourist accommodation would be the best fit for us.
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To fund the development, we successfully pursued a Community Share Offer. Through extensive face-to-face engagement, we raised an impressive £279,000 from 176 members, with a significant majority of investment coming directly from the local community. This enterprise is owned by the Glengarry Community Benefit Society (GCBS), where the GCDT holds a Community Anchor Share to ensure all profits are reinvested into Glengarry’s ongoing development work.
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The project's development has been an inspiring journey, which is steadily moving to completion. The cabins are literally community-built: a core local team is constructing the Amenity Building and accommodation, being mentored and up skilled on the job. This hands-on approach ensures high-quality craftsmanship and valuable local employment. We are committed to using ethical, local materials, including larch cladding milled from our own trees and unique interior features crafted from timber and stones collected directly on site. This dedication to authenticity and quality is bringing to life a wonderfully unique experience for visitors, establishing the cabins as valuable asset for the Glengarry Community.
Our Funders
Thank you to our Funders who have supported the work of The Glengarry Community Woodlands and now that of the Glengarry Community Development Trust.
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These organisations support us in our work on behalf of the Glengarry Community.
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