Edinburgh arts boost among Scottish Land Fund beneficiaries

Community groups have been given the opportunity to take over local projects with £1.6 million of funding from the Scottish Land Fund.

The grants, funded by the S c o t t i s h G o v e r n m e n t a n d delivered in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, will be split between organisations across the country.

It is hoped the money will h e l p c o mmuni t i e s b e c o me more resilient and sustainable though ownership and management of land and assets.

One of the b eneficiaries is North Edinburgh Arts (NEA) group, which has been given £156,000 to buy its existing premises in Muirhouse.

I t i n t e n d s t o e x t e n d a n d upgrade the building to cre - ate more space for additional enterprise units and a larger cafe.

Lesley Hinds, chair woman of NEA, said: “This new capital project will allow the organisation to flourish, alongside council provision and bring a first-class facility to Macmillan Square.”

The Blackwood Estate Community Association plans to use its £67,000 grant to take o w n e r s h i p o f 6 5 a c r e s o f ancient wo o dland in S outh Lanarkshire.

I t h o p e s t o s a f e g u a r d t h e woodland for future generat i o n s , a s wel l a s improving access for residents of nearby villages.

Victoria Connick, treasurer and secretar y for the group, said: “Our trustees are delighted that the Scottish Land Fund is supp or ting the purchase of Loch Wood in Blackwood Estate.

“This will bring 65 acres of ancient woodland into community ownership, providing greater public access, a dedicated outdoor learning space and a range of opportunities f or f ur ther pr oj ec ts , vo l unteering, training and employment.”

In Dumfries and Galloway, Kirkcolm Communit y Trust has received £53,000 to buy and reopen the village shop and use it as a community hub.

Ian Morral, a spokesman for the community group, said the trust was delighted to have its application approved.

“This will enable us to develop the building for use as a c o m m u n i t y h u b , f a c i l i t i e s that we hope to offer are a large area for functions and meetings, a cafe and shop and local craft display area, which will also double up as a smaller meeting area,” he said.

L a n d r e f o r m s e c r e t a r y Roseanna Cunningham said the grants “will go towards p r o j e c t s t h a t w i l l p r o v i d e lo cals with b etter access to green space, encourage wildlife and support community business”.