Community buyout set to go ahead as deal is agreed for land
A communit y’s “impossible dream” is set to be realised as a landmark deal is struck to sell more than 5,000 acres of private land in Dumfries and Galloway to locals.
The £3.8 million community buyout, the largest ever in the South of Scotland, comes after successful negotiations between the Langholm Initiative charity and estate owners Buccleuch.
The move, finalised after the landowners agreed to drop the selling price, paves the way for the creation of a huge new nature reser ve to help tackle climate change, restore nature and support community regeneration.
It comes following an ambitious community fundraising campaign, including £1 million from the Scottish Land Fund. Other major funders include South of Scotland Enterprise, John Muir Trust, Carman Family Foundation and Garfield
Weston Foundation. During the final week of fundraising, a surge of more than £50,000 in donations to the charity’s public crowdfunder saw the appeal’s £200,000 target achieved by the 31 October deadline.
The purchase of a large part of Langholm Moor – to be finalised by January 2021 – will lead to the creation of the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, with globally important peatlands and ancient woods restored, native woodlands established, and a haven ensured for wildlife including rare hen harriers.
The project will also sup - port community regeneration, including plans to capitalise on new nature-based tourism opportunities.
Discussions over the buyout of an additional 5,300 acres o f land from t he e s t a te a re continuing.
Margaret Pool, chair of the Langholm Initiative, said: “This is an amazing result for Langholm which will live long in the memory. Huge thanks to Buccleuch for their positive engagement.”
B e n ny Hi g g i n s , exe c u t ive chairman of Buccleuch, said: “The co mmuni t y has done a tremendous job in raising the funds to make this historic acquisition, and the plan to create a nature reserve has a t t r a c t e d w i d e s p r e a d s u p - port. We wish the project every success.”
T h e L a n g h o l m I n i t i a t i ve , formed in 1994 as one of south Scotland's first development trusts, facilitates projects making a lasting difference to the local area and people.