Panel members wanted to further community empowerment

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is looking for five new panel members for its Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS).

CATS enables community bodies to take on ownership or lease public land or buildings on Scotland’s national forest and land to benefit the community.

To date, 17 asset transfer requests have been completed, with six more approved, including two land leases for community hydro, which are now under construction.

Panel members provide independent and impartial advice to FLS on applications to CATS and help evaluate the benefits and impacts of requests. As well as attending CATS meetings up to four times a year, members may also be asked to carry out site visits.

FLS chief executive Simon Hodgson said: 'Scotland’s national forests already deliver a wide range of benefits to communities but successful applications to CATS can strengthen and empower communities and let them deliver more focussed benefits.

'This is a great opportunity to take on an advisory role in furthering community empowerment and is open to enthusiastic, diverse and talented people - professional or non-professional - from across Scotland who have experience in either forestry, economics or community work.'

Requests for information packs and applications – via CV and a covering letter – should be submitted to fls.communities@forestryandland. gov.scot. For more details contact community asset transfer manager Rebecca Carr on rebecca. carr@forestryandland.gov.scot. The closing date for applications is Tuesday May 17.

Murdo Morrison, left, and Andrew McHale set off from the Tailrace Inn, Kinlochleven. Right: Double amputee Paul Ellis, sitting in front of the cairn, has raised more than £30,000 by crawling up Snowdon and Ben Nevis.