Fife’s local forest culture and enterprise presents an opportunity for growth and building ‘better’ through more sustainable practices and local materials.

Ninian Stuart believes passionately in the need to value and consciously work with local produce and materials.  Just in the way that food as has become a conscious choice among some shoppers purchasing  food from local high streets, farm shops, box delivery schemes, street markets and so on, Falkland Estate presents a case for lower wood miles as a concept for millers and makers of wood products to follow.

Fife is currently less well known for work in our forests and local production of timber products than it is for local food. However over the last 20 years that has begun to change. Falkland Estate has also been taking steps, on the site of the ancient Forest of Falkland, to revive forest culture underpinned by a commitment to: steward our place; value good work and host people who visit. The Estate manages much of its woodland in continuous cover forestry, welcoming over 250,000 visits a year. Falkland Estate charity Falkland Stewardship Trust has a strong commitment to delivering rural skills training and a commendable record in supporting young people in to rural careers including forestry.

Through collaboration with experts in sustainable building, Falkland Estate hosted the first of a series of planned Build Schools to promote interest, learning and skills in building with natural materials and using sustainable methods.  Watch this film to see the Build School in action.

 

Recognition and thanks go to partners Rebearth, Archaeo Build and Duncan Roberts the tutors delivering on the earth, turf and timber build school in September 2021.

Details of the May 2022 Build School will be announced early 2022.  To register your interest, click here