A GROUP of nature lovers are rooting for further ideas before submitting their near-£900k woodland buy-out application.

Friends of Broughtonknowe Woodland (FoB) will host its second public meeting – titled Buyout Options Study – at Broughton Village Hall on Thursday (July 18) from 4pm-7pm.

A first stage meeting was held after FoB secured first stage cash of £30,000 from the Scottish Land Fund to help finance the business plan and hire consultants.

The community buy-out plan for the 136-acre woods, sandwiched between the A701 and the A72, was launched at a Skirling public meeting attended by at least 70 people in July last year.

FoB chairman Ian Brooke said: “For many months our commissioned consultants have been working hard to pull together plans for the Broughtonknowe Woods – and these ideas are now ready to be presented for further discussion.”

The buy-out became reality when current Broughtonknowe owner Christopher Lambton decided to sell in June last year.

He made it known he was prepared to accept a community buy-out and wait while the process took place.

Shortly after FoB was formed during the Covid-19 lockdown, it secured £16,500 from Scottish and Southern Energy’s Clyde Windfarm and made a series of improvements.

In efforts to bolster their fundraising this year a set of merchandise, centred around a frog logo, was designed by FoB member John Hart.

A Crowdfunder launched in January has also raised nearly £2,000 including a donation from the niece of David and Majorie Scott, who originally planted the woods.

The campaign to purchase Broughtonknowe has also featured on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Scotland.

Mr Brooke said: “The results from conversations at the hall will inform the final draft of the Scottish Land Fund application to raise enough capital to purchase the woodland for the community in perpetuity.

“We’ll be back in touch about further developments and other opportunities later in the summer.”

For more information or if unable to attend email: friendsofbroughtonknowe@gmail.com