An Pounds 870,000 Scottish Government funding package to develop and promote urban woodlands includes education projects.

The money is being delivered through the Forestry Commission Scotland’s Forestry For People fund and is intended to boost the health and well-being of local communities.

Fife’s Forest Education Initiative received Pounds 66,000 to provide primary pupils with supervised access to their woodlands and encourage an attitude of ownership and responsibility. The funding will help raise awareness of forest education and run an initial 18 sessions of Forest School activities, which include building shelters from natural materials and identifying wildlife. It will also provide Forest School training for six teachers.

The Forest Education Initiative in the Highlands was awarded Pounds 15,125 for a project to provide Forest School training, which will delivered in partnership with the Abriachan Forest Trust. It will prepare 16 people from across the Highlands to engage with schoolchildren, disabled people and the public to promote the health benefits of activity in woods and forests.

www.forestry.gov.ukscotland.