Acquired rural woodland for dog walking at £900,000 price tag.
Dog Walkers Score Big by Buying Local Woodland
It's no longer just a dog's life for a group of walkers in the Borders, as they've successfully purchased a sizable chunk of their local forest.
After fears that the beautiful Broughtonknowe woodland, nestled between Peebles and Biggar, would fall into the hands of a commercial timber company, this band of locals stepped up to secure the property. The stunning 56-hectare forest, spanning 140 acres, was up for grabs since 2023, and the deadline for purchase was fast approaching.
In an incredible triumph, these dog walkers and concerned citizens managed to meet—and even surpass—the asking price just in time, ensuring the future of their beloved forest.
John Hart, the driving force behind the fundraising endeavor, shared his jubilation: "It's downright unbelievable! We obliterated our targets and now own this magnificent forest."
Community buyouts were practically a thing of legend when it comes to Broughtonknowe Wood, with the Broughtonknowe Community Woodland Ltd. (BCW) spearheading the effort in 2025. Although the exact extent of dog walker influence in the woodland's future management remains unclear, there's no denying the broader community's commitment to preserving and enhancing the area.
Since 2021, a group called Friends of Broughtonknowe Woodland has been hard at work, focusing on creating new amenities and fostering biodiversity within the forest. Their undertakings have included establishing walking trails, renovating ponds, constructing boardwalks, and placing benches—although it's not specifically stated that these efforts were geared towards dog walkers, it does demonstrate community members' dedication to the woodland.
The Broughtonknowe Community Woodland also received a generous boost from the Glenkerie Fund, scoring a £9,134 grant to support local initiatives following the purchase of the woodland. This funding will undoubtedly aid in managing and developing the forest to suit the community's needs, leaving little doubt that dog walkers will continue to enjoy their favorite stomping grounds.
- The dog walkers in the Borders, after their successful purchase of the local Broughtonknowe woodland, have now bought a huge part of their lifestyle.
- The unbelievable triumph of the dog walkers and concerned citizens in securing the 140-acre woodland has provided them with an extraordinary win.
- The new home-and-garden amenities, like walking trails and benches, created by the Friends of Broughtonknowe Woodland, could be enjoyed by the winning dog walkers.
- Supporting local initiatives, the Glenkerie Fund donated £9,134 to the Broughtonknowe Community Woodland, which will assist in preserving and developing the woodland benefiting the dog walkers and the broader community.
