Land Often ‘Friends of’ groups arise from a desire to improve existing woodland, to protect an area from sudden threat or from an opportunity to enhance a local area. Groups can also grow from like-minded people who want to do something! There is a range of ways for groups to become involved in community woodlands and green spaces. The simplest is to come to an agreement with a local landowner. Buying a piece of land or small woodland will be more complicated but ultimately ownership gives more freedom to manage it the way you want to.
The options are: be informal (verbal or written) or formal, for example a legal agreement to rights of way or to extract water.
LIAISON - This involves contact with the owner or manager of the land on a regular basis to discuss and agree management. This can be informal (simply meeting up in the pub) or formal (scheduled meetings).
PARTNERSHIP - This involves a formal arrangement where, for example, a woodland owner, a local group, the council and other landowners agree jointly on how land should be managed. Usually representatives meet regularly to discuss matters of mutual interest.
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT - This involves agreement with the owner regarding such things as water access and recreational use. Agreements can
CO-MANAGEMENT - This is where two or more bodies have an equal say in decisions about how the land should be managed. Whereas partnerships usually work on the basis of voluntary goodwill, co-management implies a degree of legal agreement, whereby each party has defined powers and responsibilities. LEASING - A community group can lease an area of land for a set period of time such as 25, 50 or 99 years and be responsible for its management under the terms of a written, legally binding lease.
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