Rural Alternatives Shared Futures project reports
The Rural Alternatives Shared Futures project began at the end of 2005. It has worked with 4 communities in different areas of Scotland to explore what community woodland groups can do with their local NTFPs. The reports and other written outputs of the project are available on this page.
For more information about the project see the Rural Alternatives Shared Futures project page.
Mid-term and final reports
Rural Alternatives Project Mid-Term
Report (PDF file 
1447KB)
The Rural Alternatives Project Final Report was prepared for funders in May 2008. Subject to approval we hope to have this report online soon.
Case studies
The six case studies from project partner communities are a core output of the project. Their purpose is both to highlight the successes of the project, and to give useful information for other community groups thinking of going down a similar route.
Case study no. 1: Surveying
(PDF file
504KB). This case study was written by Les Bates, RAP local co-ordinator for
Kirkhill and Bunchrew. It highlights the techniques of surveying for NTFPs which
were introduced to the RAP partner communities. Les also supplied the photographs
from the surveying workshops.
Case study
no. 2: Singing Trees - Highland xylophones (PDF file
1,353KB). The second case study supplied by Les Bates, telling the story of
a business developed during the RAP project in the Kirkhill and Bunchrew area.
The images used were supplied by him and by Singing Trees.
Case study
no. 3: Birch syrup (PDF file
587KB). This case study was written by Hilary MacDonald, RAP local co-ordinator
for the Culag Community Woodland group, telling the story of a local business
which began during the project.
Case study no. 4:
Bracken (PDF file
1,982KB). The second case study Written by Hilary MacDonald, RAP local co-ordinator
for the Culag Community Woodland group. Bracken was identified as a potential
resource by community members, and possibilities investigated during the project.
Case study
no. 5: Dyeing (PDF file
543KB). Writing and photographs by Isabel Isherwood, RAP local co-ordinator
for the Sunart Oakwoods area. A thriving wool-crafts group, benefiting local
livelihoods in a range of ways, was established in Sunart as a result of the
RAP project.
Case study no.
6: Wild food (PDF file
1,172KB). The second case study written by Isabel Isherwood, RAP local co-ordinator
for the Sunart Oakwoods area, who also supplied the photographs used. A strong
local enthusiasm for wild food emerged in the early stages of the project and
was encouraged and investigated throughout.
Radical Rowan article: "Rural Alternatives - forging ahead"
This article was written by Rural Alternatives project manager Jake Paul to
let Reforesting Scotland members know how the project was progressing. It was
published in the Reforesting Scotland newsletter, the Radical
Rowan (Issue 33, December 2006).
Rural Alternatives -
forging ahead (PDF file
180KB)
Reforesting Scotland Journal article
The
Reforesting Scotland Journal is a well-respected publication which reaches
a wider audience than the Radical Rowan newsletter. This article, also written
by Rural Alternatives project manager Jake Paul, highlights "Food from
the forest". It was published in Reforesting Scotland
Journal No.36, "Reclaiming our food
supply".
Rural Alternatives -
Food from the forest (PDF file
1148 KB)
Nature Exchange Study Tour, Germany, Aug-Sept 2006
This report of the tour was jointly written by Jake Paul and by participants from other organisations.
Nature Exchange Study Tour
report (PDF file
787KB)
The Rural Alternatives Shared Futures Project is funded by:
The National Lottery Heritage Lottery Fund, The JJ Charitable Trust, The Mark
Leonard Trust, Calouste Gulbenkian, Scottish Natural Heritage, Garfield
Weston Foundation, Sgillean na Coille project, The Craignish Trust, Miss
KM Harbinsons CT, Barfil CT, Woodroffe Benton Foundation, Co-operative
Community Dividend, Acharacle Community Company
The reports and other documents on this page are available for downloading as PDF files. In order to view them, you will need to use Adobe® Acrobat® Reader, which is free software. If this software is not already installed on your system, you can download it from Adobe's website.