Our History
The Maryculter Woodlands Trust (MWT) was created in April 2007 by a few residents in Maryculter, Aberdeenshire. This enabled MWT to enter into a partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) who, at the time, were the owners of a commercial conifer plantation adjacent to the Kirkton of Maryculter. Through this partnership the community members were able to participate in minor activities in the wood which helped maintain community access and helped improve biodiversity (e.g. we kept the existing paths open, we planted native trees supplied by FCS).
In January 2013, FCS announced their intention to sell their property in Maryculter. The Maryculter community held a meeting at which it was agreed that the MWT would attempt to raise the funds (£240,000) needed to purchase the wood. As part of this effort the MWT converted to a charity (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation: SC044224) on 26th August 2013.
In January 2016, after over 3 years of fund-raising, including a grant from the Scottish Land Fund and very significant private contributions from local community members, MWT purchased the wood from FCS. The landowner of the wood is therefore the Maryculter Woodlands Trust which has the status of a legal person in its own right, similar to other landowners. The woodland is now managed by MWT in accordance with both its charitable purposes, as set out in its constitution, and its obligations under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, 2016.
OUR CHARITABLE PURPOSES
To advance environmental protection including preservation, sustainable development, native habitat restoration and conservation of the natural environment (across fauna, flora and biota) in the community woodlands at Maryculter, Aberdeenshire.
The People
The Maryculter Woodlands Trust (MWT) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) with two tiers, namely Directors and Members. The Directors are elected by the membership organisation at Annual General Meetings (AGMs). Anyone can join the MWT but only residents of Maryculter (electoral ward SW1701) can seek election as a Director or vote at AGMs. All members can express their views to the Board (e.g. at AGMs) and we encourage people from outside Maryculter to become members. If you wish to become a member or just wish to join our email distribution list, please email us at mwt@maryculterwoods.com.
You can find our governing documents on the website of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (see entry 44224 at www.oscr.org.uk). You can also see these documents in the ‘documents’ tab on our website.