Should the community own Rosal Clearance Village and surrounding Forestry?  We need to know what you think to help us decide how to move forward.

North Sutherland Community Forestry Trust (the Forestry Trust), along with Strathnaver Museum and Bettyhill Strathnaver, Altnaharra Community Council and North Sutherland Wildlife Group have been exploring whether or not to buy Rosal Clearance Village and about 100ha of surrounding forestry. Our ownership would ensure that the community has control of how the area is used and developed. We need to know what you think about this and this survey is your chance to to tell us.

In this survey 'we' means the Forestry Trust, which would be the owners of the land if the community ownership were to happen.
Vision: We want local people to be at the heart of how Rosal is managed and developed. We want to make sure the forestry and the Rosal Clearance Village is used to maximum benefit of locals and visitors.

Have Your Say: Please tell us your views on how Rosal could be developed. We need your opinion. This survey should take about 5 minutes. Thank you!
 
Please contact clairewhyte@sksscotland.co.uk for help to complete the survey or for any assistance accessing it.  Please complete this survey by 6 August 2021 at 9am.

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* 1. The Rosal clearance village & forest is located just off the Strathnaver Road south of Syre and by the Kinbrace turn-off.  How close do you live to it?

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* 2. Would you prefer the land at Rosal to be owned by the community, or do you think it is better if the land is sold to a private buyer?

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* 3. Would you support the Forestry Trust holding this asset on behalf of the community?

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* 4. Commercial forestry is unlikely to be viable at Rosal. We would like to manage the forest to increase the richness of life in the forest and make it more pleasant to visit.  Do you agree with this approach?

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* 5. We want to make Rosal a better and more interesting place to spend time in, but we don't think that the area and roads can cope with large numbers of new visitors. We aim to develop the land in a way that does not lead to a dramatic increase in visitors from outside the area. Do you agree or disagree with this?

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* 6. Do you have any thoughts or ideas about how Rosal could be developed to benefit the local community?  What would you like to see at Rosal?

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* 7. If we owned Rosal, here are some of things we'd like to do.  Do you agree or disagree with these ideas?

  Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Set aside an area to honour those who were removed during the Clearances
Improvements to access / paths / signage
Improvements to habitat to encourage wildlife to the area
Introduce some amenities, such as compost toilets, bird hides etc
Carry out organised walks / talks / forest activities
Tell the story of the continuous settlement of Rosal over 2500 years
Commission an art installation to interpret the story and emotional experience of Rosal
Develop the land as a resource for crafting and micro businesses eg. spinning and weaving, basket work, natural dyes and forest foods
Develop a series of workshops to explore the cultural and natural history of the site

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* 8. There may be room for a bothy or 'hutting' development in the medium term (3+ yrs). Would you agree or disagree with a bothy or hutting development at Rosal?

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* 9. In the longer term (5+yrs) we would like to see people living at Rosal again (not on the Clearance Village itself which is a scheduled Ancient Monument). This would be small scale and might include the formation of Woodland Crofts for example. Would you agree or disagree with the aim of small scale resettlement at Rosal?

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* 10. Do you have any of the following interests / skills / experience that could help the Forestry Trust develop this project?

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* 11. The Forestry Trust currently has about 300 members and we'd love you to join us! Please leave your contact details below if you would like us to send you further information.

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* 12. What's the best way to communicate with you in the future?

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* 13. If you are happy to be contacted by the Forestry Trust in the future, please leave your contact details (name and address / telephone number / email).

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* 14. Do you have any further comments or anything you'd like to add?

Please answer the questions below so that we can see if any sections of the community have been under-represented.

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* 15. I am:

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* 16. I am aged:

This survey is being conducted by SKS Scotland, funded by the Scottish Land Fund, Strathy North Joint Community Benefit Fund, Bettyhill Wind Farm Fund and the Tanlaw Foundation, on behalf of North Sutherland Community Forestry Trust.  Your responses will go to SKS and no identifiable information will be shared with anyone outside the research group.

Thank you for completing this survey!

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