GREENSPACE AND WOODLAND INITIATIVES MUST BENEFIT ALL (Jim Hume)

GREENSPACE AND WOODLAND INITIATIVES MUST BENEFIT ALL

December 12, 2007 12:00 AM

Speaking ahead of this afternoon's Scottish Parliament debate, Jim Hume, Shadow Environment Spokesman and MSP for the South of Scotland, has today warned caution over the Scottish Government's intention to create more greenspace and woodland areas for recreation use.

Jim Hume said:-

"Everyone knows the link between good physical and mental health, and access to greenspace or woodland areas. Work has been undertaken in recent years by forest trusts and community groups all over Scotland to make space available for recreational use, so I cannot see why the issue is being debated at this late stage.

"Nature kindergarten has well known benefits and we're lagging behind in Scotland. This should be encouraged and the SNP is in a prime position to support the creation of more of these for young children.

"The SNP needs to ensure local authorities create core network paths in their areas and I think there's a great opportunity for using derelict land - this could be taken forward as part of community regeneration initiatives.

The MSP continued:-

"My main concern is that the SNP wants to create a situation in which land managers such as farmers or private foresters are effectively forced into selling land to make available for public footpath or recreational use.

"Rather than carrying out what would amount to compulsory purchase, the Scottish Government should be looking at ways to create new footpath networks and woodland areas on private land by entering into management contracts with landowners.

"Management contracts can bring benefits to both land owners and people who want to use the footpaths created so let's get it right at the very outset, in a way that's fair to everyone."