Who are we?

The Trust was formed in 2007 as a company limited by guarantee.

In 2009 we registered a community interest in the purchase of lands of Coul Farm and Trentham Farm.

By 2010 we’d made a successful application under The National Forest Land Scheme to purchase the Fourpenny Plantation and create woodland crofts. Unfortunately, Forestry Commission Scotland placed a high development value on the land and we were unable to fund the project.

In 2011 the Embo Community Company was dissolved and passed their assets to us. With this we accepted a commitment to create a garden on the site of the old village hall. This was completed in 2012. The WoodblocX raised beds were planted with strawberries and vegetables for selling in our community shop.

In 2012 after a year of negotiating with Highland Council, we completed the purchase of the old school, made it watertight and began a search for funding to renovate it into a Community Hub. In November 2016 we received the official letter telling us that our bid for a Big Lottery grant was successful.

In 2014 we opened a community shop in the committee room of the football pavilion and negotiated with Post Office Outreach to provide a service two mornings a week. The shop was manned by 30 volunteers at its peak. It was moved into the School when it was renovated. Unfortunately, covid took its toll and we could no longer compete with the supermarkets. The shop closed in May 2022 when the turnover no longer covered the cost of sales. The profit from the shop played a significant part in the Lottery application.

In 2015 we completed the purchase of 17 Ha of the Fourpenny Plantation and after clearing tree stumps and levelling ground, members are now growing a variety of vegetables.

By December 2018 we opened the renovated School building for the first time.