Green Aspirations Scotland was established as a Community Interest Company in 2013. Since then, we’ve been committed to providing services and products that are of benefit to individuals, the community, and the planet.
Our social purpose
We are committed to reconnecting people to the landscape, and to each other, through traditional woodland crafts, rural skills, and sustainable woodland management. We were established in 2013 and, since then, we’ve worked with different groups of people of all ages – community groups, young adults, school pupils, kids and crafters – to develop traditional green woodworking skills, create an appreciation of the woodlands, and encourage sustainable and healthy environments. By creating informal opportunities and safe spaces for people to get together, create, learn, and share, we hope to rebuild a connection with nature , so that people feel better able to connect with themselves, with others, and with the wider world.
Our focus is creating opportunities for people to get outside – no matter their age, skills level, or background – experience nature first hand, have fun, and learn new skills. We run regular volunteering groups, with volunteers ranging in age from 14 to mid 70s; regular workshops and events, promoting and sharing traditional craft skills; Wee Skelfs holiday club, a kids club based on risky play where kids can get hands-on with green woodworking tools; and we make and sell a range of products made largely from coppiced hazel.
We aim to support people to care for their environment and themselves by:
Enhancing and conserving woodland for biodiversity, the local community and for future generations
Making handmade products to demonstrate small-scale, sustainable production
Delivering workshops in traditional and rural skills
Working with vulnerable groups to raise aspirations within the green sector, with a focus on young people who have struggled with traditional schooling
Creating economic activity from local woodlands
Offering regular volunteer days for people to benefit from exercise while conserving woodlands and learning new skills.
“I've been having a great time volunteering with Green Aspirations. In part it's because I really enjoy engaging in outdoor work, and because I've been able to learn a lot of new skills, but the really great thing for me is to do this in the company of like-minded folk. Everything from silent companionship, through discussions about current projects, to lively conversation and laughter around the campfire.”
— Regular volunteer
Our impact
As a social enterprise, we focus on how we can benefit our local community. We trade on commercial terms, but do so with positive social impact firmly in mind. We measure our impact in three ways:
Social: We support communities to enhance their skills by enabling them to improve their local environment & become work ready. By participating in our activities, we support individuals to become more confident, better skilled, and improve their mental wellbeing. Our approach connects people to the world around them, giving them a sense of stewardship and responsibility; it gives them a sense of being able to change things for the better; and it gives them opportunities to connect to the past while learning how to make things for the present that are both useful and beautiful.
Environmental: We help communities to learn positive environmental management skills to conserve their area for future generations, through traditional woodland management approachs, including coppicing, and through the materials we use in our workshops and our products. We are a low-carbon organisation.
Economic: We support people who attend our workshops to become skilled at making artisan products for sale in their own community and across Scotland, improving their own economic situation and promoting entrepreneurial ambitions. Our workshop participants often stay in local accommodation and eat in local pubs and restaurants. We are also passionate about building a local - and circular - timber economy.