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More than £550,000 in grants is to be paid out to 24 community projects addressing the environmental impact of quarrying in local areas.   Newtonhill Woodland is one of the beneficiaries to the tune of £45,000.  The old quarry was until a few years ago one of the county dumps for household waste. 

The money will come from the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme, administered by Forward Scotland on behalf of the Executive, using funds from the Aggregates Levy.

Successful proposals range from restoration of an historic bridge at Innerleithen in the Borders to large scale regeneration of an area of waste ground in the north-west Highland village of Lochcarron.

Environment Minister Ross Finnie announced the awards on a visit to Shetland Amenity Trust where two projects will be funded.

Mr Finnie said:

"The Scottish Executive is committed to delivering environmental improvements in all areas of Scotland. This is particularly important for communities that experience the impact of industrial activity on their environment.

"Fairness demands that communities with environmental problems have opportunities to resolve them. The Community Environment Renewal Scheme is a good example of how we are putting these very real issues at the heart of policy making.

"This scheme allows people to determine their response to the impact of quarrying activity on their local environment. More money is available through the scheme and applications for grants will be taken until September 10.

"I would encourage any communities affected by aggregate extraction to bid for their share and improve their local environment.

"We recently announced an additional £250,000 to help communities disfigured by the anti-social practice of flytipping. Today's announcement demonstrates our determination to improve the environment for all Scotland's communities."

The Shetland Amenity Trust has secured grants totaling £8,800 for two projects this year.

The project at Girlsta limekiln will allow a feasibility study to be undertaken into developing the limekiln as a visitor attraction focusing on the historic structure of the quarry.

The Hagdale quarry project will enable emergency repairs to the Hagdale Horsemill ahead of its eventual development into a visitor attraction.

Community Environmental Renewal Scheme

Round one, August 2003

Baljaffray Play Park Renovation Project, East Dunbartonshire - £50,000 for renovation of a safe play area near to an active quarry.

Quarrying and Mining Heritage Promotion, Dumfries & Galloway - £5,035 for production of materials raising awareness of quarrying heritage

Balloch Wood Community Project, Dumfries & Galloway -  £37,525 to create a new habitat for wildlife in abandoned quarry

Morar and Mallaig Games Field, Highland, - £50,000 to build a community resource on a former quarry site

Todhill Country Centre, East Ayrshire - £23,552  to provide new woodland and leisure paths on land near quarry

Drummuir 21 All Abilities Footpath, Moray - £18,970 to build link path for community use away from heavy quarry traffic on road

The Keills Connection, Isle of Islay, Argyll & Bute - £25,000 to build link path for community use away from heavy quarry traffic on road

Place of Origin Project, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire - £25,000 for landscaping work around former quarry to turn it into an enjoyable community space

Mains Community Path, East Dunbartonshire - £15,000 to building link path for community use away from heavy quarry traffic on road

Restoration of Cuddy Bridge, Innerleithen, Scottish Borders - £19,000 for repair of historic bridge to allow leisure walking away from heavy quarry traffic on road

Invergordon Mural Project, Highland  - £6,000 to create a series of striking murals to generate visitor interest in area affected by quarrying

Girlsta Limekiln Project, Shetland - £6,801 for the first phase of work on project to turn former quarry into a visitor attraction

Hagdale Quarry Project, Shetland - £2,000 for emergency repairs to listed quarry building prior to developing visitor centre

North Connel Footpath Project, Argyll & Bute - £9,966 to build link path for community use away from heavy quarry traffic on road

New Bioscapes Project, Alness, Highland - £20,410 to develop an eco-classroom in school grounds overlooking active quarry

Battery Park Project, Lochcarron, Highland - £45,561 for regeneration of waste ground for community use including parking away from busy road

Marble Line Footpath, Isle of Skye, Highland - £50,000 to build link path for community use away from heavy quarry traffic on road

Newtonhill Woodland, Wick, Highland - £45,500 to upgrade paths in public leisure area on disused quarry site

Newmarket Gateway Project, Lewis, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - £30,000 to transform waste ground near quarry into a community garden

Falkland Heritage Landscape, Fife - £20,000 to build link path for community use away from heavy quarry traffic on road

Stornoway Improvement Plan, Lewis, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - £40,000 for works to improve appearance of entrance to town near active quarry

Marybank Environmental Improvement, Lewis - £25,000 for restoration of historic drystane dykes

Dunion Quarry Link, Jedburgh, Scottish Borders - £9,718 to build link path for community use away from heavy quarry traffic on road

Pishwanton Community Wood, East Lothian - £4,195 to enhance the biodiversity of large area of land in vicinity of working quarry

Forward Scotland is a charitable company set up to promote sustainable development in Scotland through supporting practical projects and influencing policy.

The UK government introduced the Aggregates Levy in order to reduce aggregates use, encourage the use of alternative materials and address the environmental costs.