Nov 15, 2011. /Lesprom Network/. The Scottish government has signalled its continuing support for community-based forestry projects with a further GBP 250,000 cash boost towards the Community Seedcorn Fund. Forestry Commission Scotland runs the fund and gives grants to groups and organisations that set up small scale forestry projects that benefit communities, as KMS Baltics reported. Environment & climate change minister Stewart Stevenson said helping communities kick-start their local projects is a key theme of the Commission's Community Seedcorn Fund. It already provides financial backing for volunteering, skills development and community health promotion schemes. "The Scottish government is firmly committed to genuine community engagement, both directly and through organisations like the Community Woodlands Association (CWA)," he added. CEO for CWA Jon Hollingdale added that the fund had proven very popular this year and is an invaluable asset to a wide range of community forestry projects. Last week, the UK Forestry Commission pledged to pump GBP10 million into boosting the management of woodland throughout the UK.