Hopes for contaminated woodland

NHFT intends to help groups access funding to preserve woods

An independent forestry group hopes to be able to offer more support to a woodland closed to the public after arsenic and asbestos were found.

Newtonhill near Wick was shut off after toxic materials were detected in the soil and surface water.

North Highland Forest Trust has been fundraising to create a new forester post to cover Caithness and Sutherland.

NHFT said Newtonhill, if re-opened, would be one of the community woodlands the post's holder would work on.

The new appointment would also help groups access grants from the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), which will be launched later this year.

Highland Council closed Newtonhill, about a mile from Wick town centre, as a precaution while further tests are done.