Tag: Greenskies Community Fund

Loganair opens applications for 2026 GreenSkies Community Fund

Loganair, the UK’s leading regional airline, is welcoming new applications to its GreenSkies Community Fund after distributing more than £100,000 to local projects over the last five years.

The bespoke environmental initiative, established in 2021, is designed to help charities, community groups, and small businesses to achieve their sustainability goals.

Applications for the fund are now open and will close on 7th May. Over the last five years, Loganair has awarded 24 projects over £100,000 in funding.

Last year’s successful projects included:

  • Murtle Garden in Aberdeen, which received £5,000 to install a new polytunnel in its walled garden, providing 50 young people living with learning disabilities access to a year-round growing and learning environment.
  • Shed the Light in Derry/Londonderry was awarded £5,000 to install a solar generator at Creggan Country Park to support its renewable energy workshops.
  • Winchester Hospice in Hampshire was granted £5,000 to purchase an e-bike and install bike parking to support low-emission palliative home care.
  • Gifford Community Woodland in East Lothian received £3,180 to plant 420 trees in an effort to restore woodland damaged by ash disease.
  • Uigshader Living Forest Project in Portree received £4,185 to purchase battery-powered tools for low-impact peatland restoration.

The variety of projects illustrates the breadth of the impact that the GreenSkies Community Fund has within communities, supporting organisations across a wide range of sectors to reduce their carbon footprint and improve sustainability.

Rebecca Borresen, director of safety and sustainability at Loganair, said: “Through our GreenSkies Community Fund, we’re proud to support the organisations and individuals taking practical steps to make their communities more sustainable. From restoring natural habitats to investing in renewable energy and low-emission transport, the projects we’ve funded so far show how local action can make a real difference.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the innovative ideas that come forward this year and continuing to support initiatives that help reduce environmental impact while delivering lasting benefits for communities across the UK.”

The GreenSkies Community Fund forms part of Loganair’s broader environmental programme, which includes commitments to carbon offsetting, investment in sustainable aviation technologies and achieving the ambitious target of becoming net zero by 2040.

Since its launch, the fund has supported numerous community projects and businesses across the UK in adopting greener practices and reducing their environmental impact.

The GreenSkies Community Fund is funded through a small mandatory carbon offsetting charge applied to every Loganair flight, with proceeds invested in accredited offsetting projects and community initiatives.

Interested organisations can learn more about the fund and submit their applications by visiting: 

https://www.loganair.co.uk/flying-with-us/greenskies-community-fund/

East Lothian community revives woodland ecosystem with help from Loganair’s GreenSkies fund

A community-owned woodland in East Lothian is undergoing a remarkable transformation thanks to a grassroots replanting project supported by Loganair’s GreenSkies Community Fund.

Gifford Community Woodland has received £3,180 to plant 420 native trees in a part of the woodland devastated by ash dieback, a crucial step in restoring the biodiversity and long-term health of the forest.

The woodland, situated just outside the village of Gifford, was purchased by the local community in 2017 after decades of commercial neglect. It was saved from sale to private interests thanks to a determined local campaign.

With support from the Scottish Land Fund, East Lothian Council, Fallago Environment Fund, and a village-wide fundraising effort, the woodland became one of Scotland’s newest community-owned assets, now managed by volunteers for conservation, education, and wellbeing.

“From the start, the message from the community was clear: we want to protect and restore the ancient woodland, and make it accessible for everyone,” said Neville Kilkenny, a fungal ecologist and Project Manager.

“This GreenSkies grant allows us to replant native species in an area badly affected by ash dieback, not just with trees, but with the entire plant communities they support. It’s about recreating a whole ecosystem. Planting the right trees supports the resilience of other diverse communities associated with an ancient woodland ecosystem.”

The pack of trees being planted – including silver birch, hazel, and varieties of oak – have been carefully selected to mirror the natural makeup of the site, creating resilient woodland habitats that can withstand future climate pressures.

The woods have been opened up to the public for the first time through a new path network, including accessible routes to ensure the entire community can enjoy the woodland.

Since taking ownership, Gifford Community Woodland has become a thriving hub for environmental learning and community connection.

Forest school programmes bring local children into the woods to learn about nature hands-on, while volunteer events and guided walks, covering everything from bat monitoring and moth traps to fungi, lichens and bryophytes surveys, help residents build a deeper relationship with the land.

The woodland is also supporting the next generation of conservationists, with young people and students gaining valuable experience in ecological surveying and woodland management.

The ash dieback outbreak, which could result in the loss of 90% of the UK’s ash trees, has had a visible impact on the site. But community resilience has emerged just as strongly.

“We’re not just replacing trees,” Neville Kilkenny said. “We’re restoring the woodland with the community involved at every step. People here are learning how ecosystems function; how fungi, trees, soil, insects and mammals all interact.

“It’s a slow process, but it’s creating something incredibly strong and long-lasting.”

Loganair, the UK’s leading regional airline, established the GreenSkies Community Fund in 2021 to support local sustainability projects across Scotland and beyond. Through the fund, a portion of each ticket purchased contributes to environmental and community initiatives focused on climate resilience and decarbonisation.

Rebecca Borresen, director of safety and sustainability at Loganair, said: “Gifford Community Woodland is a brilliant example of local climate action in practice. Their approach is thoughtful, inclusive, and rooted in science and place. This isn’t just tree planting, it’s community-led ecosystem restoration with generational impact.

“Our GreenSkies programme is focused on creating real change on the ground as well as in the air. Gifford Community Woodland embodies the kind of project we’re proud to champion.”