This is an aerial photograph of the 1700-acre Rhubodach Forest which lies at the northern end of the isle of Bute on the west of Scotland.
It is owned by Sir Richard Attenborough who has put it on the market with a sale price of £1.4 million.
Campaigners wishing to buy the forest held a ballot and sent out forms to 5,200 people on the island. Of the 2,739 papers returned 2,557 were in favour of the plans. The organisers and islanders are delighted.
Peter McDonald, a director of Bute Community Land Company (BCLC), which organised the vote said: "The Government have got to give us the formal go-ahead. Once we get that we have to go and get the money... We feel very confident that we can do this. We are hoping a lot of it will be grant-funded."
So the islanders aren't buying the forest, the taxpayers will be doing that. Grants, as we know, come from the public purse.
No wonder Lord Richard is laughing.
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