CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating victory in their fight to take an ancient wood that was the scene of a medieval battle into community ownership.

The Inchinnan Development Trust has big plans for Teucheen Wood after being handed a £71,851 windfall by the Scottish Land Fund.

This will be used to purchase the land and restore it for local people to use.

Maggie Morrison, one of the trust’s directors, told The Gazette: “We’re so grateful to receive this money to purchase the land from the Blythswood Trust, as well as to pay for all the costs associated with that, such as legal fees.

“We want to preserve the area and also develop it, so the woodland is safe for people from Inchinnan to use, as well as our neighbours in Erskine and Renfrew.”

In 1164, the site witnessed a bloody battle as a force of 15,000 men under Norse-Gaelic lord Somerled were attacked.

More recently, the wildlife haven has been subject to a Tree Preservation Order since 1957.

Maggie said: “We are going to create better access to the woodland with signage as, at the moment, many people don’t know the area exists or how to get into it.

“We are hoping that, once it is made safe, the local school and community nursery will be able to use it for educational purposes.”

The cash boost is part of a £1million funding package awarded to eight community groups in Scotland to help them take ownership of land and buildings that matter to them.

Environment and Land Reform Minister Mairi McAllan said: “I know how hard people will have worked to develop their projects and to achieve this success and I look forward to seeing the benefits for their communities.

“They follow in the footsteps of an ever-increasing number of communities who have taken ownership of vital local assets with support from the Scottish Land Fund.

“Community ownership looks set to continue to go from strength to strength.”