GLENROTHES Development is to hand over 800 acres to the Woodland Trust

as part of the winding-up process of Scotland's new towns.

The transfer, announced today, will be the biggest gift of woodland in

the UK so far and will coincide with the Woodland Trust's 10th birthday.

The corporation will also provide an endowment to help with funding

management of the woodlands.

An informal feature of the gift is nearly 200 acres of land at

Formonthills, where the Woodland Trust will create a community woodland

for the people of Glenrothes. This and the remaining 600 acres of

established woodland will become places of ''informal recreation and

quiet enjoyment''.

Glenrothes Development Corporation's depute chairman, Mr David Smith,

said: ''Our prime concern has been to protect the world-famous

environment of Glenrothes for its people. Woodlands are the most

important single feature of man-made landscapes and, with proper control

and management, will outlive all cosmetic townscapes. The Development

Corporation was anxious to transfer these assets to an organisation with

the resources, expertise and commitment to manage and maintain them for

the public at large. We are confident that the Woodland Trust, with its

excellent track record, will be diligent long-term custodians of the

woodlands.

He added: ''We are also impressed with the trust's policy of involving

local people in looking after woodland.''

Mr Andrew Bachell, recently appointed operations director for the

Woodland Trust in Scotland, said: ''The timing of this gift could not be

better, falling as it does in our 10th anniversary year in Scotland.

Receiving a gift which combines established woodlands with the

opportunity to create a woodland from scratch, is obviously ideal from

the trust's point of view.

''The trust also brings with it more than two decades of experience in

managing urban and rural woodlands.''

The woodland at Formonthills will be the trust's largest woodland

creation project in Scotland. It will combine open grassy spaces with

pathways, a bridle path and access for the less able. Over the next few

years, 80,000 trees and shrubs will be planted. The first 10 hectares

will be planted with the help of the community on November 26, during

National Tree Week.

The trust will hold a public meeting on November 17 in Rothes Halls to

give people an opportunity to find out more about the trust and to

participate in its work.