Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas!
Dark Woods Update
There has been rapid progress with The Dark Woods Regeneration project – the harvesting machine has finished on site and the majority of the timber has been removed. We expect the remaining felling of diseased Ash and timber transport to be completed in January and we will then focus on restoring the access road and the paths around the felled area. The Dark Woods remain very muddy and hazardous, with deep ruts and brash. We advise the public to continue to avoid the area.
For more information, see our dedicated project webpage.
Tree Health Inspection
Following a recent aerial survey, we have been notified by Scottish Forestry that they will be inspecting a larch tree in the woods for evidence of Phytophthora ramorum infection. This is the same disease whose presence led to a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) which required the felling of the large area of larch in the community woodland in 2022.
Phytophthora ramorum was first discovered in the UK in 2002 on an imported Viburnum plant. It can spread naturally in wind-blown rain (up to 4 miles). Before its discovery there were approximately 154,000 hectares of larch planted in Great Britain, 5% of the total woodland area. Most of this has been lost and larch can no longer be used as a timber species. There is also a risk that this pathogen can become aggressive on other hosts; this would be devastating to the natural environment.
We hope that on this occasion it proves to be a false alarm and we will let you know the outcome of the inspection as soon as possible.
Save Gillies Hill
The charity ‘Save Gillies Hill’ (SGH) have recently decided to wind up as a campaigning group. At their AGM on the 6th August 2025 a resolution was passed to dissolve the charity and to transfer any remaining funds to the Cambusbarron Community Development Trust (CCDT). £3,683.92 has been transferred to the CCDT on the understanding that it can only be spent on activities to monitor the 16 planning conditions imposed by the Scottish Government on the quarry developers. After a period of 3 years the money may then be transferred to our unrestricted funds. If you are interested in reading about SGH they still have a website which gives details of their campaigning. (www.savegillieshill.org.uk).
Leaky Dams
Four Leaky Dams have recently been constructed near the Lily Pond on Castle Drive. Their purpose is to slow down the fast flowing water thus reducing flooding downstream and creating diverse habitats for wildlife. Early indications are that they are effective.
In the next few months more leaky dams will be constructed as part of the Lily Pond project. Now that the area has been cleared of invasive Rhododendron Ponticum the water quality is improving, native plants are returning and wildlife is flourishing. Badgers, Foxes, Red Squirrels and Hares have been recorded recently as well as the elusive Pine Marten. Volunteers are usually working all day Saturday – do drop by to find out more about what they are doing and why.