Access

Vision

Gillies Hill Woodland provides access that meets the needs of all the community and users of the wood (includes all ability access, opportunity to explore, ‘wildness’, mountain biking, works access etc.).

Strategy

We believe that there is enough room in the woodland for the needs of all users of the woods.  This means we will take a mixed approach to managing access to balance these needs – improving some paths but leaving many as they are.

We will designate 3 classes of paths:

Access routes –   these will form a ‘core’ route through the woodland, and these are the only paths we will look to upgrade to improve accessibility (both for users and for works access).  The exact route and design of these paths will be consulted on further.

Main paths –        these paths represent the most frequently used routes though the wood and the only work that will be carried out on them will be to prevent erosion/degradation and to keep clear of vegetation.  Waymarking will be restricted to the main paths and access routes.

Minor paths –      these paths will be left as they are. 

In developing these assets, we will provide a range of complimentary facilities to enhance community access including path waymarking; signs to mark places of interest; interpretation boards; threshold entrance signs as well as benches and picnic areas.

We will identify community use of the woodland by consulting and listening to the users and residents.  We will devise strategies, plans and facilities to enable as wide usage as possible.  Only where necessary we will impose rules with the aim of protecting the woodland and its users from distress or damage.

The results of our 2020 survey can be read here XXX

Within our 2021 Spring Survey we asked for opinions on two options of where our all ability path route could be.

189 people supported the proposed route for the all-ability path and 186 went on to vote between the two coloured routes.

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