Balloch Community
Woodland Group
Join us in restoring and managing our local woodland for future generations.
COMMUNITY - DRIVEN, NATURE - FOCUSED, SUSTAINABLE
The Latest News
You can contact us about the Balloch Wood.
Tell us what you would like to see in the wood;
e.g. reinstatement of paths in addition to the core path, seats, some observation hides for wildlife etc.
and also let us know if there will be any future activities in the wood that you would like to help with.
Felling Operations in Balloch Wood
Update 25th Sept.
We have been advised by Forestry & Land Scotland (FLS)
of their progress with the felling operations in Balloch Wood.
------------ From FLS ----------------------
The felling of the windblow along the Old Military Road is now complete, along with the work within the pond area.
The machines have now moved into the final coupe and will begin felling there on Monday 28th September.
We have closed the path at Creehenge as we would like to complete this area as quickly as possible.
We would ask everyone to please adhere to all signage and follow the temporary path closures. This will allow the work to progress safely and efficiently. People walking through the site while machinery is operating means work must stop and start, which will significantly delay completion of the operation.
Once this area has been felled, the machinery will remove any trees overhanging the paths as it exits the site.
Following this, work will be undertaken to reinstate the paths and replant the felled areas.
Replanting will include a mixture of broadleaved species and Oak, helping to restore and enhance the woodland for future generations.
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The car park by the ponds will remain closed until further notice.
Please follow the Safety Instructions
on the signs that FLS have installed.
See below for further information and for updates on the current work .
Also their plans for the felling operations and their considerations regarding environment and wildlife.
The Balloch Community Woodland Group
would like to thank all those who joined us
for our first tree planting in the wood,
on Saturday 3rd October.
About sixteen adults and six children enjoyed the warm sunshine to plant at total of 50 oak saplings along both sides of the main path as an extension of the the Oak Trail, at the top of the Balloch Wood.
Photographs of the planting activities will be posted here shortly.
If you did not manage to join us last weekend, then you will still be able to take part in restoring our Balloch Wood as we plan to have further planting sessions later in the autumn & into next year.
We will also be having "weeding parties" throughout the coming year to remove the Sitka seedlings which will inevitably be sprouting up; to prevent them competing with the planted broad leaf saplings.
We will also be planning other activities to enhance the wood, once FLS have completed their work and the Balloch Wood becomes a community woodland.
So please let us know how you would like to help with the work in the wood, ( not all will require digging ), or just tell us what you would like to see happen there.
You can contact us using the link below.
Important Message from Forest & Land Scotland
We have been asked by Lyndy Renwick, FLS Communities and Communication Manager, to post the following on our BCWG website.
The following message, then, comes from Lyndy
after some damage at the weekend.
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From FLS - 19th October
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"FLS have advised that the netting and fencing at the site were torn down over the weekend. They understand the frustration caused by the temporary closure of the footpaths and are working to reopen the woodland as soon as it’s safe to do so.
FLS have now entered a more complex stage of the felling operation,
involving multiple machines working within the site.
They have asked for the community’s cooperation to help ensure the work can be completed as quickly and safely as possible.
The fencing, netting and signage currently in place are there to protect both the public and forestry workers. Machine operators do not always have clear visibility of people entering the woodland, creating a significant health and safety risk.
If diversion signs, fencing or netting are removed or bypassed, work must be stopped immediately, causing delays to the project.
Forestry operations are inherently hazardous. During felling operations there is a risk of trees falling unexpectedly, and operators may not be aware that member’s of the public have entered the danger zone.
The restrictions and warning signs are therefore essential for everyone’s safety.
FLS are aiming to complete the felling and removal of trees by Christmas. Once these works are finished, the footpaths will be repaired and the woodland reopened. However, if people continue to ignore the signage, netting and other safety measures, this will inevitably result in further delays to the completion of the project and the reopening of the site.
We would therefore ask for your support by following all signage, fencing and diversion routes that are in place. We fully understand the frustration that the closure of the foot paths is causing for many members of the community, and we appreciate your patience during this period. By working together and respecting the safety measures in place we can help ensure the work is completed in a timely manner, allowing the woodland and footpaths to be reopened as soon as possible.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."
Felling & Replanting Update
from FLS
See below for some information about FLS's provisional plans for the next felling operations in Balloch Wood.
Details of our correspondance with FLS and of the
Proposed Management & Restocking Plan.
Our Response to Felling Plan
We have submitted our response to
the Felling & Replanting Update.
Community-led Woodland Management Agreement
Balloch Wood, adjacent to the village of Creetown, comprises a long strip of hillside to the NE of the village, following along the Balloch Burn. The woodland consists of natural mixed woodland and commercially managed wood, mainly larch.
The wood is managed by Forest and Land Scotland (FLS), who are in the process of felling the commercial areas, after which it will be classed as amenity woodland.
The original Balloch Wood Community Project had an agreement with Forestry Enterprise to maintain paths through the wood and look after two community areas; the Ponds and Creehenge.
After many years of service the group decided that,it was time to retire from running the project.
In 2025 several open meetings were held in Creetown regarding the recent forestry developments in the Balloch Wood.
A number of residents volunteered to form a small group to negotiate with FLS and reach a new community management agreement to continue the care of the paths and other community areas in the Balloch Wood.
The main Core Path would be maintained by FLS, without such an agreement the other areas and paths would rapidly become overgrown.
Balloch Wood, Creetown,
Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
Creetown was originally called 'Ferrytown of Cree' because ferries used to cross the River Cree here, right back to the days when pilgrims made their way to the shrine of St Ninian at Whithorn. This saved a 10 mile trip via Newton Stewart.
Small trading ships continued to come up to the village until early in the 20th century.
Balloch Community Woodland Group
Creetown, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
Maintaining local woodland for future generations together.
© 2025. All rights reserved.