Balloch Community
Woodland Group
Join us in restoring and managing our local woodland for future generations.
COMMUNITY - DRIVEN, NATURE - FOCUSED, SUSTAINABLE
The Latest News
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.
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 Creehendge 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.
If you are thinking about joining us on the 3rd October, it would be helpful if you could indicate whether you are thinking of attending in the morning, or afternoon, or for both parts of the day.
You can let us know by emailing via the below link
We would welcome volunteers to help with the planting in the afternoon.
The plan is to start the extension of the Oak Trail, with further planting later in the autumn & into next year.
Join the Balloch Community Woodland Group
for our first tree planting in the wood.
As part of Scotland's Climate Week
organised by the D&G Climate Hub.
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.
Recently the group decided that, after many years of service, it was time to retire from running the project.
Several open meetings were held in Creetown last year, 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.
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