A look back to the development of the Balloch Wood Curling Ponds.

Historically known as The Garrocher Curling Pond.

It was created in 1838 for the Kirkmabreck Curling Club.
Due to the lack of sufficiently hard winters, the club moved indoors in 1945.

When the Balloch Wood Community Project started in 2000,
extensive work was carried out by dedicated teams from Creetown
to refurbish the ponds area and the paths leading to it.

Of particular interest in the photos below, is the presence of a substantial bridge from the bank of the main pond to the small island - which now has small trees, but no bridge.

Note the extensive backdrop of trees, which were toppled in storms several years ago.

Opening Ceremony - 22 Oct 2004

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General pictures in Oct 2004

These show the well engineered water channel from the smaller pond to the main pond, with a simple plank bridge, roughly where the present bridge is now.
The earlier two photos show how much work went into the refurbishment of the pond area.

The Round House was not built till four years later. See here.

Creebaby
Wire Frame Sculpture 2010

Creebaby Living Willow Sculpture

A living willow sculpture called Creebaby was created by Alex Rigg, as part of an arts project in the village in 2010.

It was placed by the Wildlife Ponds
at the top of Balloch wood.

It is a 20ft tall beautifully sculpted metal frame in the shape of a baby, with willow, roses and clematis planted at the base, to create a live, growing sculpture.

Thank you to Amy-Dee Creative and Creetown Initiative
for the photos and information.