Parkhead Community Woodland
03 September 2009
WOODLAND PLANTING PROPOSALS BY CENTRAL SCOTLAND FOREST TRUST
At the request of West Lothian Council, Central Scotland Forest Trust (CSFT) has drawn up new woodland proposals for Parkhead. This forms part of the wider proposals which West Lothian Council are proposing to undertake at Parkhead including the new cemetery and greenspace improvements.
The woodland proposals comprise approximately 8 hectares of native broadleaf planting including open space. Please refer to the plan available below for the proposed planting layout. The planting areas have taken into account the existing site conditions and will avoid planting over the existing paths as well as complementing and enhancing the existing biodiversity. No works are proposed to the existing woodland areas although some scrub may be removed within the new woodland compartments.
Design
The woodland has been designed in line with current thinking around creating native woodlands and woodlands around urban / populated areas.
The majority of the existing path routes will be left relatively open, with "rides" varying from 5 to 10 m wide. In addition shrub species will be concentrated along these woodland edges, which should also help to keep a more open feeling to these woodland areas.
Overall 25% of the area will be left unplanted. This open ground helps to make the woodland feel safer as people do not have to walk through dense vegetation as well as generally creating a more accessible woodland. The open ground also helps to create a better ecologically diverse woodland and, therefore, is of importance to the overall woodland biodiversity.
The core central woodland areas will be planted at 1.5m spacing. In time these areas will thin out (through browsing and natural competition) so that the trees have a more irregular spacing and, therefore, will appear more natural; which is in line with the idea of a native woodland. The edges to these core areas will be planted at a wider spacing of 2m. Importantly these areas will always be less dense, in terms of tree numbers, which should again contribute to the idea of a more welcoming / accessible woodland.
Species
Tree (and shrub) species have been chosen to mimic the native woodland classifications. CSFT intend to use cell grown trees. The composition will comprise: Sessile oak, Downy birch, Silver birch, Rowan, Common alder, Common ash, Hazel, Hawthorn and Holly.
Proposed programme
If funding is secured, as requested, then the planting will be completed by spring 2010. CSFT will maintain the new woodland for 5 years on behalf of West Lothian Council.
If you would like to discuss any of the above further please do not hesitate to contact Carol Campbell on 01501 824792 or email carol.campbell@csft.org.uk.
Thank you for your interest in this project.
View the plan in PDF format by clicking the link below:
Parkhead Community Woodland Proposal
