Our Projects - Your Places
Bantaskine Park - Falkirk
Mature woodlands form a significant part of the park and are a prominent feature in the skyline above Falkirk. Unfortunately, due to minimal management of the woodlands, the area became less than the beauty it was.
However, with woodland management and expansion, rhododendron clearance, the planting of over 18,000 wildflowers, path network improvement and expansion the park now has an attractive link to the Union Canal towpath.
Kinneil Estate - Falkirk
The Estate offers an excellent countryside resource for the residents of Bo’ness and surrounding areas. The long term plan is to bring the entire 52ha woodland back into management.
The felling of dead, dying, dangerous and suppressed trees and the creation of several felling coupes which has enabled the introduction of native broadleaved trees to help diversify the woodlands. Approximately 600 tonnes of timber has been removed with materials going to commercial markets including Caberboard at nearby Cowie and Caledonian Paper at Irvine in Ayrshire.
The access network within the woods has upgraded and expanded.
Avondale Woods - Falkirk
Located on a former sand and gravel quarry, the site was utilised for agricultural production until 2002.
The existing riparian woodland resource along the River Avon Corridor has been expanded and provides a recreational resource for the local communities in Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge. New public access to, and through, the site has been established. This forms an important and integral part of the River Avon Heritage Trail, a new footpath which will run from Slamannan in the heart of the Central Scotland Forest to the shores of the River Forth at Grangemouth.
Forgewood - North Lanarkshire
Many wooded areas in and around our towns suffer from neglect and become "no-go" areas because paths are overgrown and intimidating, and the place is despoiled by vandals, fly-tipping, burnt-out vehicles and litter.
One such area was along the South Calder at Forgewood, Motherwell. However, a transformation has taken place.
2.9 km of paths have been opened up and 2 hectares of woodland improved and managed, with burnt out trees felled and clear lines of sight created. This has made the site so much more attractive and welcoming.
It is hoped that this will be just the start of a more ambitious plan to open up the South Calder as a fantastic recreational resource on people’s doorstep.
Drumbow - North Lanarkshire
Only a few years ago, Drumbow was one of the most derelict sites in North Lanarkshire with over 12 hectares of abandoned coal workings, including a substantial void, blighting the landscape of the Limerigg to Caldercruix Road.
After a major reclamation project, which included adding biosolids to create a fertile soil and a landscaping scheme, it is now a lush landscape with an emerging woodland. Footpaths offer walks which link to adjacent land and into the wider countryside.
Forth Access Project - South Lanarkshire
Forth has always been a place where walking was a part of the culture. Historically, people walked to work at the local pit and ironworks, and there is still a generation which uses many of the traditional routes.
Recently, there has been a major expansion in forestry around the village and the Forth Access Group has upgraded three important routes through the local area. They now link the village with its surrounding woodland and key historical heritage.
Sample Projects
Kinneil Foreshore to be upgraded
Bo'ness Kinneil Foreshore Woodland
Planned Improvements 2007
Falkirk Council has secured funds and commissioned CSFT to deliver a five year programme of improvements at Kinneil Foreshore Woodland commencing early 2007. The main aims are:
• To commence tree thinning to allow space for maturing trees to develop properly.
• To protect and manage the grasslands and open space as a habitat for wildlife.
• To develop the recreational and educational potential for woodland users.
• To protect the adjoining designated wildlife sites from undue disturbance.
Bo’ness Kinneil Foreshore Woodland is a 23 hectare(ha) site comprising mixed woodland and open grassland on the site of the former Kinneil Colliery. The site is adjacent to the A904 road and is crossed by the Bo’ness and Kinneil Steam Railway. The reclamation works of the bing, colliery and former landfill site commenced in 1984 and the planting work was completed by 1986.
The site, lying just to the west of Bo’ness, is an important recreational and wildlife resource for the area consisting of 10ha of mixed broadleaf plantation woodland, with the other 13ha being rich grassland and open ground. The site also has 2.5 kilometres of whin (rock) dust paths traversing the site. The woodland is now 20 years old, however, there has been very little active management on the site, except some minor upgrading to the footpaths 3 or 4 years ago.
The site has been allocated funds from the Forestry Commission Scotland’s ‘Woodlands in and around Towns’ scheme. The scheme sets out a 5 year management strategy for the area, including:
• 9.98ha of non-commercial thinning
• 2.5km upgraded paths
• Creation of new car park(c200m2)
• 350m new paths linking the car park to the main site
• Installation of 6 benches/signs/interpretation boards
• 2 kissing gates/access controls
Ongoing maintenance (over 5 years):
• 9ha grassland management
• 2.5km path maintenance
• Litter removal – 6 times per year
• Scrub/vegetation clearance
What to see at Kinneil
The Kinneil Foreshore, lies to the west of Bo’ness, adjacent to the Forth Estuary Special Protection Area, the Firth of Forth Site Special Scientific Interest and an important wetland RAMSAR site for birds.
The area is a mixture of habitats – woodland and scrub, open grasslands, playfields and flowing water – hosting a range of locally and nationally important species.
Throughout the site you can observe:
Mammals
Roe Deer, Foxes, Rabbits, Pippistrelle bats
Birds
Cormorants, Curlew, Dunlin, Goldeneye, Plovers (ringed, red and grey), Eider, Red shank, Pink Footed Goose, Shelduck. Common garden birds, eg chaffinch, sparrow and swallow, inhabit the woodland. Owls, species unknown, may also be present.
Butterflies & Moths
Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Six Spotted Burnet Moth
Plants
Common Spotted Orchid, Yellow Rattle, Common Mouse-ear, plus summer meadow wildflowers (oxeye daisy, poppy, knapweed, scabious etc)
Trees
Birch, Alder, Willow, Scots Pine, Sycamore, Ash, Oak, Rowan.
For more information about the site or the works planned – contact Mike Ewart, CSFT Sustainable Development Officer, on 01501 824795
Broomage Greenspace
CSFT and partners are looking to enhance a community greenspace through environmental works including woodland and wildflower planting and upgrading paths for better access. It is felt the proposed changes will help create a safer, more attractive, natural greenspace for local people to use and enjoy.The site can be found in North Broomage, Larbert, Falkirk.
CSFT recently hosted a community consultation event to understand the views of local residents, click here to read a report on these sessions.
There will be another community consultation event arranged to feed back on proposals, date and time to be confirmed.
Boghead Wood Consultation Findings
CSFT and East Dunbartonshire Council are looking to enhance an area of woodland in Lenzie, called Boghead Community Wood. Proposals are currently being put together for a project that will improve the woodland for wildlife and biodiversity, as well as for the enjoyment of local residents.
CSFT recently hosted a community consultation event to understand the needs and aspirations of local residents, click here to read a report on these sessions.
There will be another event organised in the near future for local people to review draft proposals. Venue, date and time to be confirmed. If you would like any further information in the meantime please contact Gillian Barrie by email or on 01501 824793.
Broomage Greenspace - Final Touches Make The Difference
Improvement work at Broomage Greenspace is complete with the new paths and tree planting making a huge difference to the area.Local people, who have been actively involved in the project, can now enjoy their new-found greenspace.
At the launch event on 1st April, 20 children from Larbert Village Primary School helped celebrate the project by planting wildflowers around the young trees in the new woodland to add extra colour and interest. The event was attended by Councillor Gow, Leader of Falkirk Council, who showed her support for the project by formally opening the site.
On 9th April, 20 members of Larbert Pentecostal Church conducted a litter pick, clearing the site of 15 bags of unwanted litter. There was also a fun side to their involvement with the group helping to plant wildflowers, this time wetland species, along the banks of the burn.
The project will have positive benefits for the wider community, creating an attractive area of greenspace for local people to use and enjoy. Through their active participation local people have shown their support and interest in the project, which we hope will ensure the site's use and protection in the long term.
This project has been funded by Falkirk Environment Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage and Falkirk Council.
Kinneil Woodlands Consultation 13/14 Aug 2008
COMMUNITY PLANS TO SAVE KINNEIL WOODLANDS MOVING FORWARDThe consultation process on the future of the historic Kinneil Woodlands continues at a Bo’ness Community Council meeting attended by the Central Scotland Forest Trust (CSFT).
CSFT is seeking feedback from the local community on a draft Woodland Management Plan at the meeting to be held on Wednesday 13th August at 7pm in the meeting rooms above Bo’ness Library, followed by a guided walk through Kinneil Woodlands on Thursday 14th August.
The guided walk will allow the public to get an on-the-ground understanding of what the proposals will involve. Those attending on the 14th August are asked to meet at the car park off Provost Road for a 7pm start.
Local residents of Bo’ness and surrounding areas will be talked through the draft plans and the results from initial meetings in February on the preservation of Kinneil Woodlands.
Sustainable Development Officer for CSFT, Mike Ewart, who will be attending the consultation, said: “The goal of the proposal is to define a long term vision for the management of the woodlands. These include improvement to the woodland structure and meeting ambitions of the wide range of recreational users.”
“A significant area of trees have been lost to the west side of the woodland as they’ve been blown over by high winds. It would be devastating if this woodland suffered further losses in this way and the local community could no longer enjoy the area. As such, what we want to do is actively manage the woodland to safeguard it for the future.”
Since the initial meetings, CSFT has carried out a number of surveys and drafted a detailed management plan which they plan to submit as a bid to Forestry Commissions ‘Woodlands In and Around Towns’ fund in September.
For further information, please contact Mike Ewart, Sustainable Development Officer for CSFT on 01501 824795 or mike.ewart@csft.org.uk .
Find out more about CSFT's proposed management plan for Falkirk Council's Kinneil Woodlands
CSFT are currently participating in the consultation process for the proposed management plan for Falkirk Council's Kinneil Woodlands. Find out more about the proposals by downloading the management plan document.Improvements Planned for Boghead Wood, Lenzie
Nearly £50,000 of funding has been secured to improve Boghead Wood in Lenzie. The project to enhance and protect this beautiful 2.5ha local woodland, is being taken forward by the Central Scotland Forest Trust in partnership with East Dunbartonshire Council.
The project will upgrade the entranceways and paths, improving public access in and around the site. Suppressed and non-native species will be removed to allow a mature woodland canopy to establish. Biodiversity will be enhanced with the creation of a wetland and additional wildflower and native shrub planting. The project also includes a 5 year maintenance programme.
Work is expected to start on-site in early September and will take around 6 weeks to complete. Although disruption will be kept to a minimum, access to the site may be restricted while the work is carried out. Signs will keep users and local people informed of any path closures.
The project is being funded by WREN (through the Landfill Communities Fund), Scottish Natural Heritage, the Stafford Trust and East Dunbartonshire Council's Community Grants Fund.
Local people are being encouraged to get involved in the project by volunteering to plant bluebells and dig the wetland. For more information on these activities and how you can get involved, please contact Gillian Barrie at CSFT on 01501 824793.
This project will make a big difference to the quality of the woodland and its paths allowing many more people to enjoy the peace and quiet and wildlife that it offers.
Kinneil Woodland improvements on the way
A significant area trees has been blown over by high winds on the west side of the woodlands. If it suffered further losses the local community may no longer be able to enjoy this historic woodland.
Local feedback on a management plan to save the woodlands was obtained at a Bo'ness Community Council meeting in August by the Trust and Falkirk Council. A well attended guided walk through the woodlands, to give the public a practical understanding of what the proposals would entail, took place the following day.
The plan was submitted to the Forestry Commission Scotland's 'Woodlands In and Around Towns' scheme in September in an attempt to secure funding to implement it.
The objective is to determine a long-term vision for the woodlands which includes improving its structure and meeting the desires of the wide range of users.
Let's hope the money is forthcoming and the woodlands can be returned to their majestic condition for the whole community to enjoy to the full once again.
