| Greenrigg Community Woodland |
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The site, owned by West Lothian Council, forms the green edge between the settlement of Greenrigg, on the western edge of West Lothian, and the M8 motorway.
It is split between existing mixed woodland, 15-20 years old, and an area of open space, which is abandoned grazing ground.
The Council identified the site as a possible area for woodland planting with value being added to the local community by creating a new link path route through it.
Project achievements:
As the open ground was largely improved grassland, with little of habitat or biodiversity interest, the planting will create new woodland habitats that will support a greater variety of species.
The woodland has been planted predominantly with native broadleaves with a smaller percentage of conifers which will help improve the amenity value of the site as well as blending it with the existing surrounding woodland types.
The new woodlands will enhance the landscape of the local area and provide an additional buffer to the M8 traffic noise. The new path route will improve the opportunities for access routes within woodland and greenspaces.
A 5 year maintenance programme will ensure that the woodlands become adequately established and the path routes are maintained. The project will help to meet the government’s demand for woodland creation, as well as local priorities for connecting woodland habitats and useable areas of greenspace.
Total cost £36,500 funded by: CSFT Forest Carbon (a carbon offsetting agency) West Lothian Council West Lothian Development Fund Scottish Rural Development Programme |
