We are now committed through the Phoenix Initiative 2005 to replant using broad leaves and indigenous trees which would improve the bio-diversity throughout the woodland. One of last years tasks was to replace the fencing, some of which was at least forty years old and showing its age. Areas had been demolished by storm damage and other parts succumbed to the West Coast weather. Plenty of evidence of deer activity within the existing dilapidated perimeter fencing meant this would have to be addressed before any planting could commence. Whilst one day we may welcome the deer back once the woodland is mature enough to sustain them, for now they are an unwanted guest.
As the new fencing was being constructed we wanted to make start on the recreational side of the woodland development. A good well finished trail starting and ending at the main car park looping the heart of the Wood taking in Loch na Cathrach Duibhe would serve several purposes:
- give the public and our members an opportunity to walk safely and easily to one of the lochans and return to the car park
- create a route for our own management purposes allowing us to access most areas quickly and comfortably
- in the event of someone becoming ill or injured we would have an easy casualty evacuation route
Working almost in reverse, the fencing and trail construction commenced in January 2007. Once completed, the area for the log storage during the felling operation (which had been partly cleared and hard surfaced) had to be redesigned and completed as a car parking area.
The deadline for all this work was April 2007 and after a final tidy and brush up the official opening of the wood took place on May 5th. This was our first major event staged since the purchase of the wood and it proved a great success. Many of the people who had helped us, particularly since the storm damage, attended and over a hundred and thirty people walked around the main trail in the first three hours of opening. Setting off to the skirl of the pipes our intrepid pioneers were delighted to find a buffet awaiting at Loch na Cathrach Duibhe and we all enjoyed a good céilidh despite the high winds!
Having reached this stage it seemed we should allow the remaining summer months for people to enjoy and nature do her best. Whilst trees and flowers are presenting their summer show for our benefit, the animals and birds are looking for pleasant places to carry on their daily tasks and in 2007 we have seen an increase in the abundance of our flora and fauna, adding several species to our database.
The summer fallow strategy has proved successful and one we will continue to adopt in the future, leaving any major projects to the end of Autumn through the Winter months. This increase in tree species and establishing riparian zones along the water courses will improve the biodiversity even further.
