Published on:
18
July 2012
Clackmannanshire Council's have teamed up with the Central Scotland Forest Trust on an £80,000 project to improve the woodland at Back Wood, Clackmannan.
The project, which is being designed and co-ordinated by CSFT in consultation with Clackmannanshire Council, will create a range of benefits including removal of windblown trees, the restoration of the woodland with native broadleaf species, biodiversity and access improvements.
The Council's Sustainability Team and CSFT propose to carry out a programme of community consultation in relation to the project and currently envisage that this will begin in September.
Clackmannanshire Council's Environment Committee Convenor, Councillor Donald Balsillie, said: "It is planned to involve the community council and other local groups in the consultation with a view to involving local people who value the woodland in the project."
Back Wood is a planted conifer woodland which lies on the edge of the village of Clackmannan, south of the Black Devon River.
It is a key feature in the local landscape and is valued and well used by local people for dog walking and other recreational activities.
Councillor Balsillie added: "The woodland is well established. Recent storms have caused significant damage and many trees have come down. There is an ongoing risk of the quality of the woodland being lost unless appropriate work on the woodland is carried out."
This project is aimed at enhancing the woodland, improving the species mix and maintaining its important position in the surrounding wider Habitat Network.
Improvements will include clear-felling an area of over developed, dangerous and non-native woodland, restocking with native broadleaf species; removing windblow and deadwood which is currently blocking access through the stand of native Scots Pine.
There will also be a programme to remove Rhododendron along the Black Devon improving water quality, as well as replanting of ground cover species to assist natural regeneration.
Councillor Balsillie explained: "The project will also improve public access by upgrading paths and removing litter and dumping.
"We will seek local comment and feedback on the proposals through a series of consultation events and more formal meetings with the Community Council and other relevant local groups."
Local people will also be encouraged to participate in the project, helping to carry out tree, shrub and wildflower planting.
Once completed, CSFT and the Clackmannanshire Ranger Service will also lead a series of walks and events in and around the woodland to raise awareness of the project and encourage greater use.