Forestry Commission Scotland needs volunteers this weekend in Stranraer

The Stranraer community and anyone else prepared to travel is being invited to help plant some of the 100,000 trees that will create the town’s own community woodland.

To get more local people actively involved in creating a community woodland, a special volunteer planting day is being held on Saturday 10th July 12 – 3pm at Gallowhill Farm – everyone is welcome.

Last year, Forestry Commission Scotland bought the land directly above King George Park, with a view of turning part of it into a thriving new woodland for local people to enjoy.

Stan Corcoran from Forestry Commission Scotland said:

“This should be a fun day and one that everyone can get join in with. We have so many plans to make this woodland a fantastic place for local people and visitors and it would be great if we can get a helping hand to plant all these trees.

” Everyone, no matter the age, can take part and plant for generations to come. You don’t need any experience, just lots of enthusiasm”.

Plans for the new woodland at Gallowhill already include a path network to boost opportunities for walking, a new car park with disabled access and a community pond surrounded by shrubs and fruit trees.

The local community has been involved in the design and development of the woodland through drop-in meetings run by the Commission. Now, a newly formed project group has been established to help take forward the development of the woodland for the benefit of the community.

Future plans for the Gallowhill Community Woodland Project also include sourcing funding for bat, bird and mammal boxes and stone features. The Commission is also working with the project group to possibly buy the former farm buildings at Gallowhill farm to redevelop them for community use.

For more information about the tree planting day, please contact Stan Corcoran or Lyndy Renwick at Forestry Commission Scotland on 01671 402 420.