Clean-Up Day 1st February 2025

On Saturday 1^st February once again saw 14 volunteers including 2 younger members from the local community in the Community woodland to continue cleaning up the trees and bushes along the core paths. The volunteers split up into two groups, with some continuing to prune back the large Rhododendron ponticum covering the core path at the gate into Brahan Estate. The second group started to clear the overhanging trees and bushes covering the core path leading to Dunglass Road. One of our professional foresters in the group marked out the trees to be kept, to make sure none of the native species were removed by mistake. This core path was cleared back about 2 metres to expose the original core path and make it easier to scrape and reinstate the path once funding is available. The core path will allow everyone in the community to use the path including horse riders, cyclists, walkers, runners, people with buggies and disabled to gain access to the community woodland.

Later in the morning, the two groups joined forces to clear all the cut down Rhododendron branches from the track and form a large heap behind the existing bush. This allows the cut branches to die back while making sure any roots are clear of the ground to prevent them rerouting. At the end of the 2 hours, the volunteers made their way back down the core path to Birch Drive to enjoy some hot bacon rolls and cups of tea and a friendly chat amongst ourselves.

Once again, the Maryburgh Community Woodland Group would like to thank all the willing volunteers who gave up their Saturday morning to help clear the bushes and trees on the core paths.