Over the last month, contractors have been hard at work in the Crossmichael Community Woodland, improving the footpath, installing a new bridge, benches, and a picnic area.
The Community Woodland, accessed from the path on St Michael’s road and just uphill from the Primary School, has always been popular, however, access during wet periods and to those with buggies or pushchairs was limited. Crossmichael & District Community Council has led on a project to make a series of improvements to address this.
The Project cost approximately £20,000, funded in partnership by the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme and by Blackcraig Wind Farm Community Fund with funding from Blackcraig Wind Farm (Scotland) Limited, administered by Foundation Scotland working in partnership with The Glenkens & District Trust.
The work is now complete, and the site is now open to all.
The work was led by Crossmichael & District Community Council. The Chairman, Richard Middleton said:
Our Community Woodland has been a valued village asset since it was first planted some 25 years ago, but there have always been some accessibility problems, especially in wet weather. We have now finally been able to sort these out, and at the same time we have taken the opportunity to install extra benches and picnic tables. I hope this will make the woodland even more attractive to residents and visitors alike. We could not have done this without the generous support of our two funders, and we are very grateful to them – as we are also to the Shedden family, who own the land and who continue to support community use of the woodland.
Fiona Smith, Chair of the Glenkens & District Trust, said:
I was delighted to walk along this improved footpath and enjoy the beautiful views. The project is a great example of groups working together to make a real difference to their communities. The monies were awarded in the first round of funding from the Blackcraig Fund and there are now a number of excellent examples of where money from the fund is supporting our communities and the people who live here.
McNabb Laurie, Galloway Glens Team Leader, added:
“The woodland is ideally placed on the edge of the village, making it such a great asset for residents and visitors. Every time I have visited the site, it is being well used. All credit to the Community Council for identifying and addressing the access problems in the woodland.
I am particularly delighted that the work was undertaken by a Dumfries & Galloway based business, with the path itself being made of the world-famous Dalbeattie granite. The Galloway Glens Scheme has drawn together funding from lottery players across the country and we aim to spend as much of that as possible in the local economy. This is needed now more than ever.
Our thanks go to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and all supporters of the Galloway Glens Scheme, including the Council’s Environment Team and the UNESCO Biosphere.”
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