Revealing the past
Hidden views will be restored
Visitors to Chatelherault Country Park will soon be able to gaze over stunning views that have been hidden since the 1950s.
Forestry harvesters are currently at work, restoring the nationally important historic landscape.
The removal of 800 tonnes of nonnative western hemlock conifers surrounding the Visitor Centre began last Monday (August 7) and is set to be completed this week.
Removing the commercial plantations will regenerate native wildlife and restore views over the Duke’s Bridge, Cadzow Castle and the Avon Gorge.
Malcolm Muir, countryside and greenspace manager for South Lanarkshire Council, said: “The visitor centre at Chatelherault Country Park was originally the Duke of Hamilton’s hunting lodge, connected to Hamilton Palace by an avenue of trees, one mile north-west.
“The site of the hunting lodge was chosen for the magnificent views over the Avon Gorge which have since been obscured by the hemlocks. The removal of these trees and subsequent regeneration of the shorter native broad-leaved trees will restore the historic views and landscape for generations to come, as well as increase biodiversity.
“We encourage people to plan a visit after the work has taken place so that they can enjoy the stunning views over the Avon Gorge, enjoyed originally by the Dukes of Hamilton and their hunting parties.”
Revenue generated from the felled timber, along with funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund and LEADER supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP), will be reinvested in restoring features of the former Hamilton Palace Estate, now the country park.
The South Lanarkshire Countryside Rangers are working to maintain access from the car park to the golf course path for the duration of the project, but it is anticipated that the Duke’s Bridge path will be closed for a number of days for the safety of visitors. On-site signage has been installed to guide visitors safely around the area, and visitors are advised to check the South Lanarkshire Countryside Rangers Facebook page and with visitor centre staff for up-to-date information.
The woodlands at Chatelherault are one of the most important components of the ancient woodlands of the Clyde Valley National Nature Reserve, and one of the most biologically diverse natural habitats in Scotland. The ancient woodland soils are rich in fungi and other micro-organisms that will support the natural regeneration of native broad-leaved trees and increase biodiversity; currently limited by the non-native conifers. These dense plantations support little wildlife and have grown up to block the once breath-taking views over the Avon Water that had long been a feature of one of Scotland’s oldest and greatest designed landscapes.
You can watch some incredible drone footage shot over Chatelherault at the Hamilton Advertiser’s website or Facebook page, which reveals the views that have been obscured for over half a century.