Tribute to David’s woodland work

Conservationist is leaving Perth

A conservationist who helped transform wildlife at a Perth beauty spot over the past eight years is to step down from his role.

David Wood (65) is to step back from the Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park User Group’s committee at an AGM on Wednesday, November 20.

The retiree joined the group in 2011 after moving to the Kinnoull area from George Street in Perth.

David has overseen a huge revamp in the fortunes of the hill including fruit tree planting, the initiation of a community orchard to improve tree welfare and the conservation of local wildlife.

The former Perth store owner has said he is retiring to Aberdeenshire, where he is originally from, to spend more time with his family.

The decision follows the death of his wife, Kirsty Morris earlier this year.

He said: “For family reasons, and after over 20 years living in Perth, I’ve had to move away and move back to Aberdeenshire.

“I have decided to do it so I can be with my family.

“I’ll still keep the Facebook page alive but Marian Coburn will take over the main role, with group secretary Jane taking over the role of managing the community orchard.

“I started eight years ago in 2011 after I moved to the area.

“I saw there was a lot of conservation there [Kinnoull Hill] and joined the group and from there it has blossomed and now has over 500 members.

“People all over the world are now a part of it.”

David and Kirsty were particularly successful in boosting the red squirrel population at the hill to protect the species from viruses spread from their gray counterparts.

“I am very proud of our red squirrel conservation work,” he added.

“Gray squirrels were everywhere when I was first here.

“Marian Coburn will continue the red squirrel conservation.

“She has done a great job. She has effectively already taken these duties over.”

David also praised the change in the public conscience towards the environment since he first took the helm.

“The awareness for the need for more conservation and to be more eco-friendly with the nature side of things has improved,” he added.

“Over time people have been made more aware of things like that. Everybody that is there have been very helpful and have been a huge