Charity take down trees
Treelink Stirling has been busy removing trees in Abbey Craig Woods, the woodland that shares the Abbey Craig with the Wallace Monument.
The local environmental charity has been working to support Stirling Council by removing young trees.
These woods are mainly mature, broadleaved species with some pine and spruce. They support fungi, lichens, mosses, plants, invertebrates, birds and mammals.
Treelink trustee Ann White said:“in recent years storms have caused considerable damage and toppled many of the mature native trees.
“This has opened up areas which are being taken over by self-seeded sycamore. If these are left to mature they will dominate large areas of the wood and prevent the growth of other species such as oak which support a much larger and more diverse range of wildlife.”
Treelink approached the council last year and, after an initial session led by Greenspace Rangers, has been organising council approved working parties.
Treelink volunteers, working with handsaws and loppers, have cleared several areas of sycamore saplings.
These will be replaced with suitable native species, which could be grown by local volunteers in Treelink’s tree nursery.
Ann helped to organise the sessions and co-led one earlier this month.
She said:“although the work was quite strenuous the volunteers really enjoyed it and it was very rewarding to see what a huge difference we had made.”
Volunteer Robin Clark added:“it’s been lovely working in the woodland, hard work but great fun and very worthwhile. I’ve met lots of friendly folk.”
A Stirling Council Greenspace Rangers spokesperson said:“it is great to have a community group on board with the ongoing management of Abbey Craigwoodlands.”
Find out more about Treelink by going along to the Treelink Spring Gathering on the morning of March 4 in the Guide Hall on Glebe Avenue, Stirling. For more details and to register visit www. treelinkstirling.org.