Trust to take over Dunollie Wood
The Woodland Trust Scotland has taken over management of Dunollie Wood, an 80-acre ancient woodland on the northern edge of Oban.
Woodland Trust Scotland (WTS) has been gifted the land from Dunollie Estate for a peppercorn rent over 99 years from last week.
The trust will manage woodland on and between the two hills, Barra Mor and Barr Cruinn. It is not taking on the open bracken areas on Barr Cruinn, the trees to the town side of the cycle route behind the Esplanade or woodland on the tenanted farm to the north.
The current chief of the Clan MacDougall – Madam Morag MacDougall of MacDougall – said: ‘As a family we recognised the importance of the ancient native woodland to the whole area, and felt that it needed the expert management of the woodland trust to make sure that our precious woods will continue to be enhanced ecologically for the benefit of both the wildlife within it, be it plant life, animals or birds, and therefore an asset to Oban and for the benefit of future generations.’
The WTS is holding a dropin session at the Corran Halls from 3pm to 7pm on May 9 to outline general plans and to hear people’s thoughts. A more detailed management plan will be consulted on before the end of the year.
There will also be volunteering opportunities to take part in woodland conservation and the WTS says it is aiming to use local contractors where possible.
The WTS wants to improve the biodiversity and public access, and to eliminate invasive non-native species. Dunollie Wood is home to small areas of Atlantic oak wood, hazel wood and birch, which supports a spectacular range of plants, ferns, mosses, lichens and flowers.
Dunollie will fit into a chain of Woodland Trust Scotland sites up and down the west coast – Uig on Skye, Loch Arkaig Pine Forest in Lochaber, Ben Shieldaig in Torridon (which the trust hopes to complete purchase on soon) and Crinan Wood in Argyll – showcasing Scotland’s rainforests.
Woodland Trust Scotland site manager Ross Watson said: ‘It is currently managed on a good maintenance basis. As a specialist woodland conservation charity, we have the skill and experience to manage it to its full potential for people and wildlife. We are grateful to the estate for this opportunity.’
The Woodland Trust Scotland is part of the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK with more than 500,000 supporters.