Merry Christmas!

Just a quick note to wish all who visit the forest a Merry Christmas.

Please be aware that the car parks and trails may well be covered in snow and ice and may be difficult to access. I would urge anyone using them over the holiday period to take extra care although I hope you all get the opportunity to get out and enjoy the forest and continue to do so throughout 2011.

2011 is the International Year of Forests and the 75th Anniversary of the Argyll Forest Park, so watch out for details of lots of local events for the family to enjoy.

Best wishes for the festive season, and hope to see you around the forest lots next year.

Snowvember!

As the park takes on its winter coat a bit early this year, we would advise anyone enjoying the forest to take extra care if using our trails and car parks, particularly now the snow has frozen, melted a bit and frozen again.

The snow does of course provide the opportunity to see tracks left by animals which would otherwise go unnoticed, as well as giving the whole forest a magical winter wonderland feel.


Hope to see you (well wrapped up) around the forest! Or alternatively at Dunoon Stadium Car Park 11th &12th, 10-4, where we will be selling Real Christmas Trees along with CLANN and other local interest groups. Free tea/coffee & mince pies!

Cowalfest 2010

It's October in Dunoon, which means it's Cowalfest time again!!

Cowalfest Walking and Arts festival is one of the largest and most varied festivals in Scotland with more than 80 led walks, horserides, cycles and events covering such areas of interest as wildlife,drama, music, photography, Tai Chi, history and heritage. What better way to explore the stunning scenery of Cowal than in the company of enthusiastic, knowledgeable and like minded people.

This year FCS are leading two walks in Dunoon's Forests. On Monday 11th October we will be walking the Kilbride Trails, meeting at the Glenmorag Carpark in West Bay Dunoon at 1000 and on Wednesday 13th The Ardyne trails, meeting at Season's Coffee shop by the Dunoon Tourist Information Centre at 0930. You can book your place on these - or any of the other Cowalfest activities by visiting their website at www.cowalfest.org or by dropping in to the Season's Coffee shop.

We will be kicking off our contribution to the festival with our Nuts About Squirrels event at Glenbranter on Saturday 9th October from 11am-4pm, come along and join us for some Russet Related Recreation!

So wrap up warm and I'll see you Cowalfesting around the Forest!

Bat Watch 2010

A dry but blustery Wednesday night saw a 28 strong band of intrepid Bat Watchers gather in the Kilbride Car Park for the 3rd Bat watch of the season.
Things started off with a quick cuppa from the back of the little green van while local bat expert and FCS ranger Andy Kerr described the different habitats we would be visiting and the types of bats we could expect to encounter. As things got a bit darker and with bat detectors held high, we ventured into the Forest around Bishop's Glen and very soon an excited buzz passed through the group as we heard the click, click, click of Soprano Pippestrelle bats overhead. For some in the group this was their first time actually hearing and seeing bats in the wild, and they were thoroughly amazed at how close they came to us, how fast they flew and how well we could hear them echo locating through the bat detectors.
We continued on into the glen and spent some time on the bridge watching and listening as we were visited by more Soprano's and some Brown Long Eared bats, much to the delight of the group - particularly the children!
Returning to the car park via the forest road, questions were asked and answered and the overall feeling was that the night was a great success, and at least one bat watcher was off home to search a well known internet auction site for night vision goggles and bat detector!
Many thanks to all who came along, and in particular Andy Kerr, Annette Watson of Visit Scotland and Rowan Fraser - Ranger with Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, for giving up their time and sharing their knowledge so enthusiastically.

We look forward to more of the same next year. In the meantime - why not get out there yourself and see if you can spot the bats - or anything else for that matter.

See you around the forest (probably in the daylight!)

The Chase

The Chase - the signature event of the Scotts Land Programme is a unique off road duathlon within the stunning setting of the Trossachs. Inspired by Sir Walter Scott's poem "Lady of the Lake" The Chase is a sporting event with a difference!

• 15 mile off road cycle from Callander to Invertrossachs
• 6-10 mile orienteering course
• 15 mile off road cycle return to Callander

The Wee Chase

A shorter challenge - the Wee Chase is a fun event for all ages. 3 mile walk or cycle and an exciting treasure hunt.

£10 for adults and £5 for children, entry includes duathlon, goody bag and after race medieval party with local food , drink and entertainment.

Register today at http://www.thechaserace.com/

From Small Acorns

Next weekend sees the return of the ever popular "From Small Acorns "event at Hunters Quay Holiday Village run by Cowal Leisure Ltd in partnership with FCS.

As Always this promises to be a family friendly fun day out. Take part in FREE indoor and outdoor activities, meet and learn about starnge sea creatures, birds of prey, bats, hedgehogs and more. Enjoy the rare opportunity of a guided minibus tour into the quiet woods on the side of Loch Eck in the company of a Forestry Commission Ranger.

The event is on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th August from 10am -4pm both days.

So come along and who knows - maybe see you around the Holiday Village!!

School's Out!! - Now What!

As the schools break up for summer, kids(and parents) will be looking for things to do to help while away the hours. As always the Forests are open for business 7 days a week to go for a walk, cycle, horse ride or general exploration!

This year for the first time in the district we will be running a Junior Rangers programme called "Wild Wednesdays" where, in conjunction with the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Rangers and Argyll Holidays, youngsters aged between 8-12 can take part in a series of nature themed activities, challenges and safaris. Taking place every Wednesday in July between 12-4pm, each week will have a different theme and be based at a different location around Cowal. As this is our first year of trying this, places are very limited so contact Steve on 01786 220222 or Glenbranter Forest Office on 01369 860703 as soon as possible to reserve a space.

Cost is £3 per child per Wednesday.

See you around the Forests, with some Junior Rangers!

Disaster!!

Dear Frogwatchers,

I'm sorry to have to report that the recent spell of hot weather has spelled the end of our breeding area, it's completely dried up and all our youngsters have gone - hopefully some will have made it into other pools or damp ground nearby.

On a happier note, I noticed yesterday that we do still have a thriving small population of palmate newts in a different pool.

Off to take a group of Dunoon Primary School pupils on an exploration of the forest, might see you there!!

Frogwatch - Update!

Hi Frogwatch Followers!

On close inspection of our breeding ground today it would appear that we have tadpoles of two different species, though they are a bit wee still to tell exactly which. Will be keeping a close eye on them. Also noticed some Damselfly nymphs, water boatmen, pond skaters and whirligig beetles. There's a lot going on in a relatively small space!

Hope your own frogwatches are going so well.

See you around the forest!

Bio Blitz Day

Lower Clyde Greenspace are organising a Bio Blitz Day for Saturday 5th June at the Bishop's Glen to tie in with BBC 's Springwatch Wild Day Out. Between 10am and 2.30pm come along and discover (or rediscover if you've not been there for a while) this fantastic informal country park on the towns back door. Learn about the New GREEN GYM project, take part in a range of hands on environmental activities, bring your own bike and join in a led mountain bike session between 10:30 and12:30 or join myself for a less strenuous guided walk around the glen from 13:00 to 14:00.

Bring your own picnic and make a day of it!

See you in the glen!!

Exciting Times

Well, I hope you all enjoyed your summer over the weekend!!

Exciting news on Frogwatch-all the adult frogs have vanished and we have our first hatchlings!

The forest is now bursting into life all around us and you are taking to the forest in fantastic numbers. Some of these numbers were those of you who took part in the Sport Relief Event at the West Bay - well done for taking part and raising so much money!! especially well done to CLANN and St Mun's Primary School for all your hard work.

Also you may have noticed some path works going on at the back of the Bishop's Glen - this marks the first phase of an exciting new partnership between The Forestry Commission and Argyll & Bute Council with the main aim of linking the Bishop's Glen to FC land, making it easier for people to access a greater range of recreational opportunities on their doorstep.

Watch this space for further exciting developments on this and other projects....


See you around the forest.

Frogwatch

No doubt about it now, signs of spring are all around, Crocus, Daffodil, Snowdrop, bluebell shoots and of course ....frogs by the hundred taking advantage of almost every drainage ditch and puddle. The puddle where this picture was taken had nothing in it last week, now there are over 100 frogs and is completely covered in frog spawn. I'll be keeping a close eye to see how this develops over the coming weeks so please join me on Frogwatch (or start your own at a puddle near you!!) .

Any plans for Sunday 28th March?

No, then why not join CLANN, St Mun's Primary School and the FC Rangers for a Sport Relief Event. Starting at the West Bay park there will be a 1 mile run along the promenade and back and a slightly longer 3 mile event for those who want to stretch their legs a bit further. Watch this space for times and details.

Hope to see you there, if not see you around the forest.

Going Live!

After more than a year of hard work by the team and a lot of much appreciated input from local people, the new Dunoon's Forests web pages have gone live this week.

Check them out at www.forestry.gov.uk/dunoonsforests and please let us know what you think.

These vibrant new pages will enable visitors and locals alike to see exactly what the forests that stretch between Dunoon and the southern end of the Cowal Peninsula have to offer, whatever their area of interest. These pages will be regularly updated so if you happen to have any photographs that you have taken on your trips into the woods and would like to share them then please do send them to us.

Those of you who have been out and about this week will have noticed that the higher trails have been difficult to access because of the snow(again!) but the lower trails such as those at Ardyne are beginning to take on a real spring like appearance. In fact we've had to trim & thin quite a bit at Ardyne ready for the season ahead.

No Cuckoos as yet but I have heard much Woodpecker activity and had a really quite close encounter with a large female buzzard who swooped down to grab a small mammal of some sort not less than 8ft from me.

A good forecast for the weekend ahead so hopefully I'll see you in the forest.

Spotted

Despite still having to scrape the van windows in the morning, it would appear that we are drawing ever closer to spring. I have been reliably informed (though yet to see photos) that Snowdrops and even Bluebell shoots have been spotted in the woods!! It must be time to start listening out for the first Cuckoo!

Not Quite Spring

Well, that's January pretty much gone already!

It's been a busy start to what promises to be an equally busy year in Dunoon's Forests. The team have been out and about checking trails, car parks etc (do stop us and say "Hello" if you see us about) to make sure they're good to go for anyone visiting the forest.

The wildlife is also beginning to make itself more evident once again. On my stroll from Innellan to Toward last weekend I spotted 3 Buzzards, 2 Jays, 4 Roe Deer, a Redwing and this sizeable spider's web. I even met a couple of people on bikes. No sign of the first Spring flowers just yet! (unless you've seen otherwise?)

Just a reminder that there are currently harvesting works ongoing by the Blue Lochan above Innellan, so please lookout for any warning signs, diversions or trucks on the forest roads.

It looks like it might be a bit wetter and windier this weekend - but don't let that stop you getting out there - go on, you know you want to!!

See you around the forest.

Open for business

Greetings, and welcome to the first blog of 2010.

With the snow and ice finally gone, the tracks and trails of Dunoon's Forests are once again open and waiting for you!! The weather forecast for this weekend looks spectacular - if maybe still a little cold so why not get out there and enjoy some walking, biking, riding or whatever you fancy.

If you take your camera with you, feel free to send us your pics for possible inclusion in our new Dunoon's Forests web pages which are due to go live very soon.- watch this space.

See you around the Forest.

Happy Trails!