Important Works

A note to all Forest users:

The Kilbride Car park and associated trails will be closed from 10th -28th September for some essential work to the overhead powerlines.  Apologies for any inconvenience.  Similarly, and although not an official recreation route, the Innellan Forest road from wyndham road will also be closed for the same duration.

During this time, why not take the opportunity to explore a different part of the forest, such as the Ardyne trails, very similar in nature to the Kilbride trails but with a different outlook, or venture further north to Kilmun Arboretum or Puck's Glen.

Hope to still see you around (a different part of ) the forest!

Kilbride Update Update!

The work to the overhead powerlines at Kilbride and Innellan has been postponed and at present we don't have a new start date, so please continue to enjoy the forest as usual and watch this space for further updates.

Also, those of you using Kilbride Car Park may have noticed some graphs and posters appearing recently.  These are the work of pupils from Kirn Primary School who have been carrying out surveys of the levels of and distribution of Dog Poo in the area as part of their John Muir Award.  Their results make for interesting and slightly disappointing reading.  We would ask all dog owners to clear up after their dogs, with the best option being bagging it up and taking it with you to an appropriate bin rather than leaving it lying about for someone else to encounter.

See you around the forest soon.

Kilbride Update

Just a quick note to say that the harvesting works on the Balgaidh Burn section of the Kilbride trails is now complete, so the trails are now open and ready to be enjoyed once again -and the view looks a lot different now!

Also, we will be doing some clearing around the overhead powerlines at the entrance to the Kilbride Car park ( just after the Builder's Yard) and on the Innellan Forest access road (just after the forest barrier off Wyndham Rd) during the week of 1st-8th June. This will necessitate the Kilbride Car Park and Innellan Access road being CLOSED for the duration of these works. Please obey any onsite signage and or direction given by staff on the ground - it 's for your own safety. Any questions or concerns please get in touch with the Glenbranter Office on 01369 860703

One last thing, FCS has joined the social networking scene with our very own Facebook page, so if you want to see what's happening around other forests as well as your own, have a look at http://www.facebook.com/enjoyscotlandsforests .

See you around the real and online forests!

Teaching Teachers to Teach Outdoors

For those who enjoy the forests, a rare opportunity has arisen to perhaps make it your job to share that enthusiasm.

The Woodland Trust Scotland are currently recruiting for a Woodland Learning and Communities Officer, to be based in Dumbarton / Kilpatrick Hills area. A key part of this role is training teachers to use the outdoors in the Curriculum.

Anyone interested needs to get in there quick as the closing date for applications is Thursday of this week.

See the following link for details

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/about-us/people-partners/employees/vacancies/Pages/woodland-learning-community-officer.aspx

and possibly see you in a professional capacity around the forest soon.  Good luck!

Walk In The Woods Month



The Tree Council have decreed that May is to be "Walk in the Woods Month", and a very good month for walking in the woods it should be.  With the recent burst of Summer like sunshine, the forest is quickly coming alive with Bluebells abounding, froglets now instead of Tadpoles, Swallows and Cuckoos both reported in the local press.  So if you've not been out for a  while - now's the time to  get back out there and enjoy the fantastic forests on your doorstep. - and see what's changed. (you might be surprised).
With plenty still to keep the team busy - more than likely I'll see you around the forest.

Spring is Sprung

Well, that's winter finished with - allegedly. Must be true the daffodils, crocus, snowdrops and frogspawn are all out in abundance. Won't be long until the first Cuckoo is heard in the forest.

The team have been very busy over the past couple of months, clearing windblown trees and reparing storm damage across the Argyll Forest Park. The Canada Hill single track section of the Corlarach Loop has been redirected (follow the waymarkers) and is now open and waiting for its first walkers, cyclists or riders of the season. The Harvesting continues above Kilbride so please continue to observe onsite directions and safety notices.

There is scheduled to be some thinning and harvesting taking place around the Kilbride entrance to the forest and around The Tom above Innellan in the near future, no set dates as yet but I'll keep you updated.

Hope you're all set to get out and about and I'll see you around the forest.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy new year to all! Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year and didn't get blown away by the recent winds. Speaking of which, if you are venturing out into the forest please do exercise extra caution as there is likely to be extensive storm damage in the form of fallen trees and possible damage to trails and roads. We have a lot of facilities to check and have not had time to inspect all of them and make them safe yet, so if you do come across something you think we should know about please do contact us on 01369 860703.

Here's to a great 2012, when hopefully i'll see you around the forest.

Happy Christmas

A massive THANK You to all who turned out at the weekend to support CLANN and ourselves at the West Bay, I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and went home with the right Christmas tree for you. It was a succeful event and CLANN will be receiving a cheque for their efforts early in the new year.

Thank You also to those who have reported fallen trees following the incredibly strong winds recently. We are currently working through our list to clear them as qucikly as possible. In the meantime please do exercise caution if visiting the woods over the festive season.

The harvesting works above Kilbride look likely to continue untiil March 2012 so please continue to observe all onsite signage and I'll also keep you updated on here.


Best Wishes to all over the holidays, and I hope to see you (Tinsel Optional) around the forest.

HARVESTING AT KILBRIDE

Just a quick word of warning. As of today, Tuesday 23rd August, there will be harvesting machinery moving into Kilbride ahead of beginning operations at the end of the week.

The felling area is quite large and complicated so the harvesting works are likely to continue until December at the earliest. This will mean that the top sections of the Blue and Yellow routes will have to be closed at times during the operation so please look out for and obey any and all onsite signage - particularly that pertaining to passing working machinery.

There will also be timber lorries and other vehicles using the forest road so please bear this in mind when using the forest in the near future.

See you, being safe, around the forest!

ACTIV8 2011

Returning for a second consecutive year, ACTIV8 Outdoor Recreation Festival will be held at Glenbranter Forest on Saturday 20th August, 11am-5pm.

An ideal opportunity to try out some of the vast array of activities which are carried out in Dunoon's Forest and beyond! Have a go at Archery, Canoeing, Mountain Biking, Geocaching, and more. Watch the Rescue Dog Demonstration and visit Jubilee point to watch the West Districts Open Water Swimming Championships.

There's going to be plenty to see and do for all the family, so dress for the weather, bring a midge net or wear repellent and get stuck in! Entry is FREE although there may be a small charge for some activities

See you, being Active, around the Glenbranter Forest

From Small Acorns..

This Weekend (13th & 14th August) sees the return of the hugely popular Small Acorns event at Hunters Quay Holiday Village, Dunoon. This event is run by Argyll Holidays in partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland.

Come along and take part in a variety of environmental activities, learn about the strange sea creatures, bats, birds of prey and more, that surround us. Enjoy a guided minibus tour / walk with the Forestry Commission rangers or even just soak up the atmosphere while enjoying some refreshments at the Hunters Bar& Grill.

Something for all ages. 10am -4pm both days - and it's FREE!!!

See you around the Holiday Village!

FOREST FESTIVAL

Forestry Commission Scotland are celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Argyll Forest Park by hosting a FOREST FESTIVAL, this Saturday (23rd July) at Glenbranter Forest. Come along and join us for some forestry related family fun activities, horse logging demonstrations, forest tours and much more!!
The event runs from 10am to 4pm and is FREE and suitable for all ages.

An Exciting Opportunity

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RANGER POST

Fixed Term contract for 12months
Salary £25,000 pa 35hours over 7 days

Dunoon Community Development Group is looking to employ a Community Development Ranger whose duties will include:

Promoting the forest areas of The Bishop's Glen and Morag's Fairy Glen and organising community activities.
Developing links between the project and local schools.
Supporting work teams as part of an ongoing maintenance programme for the area.
Encouraging outdoor and environmental activity as a means of improving health and well being.
Contributing to the planning, monitoring and maintenance of forest areas.

DCDG are looking for applicants with excellent presentation skills, the ability to work on their own initiative and a background in forestry or outdoor recreation. The post also requires a driving licence and a willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.

Application forms are available from HELP (Argyll& Bute) Limited at 17/19 John Street, Dunoon PA23 8BN, telephone Chris on (01369)707600 or email chris@helptd.org.uk and should be returned by Friday 17th June.

Funded by the Forestry Commission F4P Challenge Fund.

The answer my friend.....

... is , along with everything else, blowing very muchly in the wind.

After the recent strong winds, many areas of the forest have been affected by fallen or hanging trees or branches. The team have been very busy clearing routes and roadsides across the district, and we can now say that all of the Dunoon's Forest Trails are open and waiting!

Should you happen across any further blockages, please do let us know on 01369 860703

See you around the (windswept) forest.

All too easy!

You will probably all have seen the Forest Fires currently being fought in Perthshire and in England. When the weather has been as good as it has for the past couple of weeks, the ground and forest become very dry and it only takes one carelessly discarded cigarette and large swathes of important habitat can be destroyed.

PLEASE could all who visit the forest take extra care during this dry spell and report ANY fires they see.

See you (covered in Sun Block!!) around the forest.

Flick It!!

Those of you who have been out and about will have noticed the appearance of some new blue signs bearing the slogan "Flick it with a stick". These are in response to an increase in the amount of dog mess being left behind on tracks and in bags tied to trees, gates, fences and waymarkers in the forest. These signs advocate that on the trails - well away from car parks and buildings, that if people are not going to pick up their dog's mess and TAKE IT AWAY then they should flick the mess off the trail with a stick. Around car parks etc we'd still appreciate it if people took their dog's mess away with them.

Hopefully this will increase everyone's enjoyment of the trails.

See you (with flicking stick in hand) around the forest

Road Improvements

Just a quick note to advise that as of Tuesday 22nd February, for two weeks, please be aware of construction traffic in the area as we upgrade the forest road above the Kilbride car park. The trails will remain open but please obey any on site signage.

See you, and probably some big trucks, around the forest!

Spread the Word

2011

A happy new year to you all!

January is now well under way and with the weather relaxing its icy grip (a bit), why not get out into the forest this weekend and remind yourself that trees are not usually white!

The pre christmas weather has delayed things a bit for us; planting which was delayed will begin as soon as the ground is thawed, now we can see the trails our inspections and maintenance can resume, harvesting of some sites which have been waiting to be felled can get underway, and with 2011 being the International Year of Forests and the 75th anniversary of Argyll Forest Park we will be organising a series of events throughout the forests - watch this & other spaces....

So, get out there, breathe in the bracing - but good for you, 2011 air, and I hope to see you around the forest.

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.