Changes Afoot At Backmuir Wood
Thanks to grants from Scottish Natural Heritage and Angus Environment Trust, the Woodland Trust Scotland, part of the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity is engaging in a numerous works to make the wood more welcoming and encourage the local community to make more use of the woodland.
Already a popular spot for dog walkers, the Trust wants to encourage more people to use this natural resource. The Trust will construct a surfaced multi-use path which will be suitable for both wheel chair users and push chairs. This upgraded path will be a circular route of approximately 1.3km long and addresses local demand for improved access. The path will also upgrade part of the Sidlaw path network which runs through the wood enabling better access to part of the trail around Muirhead, Birkhill and Liff.
With the help of local school children a leaflet will be produced to help increase visitors enjoyment to the wood. The leaflet will inform visitors of what you might find in the woodland, and will contain a map illustrating the network of paths around the wood.
The wood will continue to be managed to benefit wildlife. Working with local volunteers at Backmuir Wood, we hope to protect and promote the red squirrel population.
Jill Aitken, Woodland Officer said: “Backmuir Wood is a popular walking destination with the local community we hope that by making these improvements it will enable everyone to enjoy a trip through the wood.”
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Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact: Jacqui Morris on 01355 578777 or mobile 07979 706675 The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust: The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres).
In 1984, the Trust acquired its first wood in Scotland. Today the Trust owns 80 sites across Scotland covering 8,500 hectares. Further news can be accessed via www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
Backmuir Wood: Backmuir Wood is situated to the north west of Dundee on the outskirts of the villages of Muirhead and Liff. The wood is important for its diversity of habitats. There is a great variety of tree species and of differing ages. One magnificent beech, thought to date back to the 1800s can be found in the centre of the wood. The wood is a popular place locally and the many paths are well used.
