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Countryside Section News, Issues & Projects

 

Christmas at Beecraigs 2011

Countryside Section is preparing for Christmas and the annual Christmas tree sales have been scheduled for the 3rd.-18th. December (depending on remaining stock levels).  Advanced orders are always recommended due to demand and orders are being taken from Monday 7th. November by telephoning 01506 848943.  Enquiries can also be made for venison orders, for something extra special this Christmas/New Year.  Gift vouchers are also available to purchase from the Visitor Centre as well as a choice from a selection of gifts, novelties, condiments, cards and wrap.  The Ranger Service has a number of events running through December including Christmas Crafts and the ever popular Deer Walks.  Contact 01506 844516 for further information.

New Arrivals at Beecraigs

A fold of Highland cattle arrived at Beecraigs in early summer 2010 and have proved a welcome attraction to Park visitors.  The fold was sourced from the award-winning cattle based at Glasgow City Council's Pollok Country Park.  This hardy, native breed will also benefit the Park by grazing the fields and meadows to improve the grasslands.  They can be viewed from the Sutherland Way and Visitor Centre car park; Scott the bull, the cows and their calves are very popular with the younger visitors.  One female calf born on the 7th. August was named Flora by Cairistiona Cockburn. 

The first calf for 2011 was born on Sunday 10th April and is a little, white bull calf.  He can be viewed from the Sutherland Way and has been named "Tommy" by STV viewers.  More of the Highland Cattle are due to give birth to their young over the coming weeks and months.

Events Programmes for 2011

The Ranger Service annual events programme is available by following the link to the Ranger Service.  Leaflets are also available from all three of West Lothian's Country Parks' Visitor Centres.

BTCV at Polkemmet Country Park

In 2009, Countryside Section in partnership with BTCV applied for WREN funding to progress planned woodland management operations within Polkemmet Country Park.  The grant was awarded and in 2010 BTCV began their programme of works.  One of the aims of the work was to expand wetland habitat within the Park and 13 new ponds, of varying shapes and sizes, have been created to provide habitats for as diverse a range of wildlife as possible (1 in the East wood, 2 in Baillie’s Wood and 10 in Grahams Wood).  There are plans for more creation in other parts of the park including in Elm Corner, Dumback Wood and Mill Wood.

Another of the aims of the work plan is for the removal of invasive ground vegetation.  So far this has mainly focused on removal of large areas of rhododendron as well as smaller areas of dogwood and snowberry that have also been affecting parts of the Park.  This has taken place in Baillie’s Wood, Grahams Wood, around the pond and the arboretum.  Large areas have already been cleared and large amounts of the rhododendron have been burnt to stop regrowth.  The dogwood and snowberry that has been removed has been used to create habitat piles around the area that has been cleared.  What is so encouraging is the speed at which the areas that have been cleared, have quickly been colonised by native plants such as nettles, ferns and grasses and in some areas tree saplings are starting to appear.

Most recently BTCV have started working in the roadside strip with their main focus being the removal of beech and sycamore to allow the growth of native trees such as birch, ash, hazel and oak that are currently being out competed by the sycamore and beech.  Big well done to the whole team for the great work already completed!  If you would like to know more about this project and the work planned, do contact the Ranger Service on 01501 743905 or polkemmet@westlothian.gov.uk

New Species for Polkemmet Country Park

Thanks to the endeavours of Mark Cubbit from Butterfly Conservation, East of Scotland branch, a new species of moth for West Lothian was identified in June - the Buff Ermine.

New Eco-Visitor Centre Planned for Beecraigs Country Park

"GO APE" comes to Beecraigs in 2010

Go Ape high wire forest adventure received planning permission for their proposed ropes course attraction within Beecraigs Country Park.  This new opportunity provides a further attraction to the already successful range of activities at Beecraigs Country Park and will hopefully attract new visitors to West Lothian.  Check out the Go Ape web site for further information or telephone 0845 094 8792.

  World Record Planting Bid Takes Root!

On Saturday 5th. December '09 more than 160 people came together to try to play their part in breaking a world record for the greatest number of tress planted in under one hour.  The event marked the end of National Tree Week and was part of the BBC Breathing Places "Tree O'Clock" bid to smash the existing record of 653,143 trees.  The event was a real team effort involving the 4th., 6th. and 17th. West Lothian Scout divisions, Oatridge College, BTCV's green gym co-ordinator, the public and staff from Countryside Section.  Provost Tom Kerr and Councillor Conn officiated and also managed to plant a few trees. 

Volunteers at Beecraigs Country Park planted 1,390 trees in just 29 minutes 40 seconds.  Tree species planted included oak, ash, birch, willow, rowan, hazel and holly.  The new native woodland also includes open spaces which will be seeded with wildflowers in the future.  In future the woodland will provide valuable wildlife habitat and will make the area much more pleasant to walk by.  To say thanks for all their hard work, the volunteers were invited to share soup, mince pies and mulled wine whilst listening to the Linlithgow Ladies Rugby Club Choir singing Christmas carols.

Almondell & Calderwood Country Park also hosted their Tree O'Clock event and planted 50 trees with help from the LOOK Group and East Calder Scouts.  Councillor Graeme Morrice acted as official witness.

The efforts of everyone were filmed for the BBC's Landward programme and it was great to be able to demonstrate how well people can come together to improve their environment.

The national tally was nearly half a million trees but unfortunately was not enough to break the record.  The UK total will however go towards the United Nations Environment Programme "Billion Trees" campaign.

Strathbrock Volunteers at Almondell & Calderwood Country Park

West Lothian's Countryside Ranger Service are enjoy working with a wide range of volunteer groups from all sections of the community, helping them to take an active role in conservation and improving the accessibility of the countryside for all.  Particularly successful has been the partnership with a great team of clients from the Strathbrock Mental Health Resource Centre.  This group of 8-10 very keen, hardworking people have carried out a variety of tasks such as cutting and burning invasive rhododendrons, opening-up a long stretch of riverside to allow views across the river and improve visibility for walkers in this area.  They have also resurfaced steps and paths, created woodland habitats for wildlife and much, much more.  Excellent team effort by all the volunteers!

Improvements Underway at Beecraigs Caravan & Camping Site

Long-term work started in April 2009 on progressing improvements to the site which shall benefit all future customers.  Customer feedback supported the call by Countryside Section that the mature conifers, shading the site, were no longer appropriate and that today's caravanners require more space than currently provided in our individual bays.  Step one was taken to acquire a tree felling licence and, once received, the specialised contractors began their work.  The lower site is now bathed in sunlight (when the sun comes out!) and all the timber and the brashings from the trees have been recycled.  In partnership with the BBC Breathing Places Tree O'Clock event, over 160 volunteers met in December 2009 to plant over 1,000 mixed broadleaf trees and shrubs which are growing well.  The ablution block located by the camping ground was fully refitted for 2010 season offering individual shower rooms with disabled provision and the main access road on the site has been resurfaced with associated drainage works.  Work then focused on providing more spacious hardstanding pitches and the first of these was completed for 2011.  A new play space on site was also provided for 2011 season together with renewed landscaping works.  Automatic barrier gate access to the site was introduced in June 2011 and new perimeter fencing for the site has been completed.  A new service point on the main access road is near completion.  Further improvement works on enlarging customer pitches will be conducted over the low season periods.  In acknowledgement of these planned works, tariffs have been held low for 2011.

Easter Inch Moss

Easter Inch Moss, to the north of Seafield and the east of Blackburn, was part of a 200 acre bog that was worked for peat. Now an area of land protected for the public and designated a local nature reserve (LNR), it is important for its wildlife interest, educational value and recreational use, where people can walk and enjoy the open air.

Owned by West Lothian Council, but managed in partnership with a local Management Group, to have a say in how the site will be looked after, and maintained in the future. The Group is working to a 5year management plan and involves the Countryside Ranger Service, as well as other Council staff, and members of the local communities.

If you would like further information on this site, or would like to be involved in the Management Group please contact John Bennie, Secretary of the Easter Inch Moss & Seafield Law Management Group on Tel: 01506 631292 or the Ranger on Tel: 01501 743905 or 07771911108 (mobile) or hugh.ilgunas@westlothian.gov.uk

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Tel: 01506 844516 Fax: 01506 846256
E-mail: mail@beecraigs.com

Address: The Visitor Centre, Beecraigs Country Park, Near Linlithgow, West Lothian EH49 6PL