Woodland mess sparks outrage

AREAS of Cally Woods near Gatehouse of Fleet have been left in an ‘absolute mess’ following works by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), and residents are not happy.

FLS began replacement works to an underground water main which goes through the woods earlier this month, closing sections of the horse and walking paths to visitors.

At the same time they undertook felling work to remove any trees infected by Phytophthora ramorum, a highly destructive tree disease that causes extensive damage and death to more than 150 plant species.

But now the area is ‘unrecognisable’ to some residents and debris has been left to rot.

One concerned resident told the Galloway Gazette: “I was shocked when I saw large areas of semi-ancient woodland completely devastated, it looked like there has been a natural disaster. There was debris everywhere, branches hanging off trees, tire treads and one metre deep rough.

“Forestry and Land Scotland have gone in and made an absolute mess of Cally, and they’ve just left their mess laying around with no firm sign of when they’ll be back to tidy it up.

“I walk that area almost everyday with my dog and now I don’t recognise it. Gatehouse of Fleet is supposed to be a biosphere community and this style of ‘forest management’ completely flies in the face of that, the forest is being treated as if it’s expendable and it’s not.”

In response to concerns, a Forestry and Land Scotland spokesperson said: “Essential felling work has been needed to replace the previous water pipe that was susceptible to damage from moving and falling trees during periods of strong winds and to remove diseased larch trees.

“Additionally, during this time we have removed non-native conifers to transition the area into a mixed species broadleaf woodland as outlined in the land management plan. This will enhance Cally Woods as a destination for locals and visitors in the years ahead.

“Felling work is now complete but recent wet weather has forced us to suspend the removal of the timber. Our teams are looking at alternative options to extract the harvested timber in a way that will minimise ground damage and disturbance.

“Where we can and where it is safe, we will clear and open paths but this is still to be assessed and planned. Any damage to the trails will be repaired once the work is completed.

“We understand Cally Woods is popular with locals and appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding. We also ask anyone in the area to follow any safety signage in place.”