Planting at Glenquicken end of Balloch Wood - May 2026

FLS have finished the planting of mixed broad-leafed trees at the felled area at top end of the wood.

The current practice is to plant without individual plastic tubes and stakes.
This has obvious environmental benefits, but does leave the newly planted saplings more vulnerable to browsing and bark-striping by deer and rabbits. To compensate for possible higher losses a denser planting rate is used.

The planted species mix for this area is 30% Rowan, 20% Silver Birch, 20% Hazel and 30% open ground. There are also signs of natural regeneration, possibly Beech. As expected some Sitka Spruce seedlings have also germinated; so in due course we will be organising volunteer weeding parties for these.

As the saplings are not always obvious, we would ask walkers to please stay on the paths, to avoid inadvertent damage to the saplings. And if you are accompanied by a dog, to please keep it on a lead.

We are finalising agreement with FLS for a community section in this area for “citizen science” projects, and to involve the local schools in studies of how this section develops, both as trees and wildlife.

Please Note:
If you approach this area from the direction of the ponds, please take care as about half way up, just past the carved oak tree plank & bench, the path is currently very rough, with a fallen wall and barbed wire fence.
It is also very boggy, due to water run-off from the field. We hope to get this sorted with a drainage pipe and improved surface..

Click to enlarge.

Click on the images below to see short videos of some of the planted saplings.
The videos will open in a new tab - Close the tab to when finished.

BCWG have been in discussion with Forestry and Land Scotland regarding their plans for forestry operations in Balloch Wood.

In brief we understand that:

Glenquicken end: The area felled last year at the very top of the wood.
Brash will soon be swept up and made into piles. Planting, with mixed broadleaf, will take place from around June time. We are looking into some community areas for “citizen science” that we hope FLS will approve. We are working with Crichton Carbon Centre to consider peatland restoration of a small area that is very boggy and peaty. We hope to complete a survey of this area in a few weeks’ time and discuss outcomes with FLS before planting.

Ponds area: The wind thrown trees will be removed and that area cleaned up. The trees along the road a little downhill from the Ponds, toward the logging platform, will be removed first - they are unstable and falling over. Any hardwoods and native trees will be kept as far is possible.

Compartment 86002: The bottom half of the wood, by the village, will be felled late summer or autumn, starting from the north east edge next to Compartments 86005 and 86008; which was felled last year.
After felling, the site will be cleaned up, the paths, bridges and other things will be repaired. We do not know yet when this area will be replanted.

FLS will address any questions at a community meeting we hope to organise soon.

Updated Schedule for Forestry Operations in Balloch Wood - April 2026

This is an environmentally sensitive site with ecological and hydrological features requiring careful assessment and sensitive working to minimise environmental impacts during timber harvesting activities.

Working the site during the months of June to August, under the appropriate licensing regimes, will minimise impacts on red squirrels, badgers, young birds, watercourses and woodland soils. Before the works occur, we will carry out an environmental assessment and site visit by our ecology specialist to identify features of conservation concern and ensure appropriate mitigation is in place to protect the nations wildlife as required by law.

The protection of badgers Act 1992 only permits work under a standard operations license between 1st July and 30th November so the timing of any forest operations has to coincide with this.

Operationally working the site through the dryer months (June – August) will minimise the risk of water issues on site and also help prevent against ground/soil damage.

It has also been decided after discussions with our Environment team and undertaking a new Environmental Risk Assessment, June was the preferred time to start the felling. So the new felling date is June. As there is no badger setts within the windblow area next to the road this is the area that we will start with before moving to the last remaining coupe where there is known badger setts. As stated above a comprehensive environmental survey will be taken before any work starts.

Update from Forestry and Land Scotland - 16 Feb 2026.

Click to enlarge.

Balloch Community Woodland Group

Creetown, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

Maintaining local woodland for future generations together.

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