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CHAIRMAN'S Report 2010
– ‘Looking back over the past twelve months we can rightly point to a number of satisfactory developments and achievements.
Potentially disruptive, the much heralded timber operations in the Townwood have been completed with few or no complaints from the public. This necessary management plan appears to have also been a commercial success, with eventual benefit to the habitat.
The ‘Big Easy’ trail has been substantially improved and is now a popular alternative choice of route between Woodhouse and Barnbarroch.
The meadow area at Woodhouse is gradually being transformed with further eradication of bracken and Japanese knotweed and with the planting and seeding of wildflowers. Again, the coppicing and fencing of hazels has been extended with the help of High School students. Three projects at Woodhouse, which were mere proposals at the last AGM, have been implemented. The historic well has been excavated and now awaits proper restoration. Pond No.3 has been dug and the improved amenity around that corner of Woodhouse has been commented on favourably by numerous forest users. Native orchard trees have been planted with the encouragement of Jools Cox of South West Community Woodlands, bequeathing a legacy to future generations.
At the same time, the usual programme of events scheduled for the forest continue to be well attended by a growing number of visitors, as witnessed by the busy car parks at the Townwood and Richorn.
With the help of David Black and his Community Service personnel we have been able to maintain the increasingly used Moyle Hill and Barcloy Hill trails.
Once again the Partnership has been kept going by the willingness of our members and volunteers to give freely of their time and effort. 380 volunteer hours have been accumulated since the last AGM. We were particularly pleased to get help from Andy Kalotka, Graham Mclellan and Scott Hartley. Importantly, we have continued to enjoy the support and encouragement of Robin Fuller, Gibb Wallace, Tony Lightely and their colleagues at Forestry Commission Scotland, who keep us on the right path. Sadly now, we have to say a special thank you to our outgoing vice-chairman, Gerry Douglas of Anchor Cottage, Sandyhills who has given the partnership ten years of loyal and steadfast service, representing the interests of the Colvend and Southwick end of the forest. We wish him the very best for the future.
This year we have had vital funding from Dumfries and Galloway Stewartry Area committee, from Colvend and Southwick Community Council’s Robin Rigg Fund, from Scottish Natural Heritage (Action Earth) and from Sulwath Connections.
The usual minor aggravations sometimes give us cause for concern including: motor bikes and quad bikes being illegally driven in the forest: vandalism at the Scout Hut: drinking parties and litter in the Townwood: dogs jumping in the ponds and disturbing the fragile ecosystem.
The Bioblitz at Colvend last August how much biodiversity exists in the forest when 400 plus species identified in a single morning.
Finally, we look forward in the coming year to the people of Dalbeattie and surrounding villages continuing to take an interest in the partnership and hope recruit fresh volunteers’.