What’s happening this year in Gifford Community Woodland?

We made great progress, with your help, in 2018 and this year looks like more will be happening in the woodland as we heard recently that two grant applications were successful.   These were made to:-

• Rural Payments scheme 
• Viridor Credits.

These grants, together with some of the funds that we had already raised, will allow us to improve some of the paths in Fawn Wood and to create some new paths in Speedy Wood.

In a phased programme over the next 12 months, we will create a network of easily maintained “core” paths.  Outside of these, many of our existing, much loved, minor paths will be left “as is”. The new or improved paths will open up the woods to visitors with access requirements.  They will also reveal new parts of the woods for everyone to enjoy.

Our plan includes paths in Speedy Wood, in order to open this area up for the first time.  We need planning permission for these works; an application has been lodged with East Lothian Council.  We hope to hear back by early March and to start works soon after this. A map of the Paths can be found below, or downloaded in PDF format by clicking here.

Want to know more?

We’d love to share more details of the plans with you, and to hear what you think.  We are hosting a drop in session on

Wednesday 6th February

5pm to 7pm

Gifford Village Hall (Todrick Room)

As usual, if you would like to keep up-to-date with our news, please ensure you follow us on Twitter or Facebook or keep an eye on the village noticeboard. You can also subscribe to our email newsletters by clicking here and giving us your details.

A Downloadable PDF version of this map is available by clicking here.

Volunteering Dates in January & February

Dear Woodlanders,

Our volunteering days for the next two months are now confirmed, and will be:

• Sat 12th January, 9am - 12:30pm

• Sat 26th January, 10am - approx. 3pm (but don't worry if you need to leave earlier)

• Sat 2nd February, 10am - approx. 3pm (but don't worry if you need to leave earlier)

• Sat 23rd February, 10am - approx. 3pm (but don't worry if you need to leave earlier)

To manage 55 acres of ancient woodland does take quite a bit of work, so if you would be able to volunteer on any of these dates it would be much appreciated.

Further details are below.  If you would like to join any of these sessions, please contact our Project Manager, Nev Kilkenny (nev@fungi.co.uk) who will also be able to answer any questions.  Nev himself is also going to be leading all of these sessions.

We look forward to seeing lots of you during January and February, and thanks in advance for your support.

Sat 12th Jan:
This will be a wood fuel day. We are particularly interested in volunteers that have acquired their chain saw ticket with us helping to clear up some of the dead wood from tree safety work. We also need volunteers to split logs, wheel barrow logs and stack logs - so something for everyone!! We'll meet at 9.00 am at the welfare camp and work until 12.30, then I will make some lunch on the campfire for everyone.

26th Jan, 2nd Feb and 23rd Feb:
For the next three volunteering days we will be joined by the Lothian Conservation Volunteers and will be tackling Rhododendron. We're hoping these will be fantastic days where we achieve loads as a big group and learn lots from these more experienced volunteers. These events will start a little later at 10 am and will finish at approx 3 pm, again lunch and snacks will be provided. Don't worry if you can't stay the whole time, we'd love to see you anyway.
This big push on the rhododendron is to clear a broader route for our path network for which we now have 87% of our funding for and are hoping to get started on very soon.

Happy New Year and best wishes to All.