NEW WEBSITE - this blog is now archived

 Now we have a new website at: https://giffordcommunitywoodland.com/, this blog is now archived.

Please visit our new site for all the latest news etc.

Thank you.

We need your help to keep our Community Woodland healthy!

We’ve a great programme of Volunteering Activities coming up this Autumn to help protect the woods from damage from squirrels, deer and rabbits and to continue to clear invasive rhododendrons. 

Join Project Manager, Nev Kilkenny, for a rewarding day in the woods - no experience is necessary and all events are suitable for all abilities. 

If you’d like to get involved, please get in touch at gifford.woodseh41@gmail.com so we can send you more information. 

We hope to see you soon! 

Details of upcoming events here: 

• Saturday 18th September. 9am – 1pm
• Family Volunteering Day – replacing tree guards and weeding
• Saturday 9th October, 9am – 1pm
• Wood fuel and Rhododendron clearance
• Sunday 31st October, 10am – 4pm
• Rhododendron clearance with the Lothian Conservation Volunteers (lunch provided)
• Saturday 13th November, 9am – 4pm
• Wood fuel and Rhododendron clearance
• Sunday 21st November, 10am – 4pm
• Rhododendron clearance with the Lothian Conservation Volunteers 
• Saturday 4th December, 10am – 4pm
• Rhododendron clearance with the Lothian Conservation Volunteers 

Report from our AGM: Celebrating a fantastic year in the woods

What a great evening! Thanks so much to everyone who joined us for the Gifford Community Woodland AGM last night. It was so lovely to celebrate the success of the past year with you all - not least raising £75k from Heritage Lottery Fund to manage the woodland and engage the community over the next three years. 

This year has been a particularly impressive year thanks to all the epic work of the volunteers involved in Gifford Community Woodland. Thank you to everyone involved!

The AGM began with an upbeat summary of the year’s progress from Chair, Roo Hardy. You can see Roo’s full AGM report here. 

Key achievements include: 

• 18 volunteer days

• Over 400 new trees planted

• Safety work continues

• Improved drainage to accessible paths

• Many individual volunteer efforts

• Outdoor learning for the school, guides and cubs

• 144 community members engaged in woods activities (aged 4-80)

We loved hearing your thoughts and ideas! 

Everyone who came along to the AGM was invited to share what they liked and disliked about the woods. Here’s a summary: 

Likes	Dislikes
Good, drained paths x 10	Nettles
Benches - a welcome place to rest	Litter
Having the small, offshoot paths as well as the main paths	Improvement
Randomness	Piles of Rhododendrons / Rhododendrons x 5
Community involvement/Being so involved and inclusive of the village and it’s groups (cubs/school/projects) / There is a real energy here tonight including children/Meeting people in the woods - community x 5	Lack of suitable area for educational activities
Good mix of varied woodland types/trees x 2	Pollution of Speedy Burn / slurry pollution x 2
Local facility for outdoor education is definitely a plus / All the projects that have been done e.g. night wildlife and moth count x 2	Icy paths
Learning about what’s in the woods from Nev and other volunteers / Working days in the woods / Volunteer activities / Volunteers x 3	Bad parking / lack of parking for non residents (can be inconvenient for residents) x 3
I am impressed by the amount of work going on	Horses
Have been part of my life for 40 years and loved the old woods and love the new woods if they stay as they are now	Bikes (will they damage paths, speed vs pedestrians) x 2
Lasting benefits - eats up Carbon Dioxide	No information about species of trees, plants, insects, animals for visitors to access
The magic of Fawn Wood	Ash dieback
No litter	Paths getting a bit overgrown
Changing colours x 2	Drainage still a problem in places
A wonderful, clearly mapped experience
A place to walk the dog
I like that it’s there / love moving here to find a community woodland in the village x 2
Film nights
Peace / Tranquility x 5
Co-operation / The Community Feel x 3
Nev bringing his knowledge and positivity
Donating/planting saplings / New trees growing x 2
The glorious trees / Nature / Beautiful countryside / Wildness / Wildlife / Beautiful area to walk in x 8
An asset for the whole community and beyond
Walking in the snow last winter
A place to run
Safe environment for dogs
Being run with knowledge and sympathy for the wildlife/Development has been sympathetic to the wildlife
Greenery
Access for all very good/ All abilities and all ages can use the woods / Easy walks for all x 5
Signage
That it is next door to where I live
Wildlife

Things you’d like to see happen in the woods: 

We then asked everyone to suggest ideas for projects or actions that they would like to see happen in the woods. It was wonderful to hear such enthusiastic discussion and incredibly helpful to see what projects community members would like to see happen in the woods. 

Here’s what you said: 

ACTIONS:

• Fruit tree idea / More coppice and fruit trees x 2
• More events
• Educational chats/walks teaching us about the plants, wildlife and why it’s important to plant native trees etc. Each talk could focus on one topic e.g. trees (what are they/why are they here etc.), bracken (like Nev’s fungi forays but different topics too)
• More film nights
• Info on plants
• Leave nettles, thyme great for butterflies
• Structure for learning and events
• I’d like to learn about lichens Shared lunches in the woodland using foraged plants and other shared activities to extend relationships in the local area
• More outdoor craft activities for adults and children - can also earn money for the woods e.g. willow weaving, birch bark craft, bow and arrow workshop for children
• Wild cookery classes
• Explain benefits of piles of rhododendrons
• Occasional nature club for pre/early school age - separate from schools

Going forward … 

Our intention in the coming year is to consider the actions raised at the AGM. We’ll be updating the website soon and making a renewed effort to blog regularly about all the amazing activities taking place in the woods, and help inform the community about the management practices to keep the wood sustainable. Do sign up to get the newsletter at: http://bit.ly/GWoodsMail 

Community Led Initiatives - have your say!

At the AGM, we heard from Cindy Sykes, one of a group of community members who have developed a proposal to plant several fruit trees in a clearing in the woods. Cindy spoke passionately about the benefits of growing our own food, educational events around the fruit trees and the potential for community events such as apple harvesting days. The fruit trees would be planted in such a way as to conserve the ‘wild’ feeling of the woods and would be managed by volunteers. 

The proposal is being carefully considered by the Trustees to ensure that it fits with the aims of our woods, and has support from the community, and a decision will be made soon. 

If you’d like to suggest a proposal for a community project or an activity in the woods please do get in touch. The starting point is a simple form and conservation with volunteers already involved in looking after the woodland. Contact us at gifford.woodseh41@gmail.com 

Share your thoughts - come to our next meeting

Gifford Community Woodland is YOUR woodland. Going forward, we’d love to encourage more people living in Gifford and the surrounding areas to enjoy the woods and to take part in our volunteer activities and education events. 

Ways to get involved: 

• Get in touch with us by email or social media

• Come to an Open Woodland Meeting - next meeting is on 29th November 2021

• Join a volunteer day

• Sign up to our e-newsletter

• Apply to be a Trustee

Thanks to Buck and Birch 

Some of you will know that local wild food and drinks innovators, Buck and Birch, have been working in partnership with the woods. They are just about to launch their Birch Vodka with sap tapped from Gifford Woodland birch trees. In return for their use of the woods, they treated everyone at the AGM to a fantastic feast of delicious canapes made from locally sourced plants. 

Check out Buck and Birch’s website here: https://www.buckandbirch.com/ 

Huge thanks again to all the many volunteers working both in the woods and behind the scenes to support our woodland. We look forward to another year of celebrating the tranquility and beauty of Gifford Community Woods with you all! 

AGM REMINDER - 7pm, Monday 30th August

 Join us in the woods at 7pm on Monday 30th August. 

Find out more about

🌿 How to get involved

🌳 What we have done lately

🌿 Future plans

🌳 An idea from the local community to plant fruit trees.

It’s our AGM but it will be very informal and short! It‘s mainly a chance to meet friends, old and new, and to enjoy some delicious refreshments from our friends Buck and Birch.

We are meeting in the open area close to our Welfare Camp, on the left-hand side as you head up from Station Road. We’ve got a marquee canopy and some lights to set up so we’ll be good to go whatever the weather!

We look forward to seeing lots of you then!

Minutes of the 2020 AGM can be found by clicking here.

The Chair's Report for 2021 can be found by click here, or on the image below.

Summer Newsletter

We have just published our Summer Newsletter, which includes lots of useful updates about our funding, new recruits, tree safety works and more!

To take a look, simply CLICK HERE to view the PDF.

Please also note, that the newsletter includes details about our forthcoming AGM which everyone is invited to.  It will be on:

Monday August 30th at 19:00, meeting at the Outdoor Cinema area of the Woods.

Again, CLICK HERE to read the Newsletter and find out more.

Insects photographed in Gifford Woods

 In June 2021 we were lucky to have Dorothy Lyle stay near Gifford Woods, and she took many amazing photos of insects she found in the wood.

Here is what Dorothy said in her message, below are just some of her pictures but you can CLICK HERE to view all her fantastic photos.

"I spent 10 days in Gifford recently house and hen sitting for my brother Joe Clark. I spent many happy hours exploring the community wood which is a wonderful resourse and took quite a few photos of insects - my passion - while I was there. I have sent records in to iRecord but I thought you might be interested to see some of the photos I took. I also moth trapped with Katty Baird one night and she will no doubt have let you have any new moth records."

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XnWPbb9o8C21XxCX9

Join our next Management Meeting

Our next Gifford Woods Management Meeting will be taking place on Monday 21st June at 7.30pm.  As with all our meetings just now this will be held virtually via Zoom, and anyone from the local community is welcome to join us to give their input into how the Woodland is managed day-to-day.

Zoom meeting details can be found below, or if you would prefer to raise a matter for the Committee members to discuss in your absence, please email: gifford.woodseh41@gmail.com.

Thank you, and we hope to see some new faces on Monday evening!

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85679310756?pwd=dlZlSEVHQjV6a1dVdWFGSk04S2RtZz09

Meeting ID: 856 7931 0756

Passcode: 921131

[If you've not used Zoom before, instructions can be found by clicking here.]

Gifford Woods launches recruitment for two part-time roles, having secured National Lottery & other financial support

We are today launching the recruitment campaign for two roles, a Project Manager and an Administrator.  Job descriptions, including details on how to apply for each role, can be found on the links below.  Please note the application deadlines vary for each.

• Project Manager Job Description (click here to open PDF) - closing date is Friday 11th June 2021.
• Administrator Job Description (click here to open PDF) - closing date is Saturday 19th June 2021.

Further information about our new funding can be found here:

Gifford Community Woodland, the guardian organisation of Speedy and Fawn Woods on the outskirts of Gifford, East Lothian, has recently received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of just over £75,000. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project focuses on supporting the health and wellbeing of the local community whilst caring for, learning from and sharing Gifford Woods.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund support means the project team will be able to further engage local people with the Woods through new initiatives to protect their beauty and role as part of Gifford’s natural heritage. This grant covers 58% of the overall project costs. It has been supported by other recent successful fundraising activities, including a grant of £25,000 from the Fallago Rig Environment Fund. Donations from local people have been critical too, primarily through the recently launched ‘Friends of Gifford Woods' scheme. So far, over 70 local people have committed to support the woods through regular giving.

The new funding will enable the recruitment of two part-time roles, a Project Manager and an Administrator, meaning the Woods will provide new employment opportunities for local people. Applications are now open for both positions; anyone interested in applying can find further details and full job descriptions above.

Other activities that the funding will support include volunteer days and training; school and nursery educational sessions; youth and adult events to share information about natural heritage plus social and engagement activities for people of all ages, run in conjunction with other community groups.  In addition, the grant will assist with ongoing woodland management to protect and preserve this ancient place, and with initiatives to aid understanding of the wildlife that calls Gifford Woods home – such as a repeat of the mammal survey which became a viral hit back in November when trail camera videos shared online were viewed thousands of times.

Commenting on the award, Chair of Gifford Woods Roo Hardy said: “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players and are excited that not only can we continue to look after the woods for future generations, but that we can also engage local people of all ages in the Woods. Our Gifford Woods play a major role in our natural heritage, but they also aid the physical and mental health of our local community.”

Read the full Press Release by clicking here. 

Introduction to Tree Care session - Saturday May 8th at 10am

Hello, all lovers of our community woods!

Spring has sprung and everything is beginning to look green and gorgeous. You will have noticed that we’ve had to do some tree safety felling.  But we have also planted lots of new baby trees, which we have to look after if they are going to thrive. Could you help us to do this?

Come along to our introduction/try out session to find out more so you can feel confident and expert to assist with this vital activity. We are meeting on Saturday May 8th at 10.00am at the Railway Track path. Nev will show us how it’s done. Everyone welcome, and you don’t need to be super-fit for this volunteering role!

You really need protective gloves - ideally gardening or outdoor work ones (We have spares if you don't have your own). If you have them,  please also bring secateurs, a small sickle or a hand fork. But don’t worry if you haven’t got these things. Only the gloves are vital.

The plan is to clear the weeds that could choke our young trees, check if any saplings are dead, and replace their protective tubes.

We'll observe current social distancing regulations but please bring a flask and a snack for break time if you want to.

You do need to let us know if you are coming for track and trace contact purposes. Contact Nev by email gifford.woodseh41@gmail.com to confirm.

Do come along and have some fun! This is another great chance to really feel part of our woods by doing an important job in looking after the trees of the future.

Join our next Management Meeting, or share your thoughts in advance

Our next Gifford Woods Management Meeting will be taking place on Monday 19th April at 7.30pm.  As with all our meetings just now this will be held virtually via Zoom, and anyone from the local community is welcome to join us to give their input into how the Woodland is managed day-to-day.

Zoom meeting details can be found below, or if you would prefer to raise a matter for the Committee members to discuss in your absence, please email: gifford.woodseh41@gmail.com.

Thank you, and we hope to see some new faces on Monday evening!

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85795911363?pwd=WFZ5VERnckFlNWtNdUZ1K1lldnM5QT09

Meeting ID: 857 9591 1363

Passcode: 149916

[If you've not used Zoom before, instructions can be found by clicking here.]

Video Volunteering Guide - How can you help around Your Gifford Woods?

Although we've managed a few socially distanced volunteering days in the woods this year, it has been difficult to get as many people out to help us do all the tasks required to manage an ancient woodland.

But we know many of you will want to help further, and maybe do so at a time that suits you and your family...so to help, we have produced a short video below where our Project Manager Nev (with a bit of help!) talks you through a few of the tasks that need to be done to our younger trees.

Watch the video below, and please do let us know if this is helpful and we'll some more!

You can also see and share this video further at:

• Facebook: https://fb.watch/2cM-j-KbLJ/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gifford_Woods/status/1335623699735703552?s=20

Our most secretive residents

We were very lucky to have local mammal recorder Graham Checkley back in Our Gifford Woods recently to again monitor some of the activity.  This time Graham brought his trail camera along to study our most secretive residents, and he managed to capture quite a few additional users of Gifford Woods as can be seen in the video below (also available on our YouTube channel by clicking here)!

Here's an update from Graham to describe what he did and what he found:

"If you walk through a woodland at dusk or dawn you may be lucky enough to encounter a Fox going about their business.  But most of the mammal activity takes place at dead of night, and that's why a trail camera is so useful; it operates in infrared and is motion triggered, so it doesn't bother the animals at all.

My first camera deployment was in the Speedy Wood, where I recorded Fox and Roe Deer, but Nev suggested that I checked out the Fawn Wood too and I was very glad I did.

I recorded Badger, Brown Hare, Fox, and what looked like Wood Mice at both of the Fawn Wood locations I checked, while Roe Deer were an additional species that only frequented the quieter trails.

It's intriguing to see the number of species that can coexist on a small section of a woodland trail.  You can see Pheasants at dawn, mice at night, and Foxes at the odd hours in between; survival is so often a matter of timing.

But there's also the question of daytime survival.  Badgers have sets, Foxes have lairs and Mice have nests, but Brown Hare and Roe Deer simply hunker down and try to be invisible.  That's what makes visitor behaviour so important.

So if you do take a walk in the woods, especially at dawn or dusk, please try not to disturb our secret residents.".

A big thank you again to Graham for all his work and sharing this with us.

AGM Update, in case you missed it!

As previously publicised we held our 2020 AGM digitally this year.  On Monday 2nd December various Trustees, members of the management group and attendees from the wider community met to hear an update on progress over the last 12 months, and give their thoughts on some activites and plans for the next year.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to be there.

To see a copy of the presentation which the Trustees shared, which includes a financial update, please click here or on the image below.

As was mentioned at the AGM, whilst new Directors are appointed as a part of the formal AGM, our regular Management meetings are open to any members of the community who wish to attend.  The next of these will be held (via Zoom) on Monday 7th December at 7:30pm.  If you wish to join, please email gifford.woodseh41@gmail.com and we shall send you an invitation.

In the meantime, to echo the words of our new Chair, a big thank you to our out-going Directors for all their hard work.

AGM Reminder, & copy of 2019 Minute

We just wanted to remind you all that the Gifford Woods AGM will be held in a couple of weeks, and also provide you an opportunity before then to read and review the Minutes of our 2019 AGM.

You can read and review the 2019 AGM Minute (held on 2nd September 2019) by clicking here.

As for this year, please remember that the 2020 AGM will be held on Monday 2nd November at 7.30pm, digitally via Zoom (details below). Joining Instructions for this Zoom Meeting are:

• https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88258889331?pwd=a2FLM1Yzdk1oNHFVS1loS29OUXJBdz09
• Meeting ID: 882 5888 9331
• Passcode: 474745

If you've not used Zoom before, you can find out more at: https://zoom.us/.  

AGM - Monday 2nd November, 7:30pm

Our Gifford Woods AGM will be held on Monday 2nd November at 7.30pm, digitally via Zoom (details below)

• Hear brief updates on what has been happening in the woods.
• Brief AGM – hear latest on charity finances & activities.
• Have your say on the future of the woods; we want to hear what you think.

All from the comfort of your own home - so please join us if you can!

PARKING - please read this important information before you visit.

There is NO PARKING AT THE WOODS or nearby.

We ask all of our visitors to park in Gifford village centre, which is just a short walk away.  

Please do not park anywhere on the track, or nearby roads.  These are busy with residents' parking/access and must be kept clear.

The quickest walking route from the village is along Station Road (which you will see to the left of the Village Hall as you look towards it).

You'll find our Welcome sign on the track that leads up to the woods (you'll come to this just after you've passed the junction of Station Road and Tweeddale Avenue on your walk).  

We hope you enjoy your visit and thank you for your co-operation.

Recent Bat Survey

We're pleased to report that Graham Checkley worked with us in early September to carry out a bat activity survey of the Community Woodland.

Graham recently sent us this update -

"Why study bats?  Well,  to quote the Bat Conservation Trust,  "Bats are a vital part of our native wildlife... They can tell us a lot about the state of the environment, as they are top predators of common nocturnal insects and are sensitive to changes in land use practices.".  But for me there is also the excitement of watching them flutter across the darkening sky, and the sheer detective work of finding out what they are up to.

From Nev I was already aware of potential bat hot spots within the community woodland, so I just needed to walk around the site and decide where to deploy my bat detectors.  I settled on 2 places, the clearing on the east side of the Fawn Wood and the wooden bridge over the Speedy Burn, as they seemed likely to attract a different mix of bat species.  Bats will often follow linear features when they are commuting or feeding, and the woodland clearing seemed to provide a delightfully sheltered woodland edge.  By contrast the Speedy Burn snakes through the southern part of the community woodland and some bats will choose to feed along streams.

I deployed my Anabat express bat detectors for 7 days at these 2 locations.  The express works pretty much like a hand-held bat detector, but they have the advantage of recording and time-stamping all of the recordings for subsequent analysis.  This allows you to identify the species present, quantify the recordings and study the pattern of overnight activity. You can also be at home enjoying a G&T while the detectors are hard at work!

I'm pleased to report that both locations had above average bat activity and 3 species present (Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle [see image below] and a Myotis species, probably Daubenton's).  As I suspected most of the Myotis activity was along the Speedy Burn, no mean feat in a rather cluttered environment, while the woodland edge was the place preferred by the Pipistrelle species.

Most importantly bats were recorded emerging at or before sunset, particularly on the edge of the Fawn Wood.  This suggests that the bats are roosting in the immediate vicinity, and some of the pre-dawn activity suggests possible swarming activity before heading away to roost.

In practice this means endoscope checks for bat roosts before tree work, and local householders should watch out for emerging bats.  You may have some unsuspected lodgers!"

Soprano Pipistrelle 

Fungi Foray

Saturday 5th September, 10.00am-2.00pm

Join mycologist Neville Kilkenny, Research Associate of The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and member of the British Mycological Society, for an educational and entertaining walk through the woods, discussing the wild fungi that are encountered. You will learn about the role the fungi play in ecosystems, the species that are considered the best edibles, and the perils of collecting those that aren’t!

BOOKINGS:

• Tickets from Beech and Birch

or

• Call 01620 810 417 or email nev@fungi.co.uk

Tickets: £20.00 

• Children under 12, tickets cost £5 and can be paid for on the day. Advance booking required. Numbers limited 2 max 2 children per paying adult.
• Bring a packed lunch and don’t forget a basket! 
• Please wear sturdy footwear and dress appropriately for the weather. 
• Sorry – no dogs please!
• Please maintain social distance at all times.
• We cannot guarantee edible fungi will be found on this foray.
• Meet after the Bridge of Station Road at the entrance the woodland 
• Please park in the village.

Filming & Theatre Activity

We’d like to alert all users of Gifford Woods to some exciting activities taking place over the coming week (from Sat 22 Aug).  We are hosting the cast & crew of Grid Iron Theatre Company to the woods as they are filming a brand new play called Doppler. Whilst the play was originally planned to be performed outdoors to a live audience in Edinburgh, with the COVID situation this has not been possible despite everyone’s best efforts.  But as it has been in rehearsal for the last few months and they are ready-to-go, they have decided to create a filmed version and approached Gifford Woods to act as host.(There will be no audience in attendance.)

Doppler is an adaptation of a satirical Norwegian novel by writer Erlend Loe which focuses on a man who decides to abandon his family and move to the forest. Always planned as an outdoor performance, Grid Iron’s Doppler has been in development for two years with Zoom rehearsals starting in early July, followed by a period of outdoor, socially distant rehearsing under strict health and safety regulations. 

Please be aware that you may see the cast & crew around the woods over the next week or so (& around the village as they are staying locally to reduce carbon footprint), and if you could be conscious of your noise levels when in the woods they would be very grateful. Although do please feel free to chat to the team to find out more about what they are up to.

The company will be taking a 'leave no trace' approach, and they have been liaising closely with our Project Manager Nev. Grid Iron will also be making a donation to the woodland in recognition of our involvement.

Thank you, and we’ll be sure to let you know once the film is available to watch  - we're looking forward to seeing Gifford Woods play a starring role!

About Grid Iron:

Grid Iron are an Edinburgh-based company specialising in site-specific theatre, and a registered charity supported with regular funding from Creative Scotland. Over 25 years they have produced shows for the Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, National Theatre of Scotland & other partners, in places including Edinburgh Airport, Ratho Climbing Centre, an oil rig warehouse, shops & bars.

See: www.gridiron.org.uk / twitter.com/gridirontheatre

Become a Friend of Gifford Woods

We hope you’ve been enjoying our Gifford Woods this beautiful spring. The woods have come into their own for lots of us, using them for our daily exercise, peace, or simply enjoying the beauty and wonders of the natural world. Maybe you have been able to enjoy them more during the time you would have spent commuting or perhaps they have become your outdoor gym. So many of you have told us how much you value and enjoy this special place more than ever during lockdown.

However it does cost money to maintain and protect our woods. We are entirely self-funded, meaning we must raise all funds ourselves to cover ongoing core costs. Every year we need to raise approximately £18,000 for tree planting, safety work, public insurance, supporting our amazing volunteer team, and funding our project manager for the highly-skilled and practical work needed to manage the woods.

If you share our passion for this amazing resource, will you consider helping us by signing up to become a regular donor as a ‘Friend of Gifford Woods’?  We understand that these are challenging and insecure times, but if as many of our supporters who are able, agree to give a modest regular sum, we can do this!

We will always continue to seek grants from funding sources, but our Friends scheme will strengthen those applications by demonstrating support, as well as use, in the village. We have a range of flexible donation options to suit all budgets and payment methods. You can check this out in the form overleaf. Please consider if you might be able to help us. Every little helps!

Please note that everyone in the village is already a member of Gifford Community Woodland, has a vote at our AGM and a say in how we care for the woods. But by becoming a Friend, you will be helping preserve the woods to enjoy now and into the future. 

So please consider completing the form which can be downloaded by clicking here, and then return it by hand or by post to: Adam White (Chair), The Shamba, Tweeddale Crescent, Gifford, EH41 4QZ.

Paper forms are also being delivered to every home in Gifford, so either check your doormat or look out for yours arriving soon.  In addition, we will soon have forms available at our main sign on Station Road, so please direct other visitors and users of the woodland there should they wish to support us.

Thank you, and we hope you continue to enjoy your Gifford Woods.

DOWNLOAD THE FORM BY CLICKING HERE.