MENSTRIE WOOD

About the Community Woodland

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Menstrie Community Council bought Menstrie Wood (also known as Red Carr Wood) in July 1998 on behalf of the local community, with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Wood extends along the foot of Dumyat from Red Carr House, in the West, to the path going up onto Dumyat about 50 yards west of the Scout Hall. The old wall forming the boundary with the hill runs along the border with Stirlingshire.
Link to OS map.

The 11.1 hectares of woodland has significant conservation value. Saplings, mature trees and fallen dead wood show the natural order. Our woodland, with its wild flowers, birds and roe deer, is a wonderful asset and we all have a part to play in its maintenance. The purchase enabled the Community Council to protect the woodland from inappropriate development and ensure access for future generations. Since purchasing the woodland we have sought to conserve and enhance its character and appearance, and to promote environmental awareness.

Working to achieve these aims, we decided to restore the old wall at the boundary with the hill and to maximise community access. There are three paths: bottom, middle and top. We obtained funding from Forward Scotland to upgrade the existing public path and footpath network from the Scout Hall to the UF Church and part way into the wood itself. This all-ability path was completed by May 2009.

Our next, and more ambitious project will be the formation of a "wetland" to encourage pond life back into the area.

We have set up a community woodland group to manage the woodland separately from the Community Council. The intention is to apply for charitable status which will allow the group to access funding for maintenance and further development for the benefit of the community.

If anyone is interested in joining the group or has any comments, questions or concerns, please contact us by any of the usual methods.

Menstrie Community Association is a member of the Community Woodlands Association (CWA). We support their efforts to raise money and urge our readers to visit their website, sign up for the free e-newsletter, become a member or just donate.

Past pages from Menstrie Matters

• March 2012

  Early green shoots, resident buzzards soaring above, birds preparing for nesting

• November 2011

  Leaves persisting, birds singing in mild weather; rubbish lifted

• October 2011

  Autumn colours, fungi, berries, inconsiderate dumpers

• August 2011

  Spring flowers now shaded out, aftermath of spring gales, buzzards raise a chick, differences over ivy

• March 2011

  Promise of spring; bluebells burgeoning, birds abounding

• November 2010

  Autumn colours, fallen leaves, berries, buzzards, deer, fieldfare

• July 2010

  Bluebells, ramson,blackthorn, gean, roe deer, woodpeckers

• March 2010

  Buzzard, fieldfare, roe deer, wild garlic; and wildfowl on the Devon

• December 2009

  Fallen leaves, fungi, birds - Volunteer forester sought

• September 2009

  Leafy shade, fruiting trees, unwanted litter

• June 2009

  Birdsong, leafy shade, need for husbandry

• March 2009

  Woodpecker, deer, treecreeper and green shoots

• November 2008

  Oaks, beeches and buzzards

• July 2008

  Spring's birds and blooms

• March 2008

  Signs of new growth

• November 2007

  Autumn colors gild the wood

• September 2007

  Autumn in our own patch of woodland

March 2012