DCWG logo designed by Michaela
Girvan, aged 10, Dunbar Primary School
Dunbar Community Woodland Group
The aims of the group are:
As part of the new housing development at Hallhill/Lochend, work is to be carried out over a ten year period in order to make some improvements to the approximately 80 acres of woodland that once formed the policy grounds of Lochend House (no longer standing. The woods are in the area bounded to the south by the A1, to the east by the Spott road, to the west by Hallhill, and to the north by the existing Lochend housing estate. Please view map.). It is hoped that perhaps, after the development has taken place, ownership of the woods would come to the community. One proposal is that it could be owned by the Dunbar Community Development Company, and DCWG take responsibility for the management of the woods.
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The ruins of a building supposed by repute to be the former chapel of the estate - though some suggest otherwise |
In any event during the period of development, the opportunity exists for the community to influence the plan of work that is due to be undertaken, to ensure that the work carried out is sympathetic to the woods and to the needs of the community. Many people already use these woods for walking and recreation; and use of the woods will almost certainly increase as up to 500 families move into the new houses of the development, and improvements are made to the woods.
In the absence of management in recent times, there are many dead and diseased trees to be removed. Necessary thinning and replanting are due to take place; rubbish is to be removed. A play area is to be established and maintained, and significant work to establish a network of paths through the woods, and more.
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Due to the high water table, trees grow poorly in some parts, creating attractive more open areas in the woodland. Sea-shells have been found in the ground here: presumably the low-lying area of Lochend was once under the sea. Perhaps the higher ground where Dunbar now stands was once an island or promontory? |
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What do you think? Do you use these woods? Would you use these woods once improvements had taken place? Are you simply interested in natural habitat around Dunbar and East Lothian generally? Be involved, have your say, give your support to this community initiative intended to benefit all, and to maintain and improve our local environment.
From a recent (April 2002) flyer for the DCWG:
'Dunbar Community Woodland
Group was formed in September 2000 with the primary aim of taking on the management
of Lochend Wood as a community-woodland for the benefit of everybody in Dunbar.
Lochend
Wood is currently still owned by Hallhill Developments, the property company which
is selling off the surrounding land to house builders.
A
planning obligation requires Hallhill Developments to make some basic investment
in the woodland before it is transferred to community ownership.
This includes: felling dangerous trees, surfacing a path
network, creating a clearing as a children’s play space, some landscaping of
the pond and remedial work on the ruin.
This work is now in progress and we hope that transfer
of ownership will take place this summer (2002).
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1854 map of Dunbar and the estate of Lochend |
Membership
Links
national bodies:
Visit the website of Simon Bell, one of our DCWG committee members. Simon is an expert on forestry and its use for leisure and recreation, and is the author of several books and papers on these subjects.
www.dunbar.org.uk - go to Dunbar’s main website for more community information and other links.
How to become a member of DCWG
Membership: £2 per annum for single and £4 for household membership. Membership forms can be obtained at 'The Crunchy Carrot', 43 High St, Dunbar. Alternatively you can print out a membership form here. You can hand it in with payment at the Crunchy Carrot, or to the other address given on the form.
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tranquillity in the woods on an early summer's day |
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Last updated: 02/05/02
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