Chapelhall woodlands and access improvements
We will be carrying out phase 2 of a woodland and access project at Chapelhall, Airdrie. Part funded by Scottish Forestry's Woodland in and Around Towns grant scheme, the project aims to boost biodiversity and enhance woodland as well as improving pedestrian access to this woodland.
The project will improve the species diversity, remove trees vulnerable to storm damage and increase the overall resilience of the woodlands.
The works at Chapelhall consist of:
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3.93 ha of clearfelling
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restock of 8950 trees in shelters
- path upgrades
Felling will clear non-native coniferous trees and allow the replanting of native trees and shrubs. This will promote a wider range of tree species giving the woodlands increased diversity in the future. The current non-native coniferous woodlands support relatively little wildlife. Planting native broadleaves will provide better shelter, more food and a more varied habitat that our local wildlife prefers to live in.
The woodlands are very close to local path routes, houses and roads and their management will help them to be valued as an asset for local residents. Sitka Spruce are more prone to wind throw, with the existing trees having significant growth left in them. By removing and replanting with native broadleaves, this will result in a safer woodland and will be a more attractive and diverse woodland for people to see and enjoy and help to combat anti-social activity by encouraging more people to use the woodland.
