Introduction

CAEL in association with Robbie and Tommy Dale are really excited to have the opportunity to plant a new species-rich scrub woodland – “Twa Burns Wood” – between Drylaw Hill and Stonelaws Farm, to the north of the village, as part of the brother’s nature conservation efforts on Drylaw Hill.

Focus

The focus of the Twa Burns Wood project is biodiversity and this ties in perfectly with CAEL’s biodiversity theme. This is a great opportunity for the whole community to get involved in the planting and aftercare of this new wood.

The site

The site measures 2 hectares (5 acres) and will join Black's Park Wood at Newbyth to Ashfield House Wood, thus providing continuous tree/scrub cover all the way from the B1377 at Ashfield right across to Ravensheugh Sands, via Oak Wood and Binning Wood. 

The project ties in to the north with Colin Hunter’s work at Stonelaws Farm via the Kamehill strip, and to the south, further enhancing conservation work on Drylaw Hill itself, where ponds have been reinstated and replacement hedges planted by Robbie and Tommy, with existing CAEL involvement among other volunteer groups. Increased biodiversity in Twa Burns Wood will also contributes to the success of Buglife Scotland’s John Muir Way Pollinator Way project (John Muir Pollinator Way | Buglife projects)

Together, much work is being done to encourage ground nesting birds and biodiversity in general on Drylaw Hill.

Proposals

The aim is to plant about 500-800 trees over several growing seasons, in a natural layout of varying density across the wood. Conditions permitting, a range of native species common in lowland mixed deciduous woodlands will be planted, including: rowan, birch, alder, willow, aspen, wych elm and white cherry. These are not tall species and this is deliberate, to avoid creating vantage points from which crows and birds of prey could spot ground nesting birds like lapwings on and around Drylaw Hill.

Get involved!

Email tim.hetherington@cael.community with the following info:

1. Your name/s

2. What you want to do

3. When you want to do it

4. You do/don’t have your own transport and tools, trees etc