WHAT ARE THE GROUP DOING?

Key Issues

The woodland has been in a state of decline for the past 30 years. There is presently a birch dominance which has resulted in a large canopy throughout the wood. Consequently, little growth of shrubs, grasses and ferns is now evident.
Although there are several designated footpaths throughout the woodland they have never been clearly defined. As a result the wood becomes extremely boggy during wet periods, this is unpleasant for walkers and has a detrimental effect on the woodland regeneration.
The ponds within the woodland are very deep. In the past 10-15 years the ponds have deteriorated, and over the past three years, due to a combination of neglect, drought and other factors, water levels have dropped by as much as a foot a week, to the point where one of the ponds has split in two.
At the Hookstone Wood Road entrance to the wood there are pathways suitable for disabled people lead to Europe's only "Living Causeway". This was designed and constructed between the two ponds. The original design was intended to create a "castle", hence the circular shape either side of the bridge. These were to become archways of willow, jutting out over the ponds, with windows for people to admire the view. Due to the depleted levels of water in the ponds the bridge did not thrive and in 1997 Mr. McCulloch returned to the bridge to insert 35000 willow stems in the hope that the structure would yet reach its potential.