Volunteer Day at Gearrchoille Wood as lockdown eases
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Managers of a community woodland in Sutherland have held their first volunteer day since lockdown.
Regular volunteers were thrilled to be able to meet up again in Gearrchoille Wood for some pond clearing while maintaining a social distance.
Owned by Ardgay community, Gearrchoille Wood comprises 30 acres of semi-natural native woodland – predominately oak and birch.
Ardgay Community Council chairwoman Betty Wright said: “Individual volunteers have been strimming the paths throughout the summer, but teamwork was required to remove vegetation and silt which has built up in a pond since it was last cleared two years ago.”
A bridge showing signs of rot was inspected and was judged to be safe but in need of repair shortly.
Ms Wright added: “Other tasks in the wood to be addressed this year are the extension of the boardwalk and providing a new bench at the pond.
“We had hoped to start a project with local children to construct bird boxes to replace some of the older boxes in the community wood, but as with so many things Covid-19 got in the way - but there is always next year!”
