Clean-Up Day, November 2025

On Saturday morning the 1st November, eleven local volunteers from Maryburgh were in the community woodland carrying out the regular clean-up of the area for the benefit of everyone in the village. Again, the maintenance plan guidelines were followed to remove the invasive non-native Beech saplings from the woodland.

Local entertainment

As the volunteers collected a selection of tools to begin the clean-up, they were entertained by a local red squirrel in the woodland demonstrating the best method of moving through the trees in the woodland, by swinging from branch to branch.

Following the morning entertainment, the volunteers armed with loppers and saws made their way to the south-western edge of the woodland. This area had previously been identified in the maintenance plan as compartment 6 and although the morning was raining heavy, the enthusiasm of the volunteers was not put off. New volunteers were given formal instruction on using the new tools such as the saws before beginning work. These saws are extremely sharp, and the group take a great amount of trouble to avoid any injuries occurring.

Area 6 of woodland before tidy up in November – Image by Siobhan Fraser

The Clean-Up Begins

Compartment 6 was cleared of non-native species such as the Beech saplings, opening up the ground area near the Memory trees to encourage native saplings to grow in the future. The cut saplings were then stacked in piles to provide new habitats for the woodland wildlife.

Tea and Rolls

As normal with our monthly clean-ups, the volunteers met at the end of the morning to enjoy tea and rolls. Due to the inclement weather, the tea and rolls were enjoyed in a volunteer’s garage this month to avoid the wet weather.

The Maryburgh Community Woodland Group would like to thank all the volunteers from the village who gave up a Saturday morning to help with the monthly clean-up.

Community volunteer clearing path in area 6 – Image by Siobhan Fraser

Area 6 of woodland after tidy up in November – Image by Siobhan Fraser

More Help Needed

More help is always needed to maintain and improve the woodland for the benefit of everyone in the community. If you cannot spare a couple of hours to join us for some fun in the woodland, why not help out in other ways. You can now make a donation using our PayPal online system. All donations will go to help with the future development of our community woodland.

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MCWG 2024/25 Archived Work Group

Clean-Up Day, October 2025

Second hand and new tools staked in Toolshed — Second hand and new tools stacked in Toolshed – Image by Siobhan Fraser

Once again, the Maryburgh Community Woodland Group had their regular Monthly clean-up day on the 11 October to keep the community woodland tidy for everyone in the community.

Seven volunteers from the Maryburgh community met at the area cleared last month in Birch Drive. This is an area that links various footpaths to: Birch Drive, Dunglass Road, the Community Woodland and the footpath leading into the village. With fewer volunteers this month, it was decided to make use of the time to collect some of the rubbish that had been left in the woodland by inconsiderate people. The woodland group were able to provide litter pickers and black bin liners for this purpose.

After hearing that a pet dog had been caught in a snare erected by someone in the community woodland, it was also decided to remove all the string and twine rope used in the construction of the dens in the woodland. If any member of the Maryburgh community finds anyone constructing snares for any purpose, then please report to the police. This is an illegal practice and members of the Woodland group will not tolerate such behaviour in the community woodland. Please be aware that some of the dens were well constructed and are still standing within the woodland. However, as time goes on, without the twine and string securing the branches these may become unstable.

Litter Pickers stacked in Toolshed – Image by Siobhan Fraser

After clearing the woodland of litter, our vice chairman gave everyone instruction in how to use some of the new saws safely. The new saws were then used to make safe the trees damaged in the resent storms and clearing beech saplings in the southern end of the woodland.

Rubbish collected during tidy up – image by Siobhan Fraser

The day was finished as normal with one of our volunteers providing refreshments for all those who took part.

The Woodland Community Group wish to thank all the volunteers who took part in the October Clean-Up day and helped to keep the community woodland safe and tidy for everyone in our community.

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MCWG 2024/25 Archived Work Group

Clean-Up Day, September 2025

Moth Survey

Image of Red Carpet Moth — Red Green Carpet Moth – Image by Siobhan Fraser

Last weekend was a busy time for members of the Community Woodland Group. It all started during the evening of Friday the 5th September when Mary Eagleson who is Moth Recorder for the Butterfly Conservation in this area, joined four members of the Woodland Group to set up two moth traps, one at each end of the community woodland. This was so that a moth survey could be carried out at both Birch Drive and the Dunglass Road end of the woodland. This was the first survey of moths in this area and would provide a baseline record of moth activity in this area for the future.

Preparing The Moth Trap

The moth traps consist of a plastic or aluminium box which forms the main body of the trap, with a light source included. This attracts flying moths, which are caught in the body of the trap.

Compressed paper made from empty egg boxes provide a suitable bed in the base of the trap to keep any moths captured until they can be identified, counted and then safely released. Moths are often misunderstood as they provide vital roles in the wildlife ecosystem. There are over 2,500 species in Britain living in a wide range of habitats.

Volunteers recording the results of the survey – Image by Elsbeth Neil

Collecting The Data

The next morning, both moth traps were examined for moths. The Community Group members recorded the moths found while Mary acted as the determinator. The survey results consisted of 29 different species and a total of 76 moths. Before being released, the moths were photographed and the photos uploaded to the iNaturalist website. Mary will also send the records to the National Moth Recording Scheme, which is run by the Butterfly Conservation. The photos uploaded to the iNaturalist website can be viewed at the following link:

Moth Project on iNaturalist Website

Woodland Clean-Up

View from Birch Drive before clean-up — View from Birch Drive before

View of area from Birch drive after clean-up — View from Birch Drive after

View of path before clean-up — View of path before

View of path after clean-up — View of path after

View of inside of area before clean-up — Inside of area before

View from old Brahan Estate Drive after clean-up — View from old Estate Drive after

Images before Clean-Up by Siobhan Fraser – Images after clean-Up by Jim Neil

After completing the moth survey, the volunteers started carrying out the scheduled monthly maintenance. This month the work was to complete the clearance of the waste ground in Birch Drive next to the old Brahan Estate Road.

Volunteers clearing the area using the new tools – Image by Elsbeth Neil

This area has been identified by the Woodland Group as a suitable area to develop for a proposed sustainable drainage system Rain Garden. By lunchtime, the volunteers had cleared most of the remaining understory and debris from the area. The waste was gathered together in a pile ready for the community payback team to dispose of for the woodland group.

At the end of a long and enjoyable, if a hard, morning’s work, the volunteers gathered in the green open space in Birch Drive to enjoy a late breakfast of hot bacon and/or sausages in rolls along with a hot cup of tea or coffee and homemade cake. The Maryburgh Community group would once again like to thank everyone who took part in the morning’s activities, helping with the moth survey and woodland clean-up. Our special thanks to Mary Eagleson who provided her expertise for the moth survey.

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MCWG 2024/25 Archived Work Group

Clean-Up Day, August 2025

Starting to clear the waste ground for the proposed Rain Garden by a volunteer — Starting to clear the waste ground – Image by Jim Neil

A new month and a new Clean-Up day in the Community Woodland. Saturday 2^nd August saw a few members of the community along with two grandchildren, of a volunteer, starting to clear the overgrown patch of ground in Birch Drive. This was an area left behind after the builders finished the estate, and it was transferred to the community along with the purchase of the rest of the community woodland.

This area of land had been identified as a suitable location, by the Community Woodland group, to allow excess water to drain off the old Brahan Estate road and infiltrate into the ground during extreme rainfall events. The proposal is to construct the waste ground into a specific type of Sustainable Urban Drainage Device, known as a Rain Garden. This would reduce the flooding onto Birch Drive, allow the excess water to drain away safely, and at the same time improve the amenity of the area. The trees and planting would help dispose of the excess water through evapotranspiration.

However, before the Rain Garden can be constructed, the area needs to be cleared of rubbish and plants that have accumulated over the years. A start was made by the volunteers at about 10:00 am on Saturday morning. By noon, the area was now exposed, with tree branches cut back and much of the overgrown vegetation cleared from the site. Arrangements had been made with the community payback team to dispose of the cut vegetation on behalf of the woodland group.

Community Members clearing plants — Community members clearing plants – Image by Siobhan Fraser

At the end of an enjoyable, if a hard, morning’s work, the volunteers gathered at the entrance into the community woodland to enjoy tea and biscuits. The Maryburgh Community group would once again like to thank everyone who took part in the morning’s activities, helping with the clean-up.

More help is always needed to maintain and improve the woodland for the benefit of everyone in the community. If you cannot spare a couple of hours to join us for some fun in the woodland, why not help out in other ways. You can now make a donation using our PayPal online Giving Fund. All donations will go to help with the future development of our community woodland.

Area of Proposed Rain Garden Cleared by volunteer — Area of Proposed Rain Garden Cleared – Image by Jim Neil

This tidy-Up Session also gave the volunteers the opportunity to test out some of the new and second hand tools that have been donated to the group by local companies and members of the community.

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MCWG 2024/25 Archived Work Group

Clean-Up Day, July 2025

On Saturday morning the 5th July, ten local volunteers from Maryburgh were in the community woodland carrying out the regular clean-up of the area for the benefit of everyone in the village. Again, the maintenance plan guidelines were followed to remove the invasive non-native Beech saplings from the woodland.

In June, following the maintenance plan, work had started on clearing the saplings from compartment 5. In July, the volunteers continued where they had left off in June and the rest of compartment 5 was cleared of Beech. The cut saplings were then stacked in piles to provide habitats for the woodland wildlife.

The working group included a new member willing to help with the ongoing work. Equipped with safety equipment and after some instruction and guidance from one of our existing volunteers, she set to work tackling her first tree and helping to clear the non-native saplings.

With the area mostly cleared of the non-native Beech, the space was opened up, allowing more sunlight to reach the soil, encouraging the Oak. Hazel and Rowan to grow and spread in the area.

As normal with our monthly clean-ups, the volunteers made their way to the green open space in Birch Drive after about 2 hours work to enjoy tea, coffee and home baking provided by one of the volunteers from the Maryburgh Community group. The Maryburgh Community Woodland Group would like to thank all the volunteers from the village who gave up a Saturday morning to help with the monthly clean-up.

New volunteer tacking her first tree – Image by Elsbeth Neil

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MCWG 2024/25 Archived Work Group

Clean-Up Day, June 2025

Group of members discussing the work to be done — The Group discussing the work to be done – Image by Jim Neil

At the beginning of June the volunteers were out again maintaining the community woodland for the benefit of everyone in the village. Following our maintenance plan guidelines, ten volunteers and 2 younger members of the community continued to remove the Beech saplings from compartment 5. Within a short while, many of the Beech saplings covering this area had been removed and stacked in piles or dead hedges to form habitat for the woodland wildlife.

Clearing most of the non-native Beech from this area opened up the space and allowed more light into the woodland to encourage the Oak, Hazel and Rowan in the area. Over the following two hours, compartment 5 was cleared of Beech saplings before the volunteers all returned to the open area in Birch Drive for refreshments provided by one of the Maryburgh Community Group members.

Members of MCWG clearing Beech saplings — Clearing the Beech saplings – Image by Ian Fraser

The Maryburgh Community would like to thank all the volunteers who gave up a Saturday morning at the beginning of June to help with the ongoing maintenance of the woodland.

Don’t forget the Den Building taking place in the woodland this month. For more details, click on this link DEN BUILDING

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MCWG 2024/25 Archived Work Group

Clean-Up Day, May 2025

The start of another month and the volunteers were out again maintaining the community woodland for the benefit of everyone in the village. Following our maintenance plan guidelines, ten volunteers continued to remove the Beech saplings from compartment 4. Within a short while, many of the Beech saplings coving this area had been removed and stacked in piles or dead hedges to form habitat for the woodland wildlife.

Sorry, but I don’t have any photographs of the volunteers working in the woodland this month, but the fact is, that we were all so busy removing the Beech and stacking the brash, that no one had time to take any photos of us all.

With so many volunteers working the group were able to clear compartments 1, 2 and 3 of Beech saplings and some made a start on compartment 5. Therefore, from a total compartment area of 3,752 square metres, over 1,158 square metres of tree saplings have been removed between last month, and this month’s tidy up. This will encourage a healthy understory of wild plants and native trees such as Rowan, increasing the biodiversity of the community woodland.

Volunteers provided rolls, tea and coffee for everyone taking part. Once again, the Maryburgh Community Woodland Group would like to thank all the volunteers who turned out to help with the May Clean-Up day.

The Core paths are now cleared of overhanging shrubs and trees, making access to the woodland easier for everyone. With the removal of many of the Beech saplings, the informal internal tracks are also more accessible to everyone.

One of our volunteers has created a video to show what progress that has been made this month with clearing the non-native invasive Beech saplings from the woodland.

Click on link to show the May 2025 video

Upcoming Events include a monthly meeting on 29th May at 7:15 pm in the Amenities Centre and a Plant Hunt on May 31 at 10am.

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MCWG 2024/25 Archived Work Group

Clean-Up Day, April 2025

Reduction of Rhododendron ponticum

Four months into the year and the group of volunteers were out again clearing the community woodland of invasive non-native trees and plants. Nine adults and a younger member of the Maryburgh community took part in the removal of beech trees and the Rhododendron ponticum at the southern corner of the woodland. Clearing the ponticum that is spreading onto the original Core Path was the carried out by 7 of the volunteers. This was the last remaining shrubs and trees at the sides of the original paths.

The remaining Rhododendron ponticum before being removed from Core Path – Photo by Jim Neil

Started on Removal of Beech Saplings

Three other members of the community made a start on the beech taking over the interior of the woodland. Removing these Beech saplings will allow sunlight into the woodland and encourage the understory of wild flowers to grow and increase the biodiversity of the community woodland. The volunteers started work on one of the woodland compartments identified earlier in the year for removal of the Beech. This was compartment 4 (Birch) identified in the Woodland Density map produced in July last year. Approximately 65% of this area was identified as having Beech sapling cover. On Saturday, just 3 volunteers cleared over 50% of this area of Beech.

Volunteers gathering the Rhododendron ponticum cutting — Rhododendron ponticum removed from the Core Path – Photo by Jim Neil

Compartment 4 cleared of Beech saplings – Photo by Siobhan Fraser

Photo of Rhododendron ponticum cuttings stacked — Rhododendron ponticum cuttings stacked – Photo by Gareth Parkinson

A well-earned break at the end of the morning

After 2 hours of work, the volunteers made way down the Core Path to the open grassed area in Birch Drive for a well deserved cup of hot tea or coffee and some homemade baking provided by a member of the woodland group. Once again, the Maryburgh Woodland Group would like to thank all the volunteers who gave up a Saturday morning to help tidy up the woodland for the benefit of everyone in the community.

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MCWG 2024/25 Archived Work Group MCWG Archived Activity

Clean-Up Day, March 2025

An image showing a Whin bush in flower with a bee collecting pollen. — A Whin Bush in flower – Image by Siobhan Fraser

As Spring Arrives the Work Continues

The first of March once again saw a small group of volunteers carry on where they had left off in February with clearing the sides of the core path leading to Dunglass Road. With some of our members away on holiday, there were fewer people involved in the tidy up this month. Due to the shortage of numbers, it was decided to give the giant Rhododendron ponticum a short reprieve.

Well equipped with bow saws, tree pruning saws, loppers and secateurs the small team of volunteers got to work to open up the core path to allow more people access to the woodland. The Beech (Fagus sylvatica) saplings, a non-native tree species along with Broom (Cytisus scoparius) and Whins also commonly called Gorse (Ulex europaeus), were targeted by the group.

Another Good Mornings Work

The beech is a non-native and invasive and if not controlled would eventually take over the woodland. The native Whin and Broom, both prolific spreading species, will take over open spaces reducing the ability of other woodland edge species to grow. In order to keep the core paths open for people to use, both these plants need to be kept under control. The other common plant targeted for clearance from the core path area was the bramble (Rubus fruticosus). This spreads along the ground and can cause injury to anyone walking along the core paths due to its prickly stems.

After a morning of hard work, the group returned to the grassed area in Birch Drive to have bread rolls with sausage or burgers along with cups of tea and coffee. Again, the Maryburgh Community Woodland Group would like to thank the volunteers who gave up their Saturday morning for the benefit of all those who use the woodland in Maryburgh.

An image of a patch of Lesser Celandine with its bright yellow flowers — Lesser Celandine in flower – Image by Siobhan Fraser

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MCWG 2024/25 Archived Work Group

Clean-Up Day, 8th February 2025

A Cold Day in the Woodland

On a very cold day on Saturday 8th February once again 13 volunteers including a younger member from the local community in the Community woodland continued with the clean-up of the core paths and the large rhododendron ponticum at the southwestern corner of the woodland. Again, as with previous weeks, the volunteers split into two work groups. The first continued to reduce the size of the rhododendron ponticum, while the second group tidied up the brambles, gorse and beech trees at the sides of the core path leading to Dunglass road. Once again, the core path was cleared back about 2 metres so that it will be easier to scrape and reinstate the original path. With the help of a younger member of the community, a small oak tree was relocated to a safer area away from the core path.

Work party at rhododendron — *Volunteers working to reduce the rhododendron*
*Image by Jim Neil*

Planting an Oak — A younger volunteer planting an oak – Image by Elsbeth Neil

Refreshments at the end of a morning’s work.

By the end of the morning, the volunteers made their way down to the open area at Birch drive for a well deserved cup of hot tea or coffee and hot rolls. The Maryburgh Community Woodland Group would once again like to thank all the volunteers who braved the cold weather to help with the tidy up.

rhododendron with exposed birch tree — The rhododendron cleared back to the birch tree – Image by Jim Neil

Bacon Rolls for All — The volunteers enjoying tea and hot rolls – Image by Elsbeth Neil

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MCWG 2024/25 Archived Work Group