Improvements at Kirroughtree Forest

Visitors to Kirroughtree Forest should take extra care and watch out for diversions or closures as work to improve the woodland by thinning is due to start shortly. A number of changes to the popular woodland will take place during the coming winter months, including thinning out trees to improve the views and opening out the woodland space to increase the level of light reaching the ground, providing better habitats for wildlife. Visitors to Kirroughtree will be kept up to date with these operations by large information panels that will be sited at the three main access points for the forest, Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, Glenamour car park off the A712 and at the Anglers Car Park. The thinning process will take place in three phases concentrating on one area of the forest at any one time. By phasing, Forestry Commission Scotland hopes to minimise disruption to the way marked walkers paths, 7stanes mountain biking routes and the forest roads. The work should be completed by the end of March 2007. Lucy Hadley of Forestry Commission Scotland in Galloway said: "Kirroughtree is a really popular place to visit and it is our aim to make sure that visitors continue to have a great day out in the woodlands. The work should really improve the forest for both visitors and wildlife. "Whilst forestry operations are on-going, we would ask everyone to make sure they view the information panels before they set off into the forest. We promise to keep the information up to date so visitors can plan their trips in advance. We'd like to thank everyone who visits Kirroughtree for their patience while the work continues." For safety reasons, when a diversion is in place it is very important that the instructions are followed as this will ensure visitors are kept at a safe distance away from the harvesting operations. If you would like more information about the thinning works at Kirroughtree please feel free to contact the Galloway Forest Park Office on 01671 402 420. www.forestry.gov.uk