What has WSWG been doing this month?
- Local “guerilla volunteers” have been very thoughtfully and kindly cutting back gorse coming up the middle of the main track round Five Mile Wood and positioning logs to assist walkers over wet and boggy ditches at the north entrance. Huge thanks to them, whoever they are!
- Lovely painted slates been found hung upon trees around Five Mile Wood – leaves, lizards and cupcakes to name a few! Who is the mystery artist?
- Another lovely and thought-provoking blog from Margaret Lear on accommodating both access and nature in Five Mile Wood, entitled “Exits, Entrances and Crossroads”.
- Access audits and plans for both Taymount Wood and Five Mile Wood with WSWG members in two- household, socially-distancing groups! See the new Balfour Beattie cycle link from A9 to Five Mile Wood.
- On-line workshop – “Growing Alternatives : Community Struggles”, part of “From the Ground Up” – 12 months of grassroots community input to the COP26 Global Gathering inGlasgow in November 2021 for action on the climate crisis. Co-hosted with Woodlands Community Development Trust who run a Community Garden project in Glasgow. Joining in with people thinking big!
- More brainstorming, logistics planning and financial rejigging on how to achieve, mainly on-line, therequired level of community consultation on our CATS proposal early in 2021 from our wholecommunity. This means WSWG members AND everyone else who lives in the area.
- Drone photography to give a different angle to present our proposal in the community consultation process.
- Securing further expert help to consolidate our feasibility study and business plan for the woods.
WSWG Word of the Month – Active Travel
Active travel simply means making journeys by physically active means – like walking, cycling, or scooting. With over 50% of all driven journeys in Scotland being less than 5km, and 26% less than 2km, there is plenty of scope for achieving a significant shift to walking and cycling as the most sustainable forms of transport. Walking is key to getting more people choosing not to use cars as it is ideal for shorter trips. Walking also forms part of public transport journeys – walking to and from buses, trams and trains. Positive impacts include: reduced congestion, reduced air pollution, higher quality public realm, better physical, mental & social health. (PathsforAll)
What’s coming up next?
- Consolidating other themes featuring in WSWG’s proposal for the two woods: education and life longlearning, healthy living, creativity and culture, and green enterprise. These woods are just bursting with potential for community benefit for decades to come.
- Completing calculations for carbon sequestration through proactive
- Become a WSWG Member today
- Join the FREE MEMBERSHIP SCHEME on our website www.weststormontwoodlandgroup.scot
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