Keeping the Charcoal Kilns Burning

As many of you will know, the woodlands of Lanarkshire have contributed to peoples' enjoyment and lives in many ways over several throusand years. With the decline in demand for woodland products the management has also declined and that has an impact on the landscape and biodiversity value of the woodland.

A week long Woodsman's Course at Mauldslie Woods aims to help reverse this trend, with funding from Heritage Lottery Fund supported CAVLP, Forestry Commission Scotland, North Lanarkshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council.

The course will enable eight students (five members of staff and three volunteers) to gain some key woodland managemernt skills along with the ability to use a range of techniques to create items from the timber harvested.

Some early examples of their achievements are shown on the South Lanarkshire Countryside Rangers Facebook page (see related links).

We're hoping that this is the start of something larger - a longer term project that involves a wide range of people in getting the most out of their local woods - whether it's managing them, playing outdoors, walking or cycling or just being there and soaking up the atmosphere.

It's a Lanarkshire wide project and over the next few months we'll use some of the skills with the groups we work regularly with - Greenhead Moss, Perchy Pond, Phoenix Futures, Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health, Right Track Scotland Ltd and ENABLE Scotland - and also run a couple of public events so if you're interested in getting involved keep an eye on our Facebook page.

- Mike Brady, South Lanarkshire Countryside Rangers Team Leader