Assynt Field Club teams up with countryside ranger to create woodland haven for Lochinver children
An exciting project is under way to develop a designated space in an Assynt woodland where Lochinver Primary School pupils can connect with nature.
Assynt Field Club has teamed up with local High Life Highland senior countryside ranger Andy Summers to develop an area of Culag Woods known as the Dark Pool.
Field Club chairperson Charlie Leeson said: “We want to create an area where local children can learn about and connect with nature. Together we will plant native trees and wildflowers and create paths and seating areas.”
The project recently received a financial boost when two local runners donated an amazing £1080 after completing a 70-mile fundraising run. The Field Club is also waiting to hear about an award from the Tesco Stronger Starts grant scheme.
Culag Woods, which covers 36 hectares, is situated above the harbour in Lochinver, and directly on the doorstep of the primary school - pupils come out of the gate, cross the single track road and are in the woods.
A mixed woodland of conifer plantation and native deciduous trees, it has been managed for over 40 years by Culag Community Woodland Trust, a charity run by volunteer directors.
There is a variety of wildlife including a heronry, fantastic lichens and mosses, typical of an Atlantic rainforest. Culag Woods is also home to woodpeckers, lesser butterfly orchids, pine martens and a bog area with dragonflies and other insects.
“It is a beautiful woodland with a variety of paths that take you to a viewpoint and the White Shore,” said Ms Leeson.
The Dark Pool is an area of about one hectare on the southern boundary of the wood, close to the school but off the main paths. The area, which has a small boggy pool, was named by the school children and weekly outdoor learning sessions are held there on Thursday afternoons.
In December 2021, a large number of spruce trees were felled to allow more light into the Dark Pool and to create an open area for future use. The trees were milled on site and and removed by horse as heavy vehicles would have caused too much ground damage.
Ms Leeson said that the primary school pupils were heavily involved in the Dark Pool project and would be helping to carry out some of the work.
“They want to create some open spaces for play and places to plant foxgloves and primroses,” she said. “They want to build and put up bird and bat boxes, and create a new path with a small section of boardwalk over the boggy areas.”
Funding was needed for materials such as wood for the boardwalk and bird boxes, tree and wildflower plugs, and some tools such as spades and forks.
Runners Oliver Appleby and Paul Redgewell, who completed the 70-mile Hadrian’s Wall Ultra Marathon in June, presented a symbolic cheque to Ms Leeson and Mr Summers at a ceremony on July 2.
The runners raised a total of £2160, which was split between the Dark Pool Project and Assynt Mountain Rescue Team.
Ms Leeson continued: “We hope to start the ‘building work’ later this year, but it will be an ongoing project with no end date as new children will be involved over the coming years. Volunteers from Assynt Field Club will carry out the heavy lifting and larger landscaping work.”
