Heart-warming response to call for help to reopen paths
Sir – I write on behalf of both Dunnet Forestry Trust and everyone who enjoys using the community forest.
Through your letters column we would like to express our sincerest thanks to those who volunteered their time and effort to reopen our network of paths following extensive storm damage.
The high winds in December flattened many hundreds of trees, in places tearing up pathways as they fell. The devastation was far reaching with scarcely a path unobstructed by tangled trees and torn branches.
Many routes were rendered impassable altogether and closed for the safety of our visitors. Had it not been for the hard work of our volunteers this would still be the case today.
With part-time staff and a high seasonal demand for firewood logs, the time available to work on paths has been limited.
We envisaged months, running into years, of toil to open up the routes. Thanks to a heart-warming response to our call for help, much of the family trail was
cleared during a volunteer day after Christmas.
Our weekly volunteer work party, "Forest Gym", has racked up 150 hours of clearing time between them. Caithness Countryside Volunteers stepped up to the mark in January clearing paths at the further reaches of the woods. The Army Cadets lent at hand with the log sales allowing members of the forest board to clear yet more.
In short, since December, volunteers armed with little more than bow saws and good cheer have almost completed the mammoth task, in well over 300 hours of donated time. Thank you.
The aftermath of the storms can still be seen in the woods but the paths are now largely accessible to walkers.
Please do take care, however, a few areas await attention and remain precarious.
Thank you all for your patience. If anyone should wish to get involved with activities in the community forest please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kirsty Rosie,
community forest ranger,
Dunnet Forestry Trust,
Castlehill Heritage Centre,
Harbour Road,
Castletown.
