On Monday 27th January the Glasgow Midweek Group headed over to Cairnhill Woods situated between Westerton and Bearsden in Glasgow.
These woods were once part of the farmland, orchards and parkland of nearby Garscube estate and some of the trees are at least 150 years old.
Housing developments starting in the 1920s have left a long, narrow strip of woodland that today is a haven for wildlife and popular with local residents.
Like so many sites, this beautiful area of mixed woodland had become overgrown with Rhododendron. Rhododendron are not native to this country and spread rapidly, outcompeting native plants for light and space. So it was time for some serious cutting back!
No mercy!
We worked alongside volunteers from Cairnhill Woods Group to continue clearing a large area of thick Rhodies. Half the group wielded saws and loppers while the other half dragged the huge branches to a pick-up point much further down in the woods.
The growing pile of Rhododendron by lunchtime
As you can see from the photos, we cleared a lot of the area helping open it up further. Rhoddie clearing is one of the most satisfying jobs as you can see results quickly!
If you would like to visit the site and want a copy of the Cairnhill Woods leaflet or to find out more about local events and activities, you can visit the CWG page at www.westertonvillage.org.uk or email cairnhillwoodsgroup@gmail.com