Woodlands Action Group (WAGs)

Woodlands Action Group (WAG)
The Woodlands Action Group, WAG or WAGs for short, has been formed to deal with the problems facing Wemyss Bay Woodlands, to help manage the area, and to ensure that the woods, which are loved and enjoyed by many in the village, are not lost.

For further information please read on or contact Jill Vedebrand on 01475 529618.

News updates
(Newest messages at top.)

22/5/2002 - SNH to visit local schools
Jill Vedebrand has arranged for Cat Jones (Education and Initiative officer for Scottish Natural Heritage) to visit Wemyss Bay Primary School in June to speak to the head teacher Mrs. Ritchie, environmental teacher Lyn Hair and 60 pupils regarding their environmental projects at the school. It is hoped that further funding will be available from SNH for these projects, which at present is focusing on the grounds of the school and in the future will include the woods. Cat Jones will also be visiting Inverkip Primary on the same day.

22/5/2002 - New Mountain Bike Stunt Club and Pioneering activities to start as a result of WAG action
This is a new club that will be formed in June. Mark Taylor of Wemyss Bay is a sub-mariner who has expressed a keen interest to run the club as he is a mountain bike enthusiast. Plans on the agenda will be a mountain bike course in a designated part of the woods designed by the club members and pioneering projects co-ordinated with the Scouts.

12/5/2002 - Positive feedback from public meeting
A public meeting was held on Sunday, May 12th at 7.00pm in the main hall of Community Centre to discuss the future of the Wemyss Bay woods.

Villagers showed their support with 117 people turning up to hear plans for the 11 acre site. There was an enthusiastic spirit at the meeting with the people keen to see the woods improved and preserved. Four girl guides gave able assistance at the meeting by welcoming people at the door, handing out questionnaires, and counting the number of people who had turned out.

Campaigners are confident that they will now be able to attract further funding for the project. They have already been given an initial grant of £15,000 from Inverclyde council.

Local councillor Bob Campbell was encouraged by the turnout, which included 21 youngsters. On Saturday 25th May, those interested in being actively involved will meet and from this group a committee will be formed. A total of twenty five people have expressed a desire to be involved in the project.

The meeting, along with feedback from the questionnaires, has helped to give a clearer idea of what people want to be seen done with the woods. For example, it is clear that villagers wish to see overgrown rhododendrons and damaged trees removed.

The project manager of the Lower Clyde Greenspace Project, Charlie Cairns, said that the meeting would pave the way for applications to organisations such as Scottish National Heritage and the Foresty Commission for funding which would be in the region of £60,000 over two years, the Greenock Telegraph reported.

There are also plans for a Neighbourhood Watch scheme to watch out for any drug taking or dealing in the woods. This group will be formed on Saturday 25th May at the initial WAG meeting.

Jill Vedebrand commented that she is keen to see the work carried out by local skilled people who care for this area.

27/4/2002 - Annual Spring Clean 2002
Special emphasis was on Wemyss Bay woods this year - read more here.

8/3/2002 - Draft report presented to Community Council
A draft report by the Tennant Garmory Partnership, environmental consultants, was presented by Jill Vedebrand to the Community Council recently. It outlines what's wrong with the woods (damage caused by motorbikes using trails for scrambling, vandalism and graffiti on trees and walls, litter and fly tipping, choking of trees by rhododendron undergrowth, many fallen trees blocking paths etc.) and a proposal to restore them.

Restoration works to include:

a) Tree surgery to make the woods safe and to allow regeneration of native trees.

b) Clearing of a large portion of rhododendrons and other harmful undergrowth, leaving some decorative bushes, thereby opening up overgrown areas. In the opened up areas there can be planting of bulbs, native bushes and some young trees.

c) Construction of proper graded pathways, restoration of drainage.

d) Use of fallen timber to construct seating, paths and other features.

e) Removal of graffiti, and of litter (clean up will help).

f) Survey of the finest remaining trees to ensure their long term viability.

The idea is to designate the woods as a Nature Reserve, name particular zones within it, and involve local groups e.g. primary school classes and youth organisations with their adopted areas' ongoing development and conservation.

The hope is that all these measures taken together will restore the woodland to a pristine state which will discourage future abuse. If the people of Wemyss Bay come to feel it is "their" wood, public outrage at any damage to it will ensure its ongoing protection and conservation.

There will be articles in the Village News and press releases to the Greenock Telegraph, culminating in a public meeting on May 12th at 7.00pm with public consultation to ensure the final plan has wide public support.