On Friday 19th June, P6 and P7 from Gatehouse Primary School visited Knocktall Woodland Creation site near Borgue. This was the latest in a series of funded school visits, made possible thanks to a joint partnership between local charity Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, landowner Foresight Group and forestry advisor EJD Forestry.
Activities during the session included the pupils discussing the ageing and counting of trees, exploring minibeasts on site, discussion of topics varying from deer management through to uses of timber and the range of jobs available in the forestry sector.
This is the latest in a series of activities undertaken as part of an innovative collaboration between the local charity Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands and Foresight Group, supported by EJD Forestry. This work aims to add local value to Foresight woodland creation sites in the region. This builds on the Glaisters Bridge Community Woodland model, with a range of community initiatives and ecological works now under discussion across Dumfries & Galloway.
Robert Guest, Managing Director and Co-lead of Foresight Natural Capital, said:
“It’s fantastic to see local pupils out on site at Knocktall, engaging directly with the landscape and gaining a hands-on understanding of how forests are created and managed. These experiences help bring forestry to life – not just in terms of nature and biodiversity, but also the wide range of skills, careers and opportunities the sector offers.
Working in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands and EJD Forestry, we’re committed to ensuring our woodland creation projects deliver value for local communities as well as the environment. Initiatives like this are an important part of that approach, helping to inspire the next generation and strengthen the connection between people and the land.”
The roll out of local benefits across the region is being overseen by Joe Seed, working for Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands. Joe joined the Gatehouse Primary School visit and added:
“Despite the weather, it was fantastic to get the pupils out amongst the trees. Accessible forestry sites like Knocktall have great potential as outdoor classrooms, helping young people learn about nature, forestry and the wider environment.”
For more information about Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, follow them on social media, visit the website www.dgwoodlands.org.uk or sign up for the newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iAlL6k. Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is registered in Scotland as a SCIO, number 052525.
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is a membership organisation. If you’d like to join as a member, visit the website. For any further info, please contact mcnabb.laurie@dgwoodlands.org.
For more information about ambitions of this work, see: https://foresight.group/news-insights/news/2026/foresight-natural-capital-signs-inaugural-collaboration-agreement-with-dumfries-galloway-woodlands-to-support-forestry-community-projects/.
