Once award-winning woodland left in disrepair
A beautiful part of Lochgilphead woodland popular with dog walkers and families, once lovingly maintained, has been targeted by vandals.
NHS-owned Blarbuie Woods, situated in the grounds of the old Argyll and Bute Hospital, are steeped in history.
Wooden structures installed in 2015 including the Sky Walk, a viewing gallery which overlooks Loch Gilp and Mid Argyll Community Hospital, are now damaged.
The Octagon building is a central feature in the native woodland, surrounded by picnic benches and a variety of sculptures dotted around the trees.
But since ACT (Argyll and the Isles Countryside Trust) lost its funding to look after the woods last year, bins are being left overflowing and the site is being used by people drinking and carrying out anti-social behaviour.
Overflowing rubbish and drinks cans scar Blarbuie Woodlands.
A dog walker who visits the woods regularly took photographs of the Sky Walk.
They show where the safety mesh grip which covers the wooden boards has been torn, rendering it more of a trip hazard than a safety measure.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: “Blarbuie Woods at the Octagon is now in a state. Someone has ripped up a bench and thrown it over the side of the Sky Walk. They have kicked out wood and glass panels.
“There is litter everywhere. The Sky Walk is such a nice place to sit, and it has been destroyed.”
Volunteers who organised a recent community event there found broken glass, empty alcohol containers and litter lying about.
Paula Cameron and Jessica McMullan from Ardishaig Gala Day held a fundraising Easter Egg hunt and had to spend hours clearing the area before it took place.
Paula said: “We filled five bin bags with rubbish – mostly glass bottles of alcohol.
“Before we could let children near, we had to put hazard signs up because there was shattered glass at the wooden viewpoint.
“We had to cordon it off and make sure there was a steward standing there so that the kids didn’t go near it.”
She added: “It is very sad. Act used to have two wardens who were up there every day.
“They would have a camp fire and people could go up for a chat and a coffee in the afternoons. It is a shame to see it go to waste.
“A lot of people still walk up there so it was sad to see it in that state. It has been left to go to ruin like the old hospital. It has just been abandoned.”
A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) said: “NHS Highland owns the land. The structures and facilities from 2015 were originally developed and maintained by Blarbuie Woodland Enterprise.
“Blarbuie Woodland is a space for local people, staff and patients. It is disappointing that the structures and trail areas are being affected by a minority of individuals who engage in littering and acts of vandalism.
“We urge all members of our community to come forward with any information they may have about the individuals responsible and report it to Police Scotland.”
Blarbuie Woodland Enterprise dissolved in 2020, when ACT took over. The trust managed the site for a while and even planned a visitor centre, but its funding for the project was discontinued last year.
The community-used woods won the Tim Stead Trophy for Community Woodlands in 2009 in Scotland’s Finest Woods Award while under the stewardship of the Blarbuie Woodlands Partnership.
The neglected Octagon pavilion in Blarbuie Woodlands, with overflowing bins and damaged structures.
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