Tarzan is coming to Dunollie Wood

Tarzan the timber-lugging horse will soon be helping out with a woodland regeneration project at Dunollie.

 

The four-legged eco-worker will be travelling from Beauly near Inverness to help The Woodland Trust thin out 35 non-native conifers on the north side of Barra Mor later this month.

 

The plan for Dunollie Wood is to remove the  Sitka spruce and Douglas fir so more light can get through to ancient woodland plants living under them.

 

Felling is due to start around the last week of October and during that time the path at the north end of the site will need to be closed for safety.

 

Gentle giant Tarzan will have the job of moving out the fallen timber to the field edge, says Dunollie site manager Ross Watson, adding the whole operation from starting the felling to finishing logging could take about three weeks.

 

The Woodland Trust will organise an open day for people to come and find out more about the felling work and see Tarzan in action.

 

And there will be other dates announced where people can book a slot to come and pick up free firewood in return for donations to Hope Kitchen.

 

The trees that are being removed were planted after the Second World War as part of the wider recovery of woodland in Scotland but they are now seeding into the natural woodland and risk threatening the rain forest habitat.

 

In five or six years time, The Woodland Trust might have to remove a few more trees.

 

Mr Watson said: 'It's quite tricky to try and sell wood of different diameters so we would like to make it available to the community.

 

'We'll organise some dates and slots for people to come with their cars and trailers and they can have it for free but we will be asking for a donation to Hope Kitchen.'