Making the Community Woodland More Accessible

Sandford and Upper Avondale Community Council expresses its thanks to local resident, Ian Gibson, for his idea to upgrade Sandford’s Community Woodland. A partnership between Sandford and Upper Avondale Community Council, Sandford in Bloom and Ian has resulted in funding of £22,000 being secured to make the Sandford Community Woodland more accessible to everyone.

In October 2020, Ian approached Sandford and Upper Avondale Community Council with an idea to make some improvements to the Sandford Community Woodland at the North of the Village. The Sandford Community Woodland is an area of amenity land which was planted around 20 years ago. The area is well used and, in addition to the woodland, there is access to a community allotment and outdoor learning spaces for the Wild about Sandford programme of activities.

The improvements proposed include upgrading the paths in the community woodland to make more suitable for all. Improvements will include new owl boxes which will make the area more attractive to those interested in nature and birdwatching. New benches will provide stopping points on the route through the woodland and a new welcome/entrance sign.

Sandford and Upper Avondale Community Council, Sandford in Bloom and Ian put together the funding applications. Applications were submitted to the Banks Kype Muir Community Partnership and the South Lanarkshire Council Renewable Energy Fund. Sandford and Upper Avondale Community Council is delighted to announce that £12,000 has been secured from the Kype Muir Community Partnership and £10,000 has been secured from the Renewable Energy Fund.

SUACC welcomes these improvements and looks forward to seeing the completed works. The improvement work is due to start in February 2021 and will be complete by Summer 2021.
To enable the works to take place, there may be some restrictions in order to allow safe working.

If you are interested in helping SUACC improve our community or if you have any ideas that you would like to share, please get in touch with us by emailing sandfordanduacc@gmail.com or you can view our Community Action plan on our website Sandford and Upper Avondale Community Council (suacc.com).