Burnbank
Wood / Ladyton Loch
Burnbank Wood lies approximately 1km north of Galston just off the A719 and opposite the entrance to Loudoun Castle.
*****Please note, this wood is in private ownership and any management agreement contract for EAW ended in 2010*****
Grid reference: NS 485 373 www.Streetmap.co.uk
Parking: Parking for several cars alongside the boundary stock fence (Please keep as close to the fence as possible).
Access: No formal access within the site at present. This is under construction.
Within short walking distance: None
Description:
The new site development around Ladyton Loch has involved the creation of
a surfaced footpath along the
line of a former mineral railway adjacent to the River Irvine and a network
of new paths within new areas of native
woodland creation. Three distinct areas have been planted with various species
of trees which include ash, common alder,
grey willow, downy birch, sessile oak, wild cherry, rowan, hazel, holly, hawthorn
and blackthorn. The aim of the planting
scheme is to expand the native woodland cover in the area by using young tree
transplants which have been sourced from
local nurseries. The areas were planted in the winter of 2005/06 by trainees
of East Ayrshire Woodlands as part of
their adult training programme.
Breeding Mute Swan Panel
& bench along old railway line path
Bird Species: Ladyton Loch provides an excellent varied habitat suitable for a range of species;
Willow warbler
(Phylloscopus trochilus)
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
The River
Irvine adds an additional interesting habitat to the wood and provides suitable
habitat for grey wagtail
& dipper and otter. Kingfisher are regularly seen feeding around the Loch,
particularly when water levels are quite high.
Bridge construction