Woodroad Park (Templand Wood, Moat Hill & Stepends Bing)

***East Ayrshire Woodlands do not manage the park area of Woodroad Park, this is the responsibility of East
Ayrshire Council***

The site lies close to the centre of Cumnock, alongside the Lugar Water.

Templand Wood Nature & History Trail Leaflet

(Trail map to be added when revamp completed).

Grid reference: NS 570 206  OS Sheet: 70          www.Streetmap.co.uk

Parking: Parking available in Woodroad Park or short walk from Cumnock centre.

Access: Formal surfaced access exists throughout the site. There are, however, some steep
gradients and steps in places due to the natural topography of the site, which are therefore not wheelchair friendly.

Within walking distance: Broombraes

Description:

Woodroad Park Community Woodland comprises the semi-natural areas of Woodroad Park.
The amenity grassland known as 'the holm', former site of the open air swimming pool and areas
of play facilities are not managed by East Ayrshire Woodlands.

Most of the woodland on the north bank of the Lugar Water is mature, closed canopy oak wood,
though beech, rowan, sycamore, birch, ash & elm are frequent canopy trees. Hawthorn, dog-rose
and hazel are the commonest shrubs, with natural regeneration present and well established in some areas.

Work is due to start shortly on The Templand Wood walk to increase its use as an educational resource.

Hazel Coppicing

In early 2010, we started to re-instate a hazel coppicing regime in part of the woodland at Moat Hill, as a trial
area. There had been a history of coppicing in the woodland but much of the hazel had not been coppiced for anything
up to 20 years or so.

          
All the coppicing is done in the traditional way, as it would have been on the site in the past,
using only hand tools rather than chainsaws. Coppicing stirs the tree into new life, producing
straight healthy young shoots. It also opens up the woodland canopy allowing ground flora to
thrive and provides good habitat for butterfly and moth species.

A well managed coppice can provide materials for green woodwork, fencing and walking sticks.

For more information on coppicing ad other crafts, visit our traditional skills page.

Path resurfacing & upgrading

New carved trail posts & interpretation

  
A local sculptor is working on a number of new carved trail posts to replace the old posts around Templand Wood.
The old trail focused on the history of the site but the new improved trail will also have downloadable leaflets
available for a general nature trail, tree trail and an educational learning trail for maths, literacy, art & design &
environmental study which will be developed in due course.

The trail posts are being carved out of the wood that they represent & intepret.

Much of the improvement at Templand Wood is being supported by WIAT (Woodland in and around towns) funding.

Woodland music & percussion area

  (more images to be added shortly)

We are also developing a woodland percussion area in the wood, with an education clearing nearby.

Nature of Woodroad Park

Woodroad park is a wonderful place to explore at a slow pace, with a wealth of species for nature study
and photographic opportunities.

Bird Species: Templand Wood & Woodroad Park provide excellent mature habitat for a range of species.
This habitat is enhanced by the Lugar Water, which flows alongside the site.

Willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major)
Jay (Garrulus glandarius)

Fungi

Wildflowers

Forest School clearing in Templand Wood

Templand Wood Links and other media

http://www.vitalscript.co.uk/WoodroadLive/Resources/WoodroadParkProject.pdf

http://www.thewoodroad.co.uk/

http://www.s1cumnock.com/mini-sites/the-woodroad-regeneration-forum/