We are undertaking a public consultation on our proposal to create a new area of woodland and woodland walk at Ardeer Quarry for the benefit of both people and wildlife. The proposals are outlined below.

We are keen to improve the amenity and biodiversity value of the site by creating a woodland and woodland walk.

The proposal

The proposed planting area is outlined in bright green on the adjacent aerial photo. It extends to approximately 3.5 hectares.

The new wood would consist mainly of Oak and Birch, with an understory of Hazel, Rowan, Holly and Elder. There would also be a stand or two of Scots Pine, as well as some apple. Some of the damper areas would be planted with Aspen and sallows.

The trees would be planted to allow a path to be created, as illustrated on the adjacent aerial photo using a broken red line. As indicated on the aerial photo, the path would connect-up with the pre-existing path network. It would effectively offer an alternative route for taking a circular walk around the Ardeer Rec Pond, the old path around which has been waterlogged for over 30 years.

Benefits for local people

The field is used maninly by walkers, especially dog walkers. The creation of a woodland and woodland walk will make the site a more pleasant, interesting and relaxing site to walk through. This will be the case particularly during wet and windy wether conditions, when the woodland will afford walkers some shelter, or during very hot conditions, when the trees will provide cool shade. An additional benefit of the new woodland will be its capacity to capture small, airborne dust particles in the atmosphere, thus reducing pollution and the health conditions it excerbates.

Benefits for wildlife

The adjacent woodland supports a wide variety of woodland birds, such as Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper, Chiffchaff and Long-tialed Tit. Over 300 species of moth have been recorded in the wood, and this supply of insects in turn provides the numerous bats that feed at the site with a supply of food. The exisitng patches of woodland also provide Ardeer Quarry's Roe Deer with somewhere safe to lie-up or feed during the day

New woodland will provide additional habitat for these creatures, as well as creating new habitat for new species - particularly species which require Oak trees and large areas of woodland (such as the shy Jay, which breeds in Stevenston only in the large Black Powder Wood at Ardeer).

Comment on the proposals

If you would like to comment on these proposals, please email: DistrictRanger@north-ayrshire.gov.uk