Janet's Brae Community Woodland
Janet's Brae is one of seven Forestry Commission Scotland owned woodland sites in the Tweed Valley that form part of a 25 year Agreement between FCS and BFT to encourage community involvement in the restoration/conservation of semi-natural woodlands.
The woodland is managed through a joint management board which meets on a quarterly basis and consists of representatives from FCS, BFT (it is hoped more representatives from Community Woodland Groups will attend with time).
The site is approximately 21.6 hectares and comprises predominantly deciduous species of a varied age structure. It also lies within a designated area of Great Landscape Value and the Soonhope Burn SSSI a tributary of the River Tweed SSSI forms the western boundary of the woodland.
In 2004 BFT carried out some selective thinning in the woodland in order to improve the quality of the growing stock, i.e. manage the stand of trees; encourage natural regeneration and to enhance the area's environmental and recreational value. Borders Forest Trust are keen to return the woodland to a predominantly oak, ash and birch stand. Therefore, a large proportion of the extracted trees were non-native species (beech and sycamore) and trees of poor quality or health. A large amount of the extracted timber has been crafted into BFT's range of small timber products.
There is no formal community woodland group for Janet's Brae, however the woodland is extremely well used by local dog walkers/ horse riders and visitors to Glentress and Peebles. Borders Forest Trust regularly have events and activities to promote the woodland's value and usage, e.g. partnership projects with Peebles Museum/ self employed local storytellers (Celtic Stories) - with the award winning children's project 'Who Lives in the Woods'; charcoal making activities; shelter building/ survival skills activities and guided walks.
Access
The woodland is situated on a relatively steep slope. A forest track runs through the woodland connecting it to Glentress Forest and there are a series of smaller informal paths within the woodland.
How to reach Janet's Brae
The site is situated approximately 1km east of Peebles alongside the A72 road to Innerleithen. It can be accessed by a variety of entrances - there is a forest entrance adjacent to the Peebles Hydro Hotel (roadside parking for two cars), a steep rough path up from a signposted lay-by (parking for up to 4 cars) on the A72 and you are also able to walk to the woodland from the buzzards nest car park at Glentress passing the Iron Age Hut en route. (Grid ref NT 265403)
How to contact us
If you would like more information or to get involved, please contact Anna Craigen on 01835 830750.
For more information on the Community Wood you can access the below sites: