Wooplaw Community Woodlands

The woodlands that make up Wooplaw Community Woodlands occupy an area of 20.3 hectares situated at a height of approx. 250m. The land is divided between two slightly separated sites - Gullet Wood (5.90 ha), and the remainder, comprising three contiguous woods - Axehead Wood (5.80 ha), Easterpark Plantation (2.80 ha) and Big Wood (5.80 ha). There is a mixture of trees, consisting of both mature stands of native broad leaves and conifers, and young plantations - the latter being mostly native broad leaves. There is also an extensive willow collection at Gullet Woods.

The Allan Water runs through Axehead, Big Wood and Gullet. There is a pond at Axehead and also at Gullet (the latter with a dipping platform). There are also a number of structures - notably a large log cabin at Big Wood (with adjacent greenwood working and picnic area), a small thatched Round House at Gullet Wood, an artificial otter holt at Axehead Wood and two totem poles. Tim Stead, local wood sculptor and furniture maker - and founder of Wooplaw Community Woodlands, is buried in Easter Park and there is an interesting memorial 'statue' next to his grave. Wooplaw Community Woodlands is registered as a Scottish charity (Charity No. SC 030590) and owns the land it manages. Since 14 September 2000.

Access

A 3km network of paths running throughout all the woods. A 750 m section of the path network that runs from the Axehead car park past the log cabin and into Big Wood has been established to an 'all ability' standard compatible with wheel chair access. In the interests of preventing damage to surface and drains, horse riders are discouraged from using this all-ability section and also the rides at Axehead wood.

How to reach Wooplaw

Wooplaw Community Woodlands is located roughly equidistant between Stow, Lauder and Galashiels (see Map 1). There are car parks at Gullet Wood, Axehead Wood and Big Wood Grid reference for main car park at Axehead is NT 503 421.

How to contact us

www.wooplaw.org.uk - more details are available from the community woodlands own site.