Family-Friendly Acorn Collecting session in the Ancient Keir Oak Woodlands

1.30-3.30pm, 25th October. Meet at Wallace Hall Academy, Thornhill

The ‘Wood of Keyr’ was referenced as significant Oak Woodland on historic maps. An exciting project – led by local landowners and Keir Community Council and funded by Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Environment Team – is now in its second year, with planting underway to re-establish this ancient woodland site.
It has been an incredible year for acorns in the region and on Wednesday 25th October, members of the Council’s Environment team and local teachers will be leading an expedition to the Keir Woodland to collect Acorns and take part in the work to re-establish these historic woodlands. This will be great fun for all ages, with a little bit of learning woven in!

Meet at Wallace Hall Academy at 1.30pm on 25th October and a minibus will transport attendees to the acorn collection site. We’ll be on site for approximately an hour, and then the minibus will return to the School for the party to disperse at approximately 3.30pm.
If you have any queries in advance, please contact Jan Hogarth on jan.hogarth@dumgal.gov.uk.

The Session is being led by Mrs Belford, teacher of Biology and Science at Wallace Hall Academy. Mrs Belford said:
“Our school is very keen to be involved in such an inspiring, forward thinking project. It ties in beautifully to the 300 year anniversary of Wallace Hall. These oaks will grow for 300 years too!”

Jan Hogarth, Education & Community Engagement Officer on the Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Environment Team added:
“The re-establishment of an ancient Oak woodland at Kier is an inspiring project which looks at the past to inform the future. Oak trees support over 2300 different species, so the re-establishment of the ancient Oak woods has the potential to create a network of wildlife corridors across the surrounding landscape. It is wonderful that young people can be involved early on seeing the Kier acorns turning into Oak trees and then helping the Oak wood grow.”

The Acorn collecting event is being supported by Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, a new initiative seeking to support trees, habitats and the people that depend upon them in Dumfries & Galloway. For more information, follow ‘Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands’ on social media or sign up for the newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iAlL6k.