History of Cairnhill Woods

Some say a cairn by post 3 in the woods with a view across to Goat Fell may have been an ancient burial place. This was investigated by local historian Robert McSkimming around 2009 but not substantiated. An investigation by a team of archaeologists described the woods as "a piece of land frozen in time, the land improvements of the agricultural revolution have skirted around it".

The large now mature trees such as beech, oak and scots pine were grown around 160 years ago as a wind break for fruit fields and ornamental gardens on the Garscube Estate. There are also very mature trees that may have been planted for harvest long ago such as cherry and sweet chestnut. Many of the older beech, which can be vulnerable if growing this far north, blew down in Hurricane Friedland (Bawbag) December 2011.

Over the years successfully self-seeding trees such as sycamore have come to dominate. Also naturally regenerating species such as rowans and birch have filled in gaps and margins.

Stories from children who played in the woods in the 1950s describe it as overgrown with brambles and rhododendrons, with no paths other than a dirt path from Henderland to Ravelston road. They played football in a bumpy clearing near the top of Murrayfield Drive which is still sometimes used as an outdoor classroom by Westerton Primary School.

From the 1950s to the 1990s Cairnhill Woods came under control of Bearsden and Milngavie district council - and the boss of the council maintenance team at that time still works as a volunteer in the woods. Together with the Forestry Commission they carried out improvements. They created a tarmac path through the woods and laid other gravel paths. They put up signboards and planted some trees such as hornbeam and lime along the tarmac path.

In 1996 East Dunbartonshire was created and their green space officer Lesley Scott undertook a community consultation in 2007 to decide on next steps. This included a large grant from the Forestry Commission’s Woods in and Around Towns initiative for path work and clearing of invasive species. This has opened up the woods for fungi such as chanterelles and huge patches of wildflowers such as bluebells and wood sorrell.

In 2008 local residents set up the Cairnhill Woods Group, which in now affiliated to the environmental volunteering charity TCV Scotland. Everyone living in the Bearsden West Community Council area is a member. the Woods Group aims to help local people to work with the council to improve the woods and other Westerton green spaces for people and wildlife.

The group has successfully applied for grants from the Woodland Trust, Central Scotland Green Network and Bearsden West Community Council. These investments have led to measures such as development of a leaflet and self-guided trail, clearing fly tipping and new sign boards.  

In March 2014 local school children worked together with Chainsaw Creations and EDC on a sculpture trail and improvements to the woods funded by Central Scotland Green Network.

In June 2018, Cairnhill Woods was officially designated a Local Nature Conservation Site (LNCS).

Areas cleared of invasive species have been planter with hundreds of trees and shrubs, such as holly, hawthorn and dogwood which sustain more biodiversity. EDC Neighbourhood Services Development Officer Jackie Gillespie thinks enough has been done to consider a further 5 year plan and a public consultation for Local Nature Reserve status. ….watch this space....