Devils Ditch and Wonderful Williamston Wood have been chosen by local children as names for two woods in Livingston cared for by the Woodland Trust Scotland.
Pupils from the town’s Carmondean and Williamston Primary Schools were invited to christen the previously un-named woods as part of a project to connect people with woodland in West Lothian. The name of each wood has been carved into special signs by sculptor Robin Wood.
Alan Mitchell, site manager from the Woodland Trust Scotland said: “We look after a number of woods in and around Livingston that are great places to explore nature. Thanks to funding from LandTrust we’ve been able to make a range of improvements to increase the connection between people and their local woodland. We want people living near the woods to feel a sense of ownership of their own environment and encouraging local schoolchildren to get involved through naming their own local woods is an imaginative way to help create that feeling.â€
The new wood names are part of a wider project to reconnect local people with the woods around them in Livingston, Stoneyburn, West Calder and Whitburn, including creating new paths, installing sculptures and seating, and hosting outdoor learning events for local schools.
The project has been made possible thanks to funding provided by Avondale Environmental and West Lothian Council through the Landfill Communities Fund as administered by LandTrust.
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The Woodland Trust Scotland is part of the UK’s leading charity championing native woods and trees. It has over 400,000 supporters. The Trust has three key aims: i) to plant native trees and woods with the aim of creating resilient landscapes for people and wildlife ii) to protect ancient woodland which is rare, unique and irreplaceable iii) restoration of damaged ancient woodland, allowing native flora and fauna to return.