Plans have been developed to improve an area of woodland in Wishaw.

We have published the plans for an area of woodland approximately 10 hectares around a steeply sloping gorge, known as Hall Gill. The land is part of Cambusnethan Local Nature Reserve.

Over the next five years, the management plan will see the woodland tree species adjusted to a more natural composition of trees. Some of the existing trees will be felled to allow natural regeneration and create a more natural woodland with a diverse range of canopy levels and age structures.

This should support increased biodiversity and make the woodland more resilient to climate change, as well as making it a more attractive location for visitors to enjoy.

In time, the aim is that changes will allow the woodland to become part of the Clyde Valley Woods Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which covers 11 separate sites in North and South Lanarkshire and is of European importance for nature conservation.

This work is part of a project to compensate for part of the SAC which was affected by essential repairs to protect the operational safety of the railway carried out by Network Rail on the West Coast Main Line following a landslip in 2016.

NatureScot, Network Rail, the Scottish Government, and the council collectively agreed that another woodland would be identified and managed to bring it to the standards of the SAC. Meaning that there would be no reduction in the overall area of protected woodland.

We are inviting the public to give their views by the end of February. A paper copy is also available to collect from Wishaw Library.