Day 1 - Cowal - Cormonachan Woodlands

The Cormonachan Woodlands, situated on the west shore of Loch Goil half way between Lochgoilhead and Carrick Castle is in the Argyll Forest Park and also within the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. There are 60 ha of ancient Atlantic oak & hazel woodlands Ancient Semi Natural Woodlands (ASNW) being preserved for Education, Conservation and Recreation, with oaks of 300 years old or more and with areas of old coppiced hazel probably from around 100 years ago. Our group of Volunteer Rangers visited the Cormonachan Woodlands Association to assist cutting invasive Rhododendron ponticum near the new waterfall path, this strain of Rhododendron takes over native habitats by creating a dense, dark canopy of stems that stops anything growing underneath and needs to be eradicated. We finished our visit with lunch in the Contemplation Shelter overlooking Loch Goil. This Shelter was built in memory of Liz Evans who served as Chair of the Cormonachan Woodlands Association and provided the drive to maintain these lovely ancient Atlantic oak and hazel woodlands for education, community recreation and conservation. David Igoe, Andy MacIntosh, Derek Kenney & Lauren Stewart