Community Woodland for Nethy Bridge

Nethy Bridge is to get a new community woodland, wildlife pond and all-abilities paths in the Culvardie Plantation, known locally as The Birch Wood.

The go-ahead was given by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) Planning Committee, meeting in Ballater on Friday 2 March 2012.

The aim of the applicant, Nethy Bridge and Vicinity Community Council, is to have a woodland which the whole community can benefit from and which restores the area to its former state by gradually removing exotic species and encouraging the regeneration of native trees.

The works include:

• A circular walk around the wood, linking with the new pond and community facilities on two all-abilities paths plus sections of boardwalk and a 5m span footbridge.
• Indigenous trees will be retained which will over time develop into a mature pine wood
  Excavation of 250 cubic metres of material to create a wildlife pond, filled with groundwater, in the existing wetland, retaining existing vegetation including reeds and other wetland plants
• Picnic benches, seating, interpretation panels with local information and guided walk signs
• The overhead power lines running through the site are to be put underground

CNPA Planning Committee Chairman Duncan Bryden said: “This will be an area that people can enjoy spending time exploring, looking at wildlife and learning about important woodland and wetland habitats in the National Park.

“We welcome the community’s vision to improve the area for the benefit of the community and in returning its historic standing as a native woodland.”

In the future there is the potential to link the paths to a possible Speyside Way Duack Burn crossing.