AFTER speculation that the Venlaw Community Woodland group would be dissolving, a vote held at a meeting about the group's future decided just that.

At a special general meeting held on Tuesday, January 26, VCW members in attendance voted unanimously to bring the organisation to and end.

Venlaw Community Woodland Convener Michael Ireland said: “It was with a heavy heart that the meeting concluded with dissolution, but I and the other attendees, I think, left the meeting with some hope that the wood will not be forgotten about.

“There was clear feedback that active members of VCW and other community organisations still have a desire to look after the wood in a less formal way, so, while the 'community woodland' model is no longer the favoured approach, I am confident that the wood will remain very much as it is now and has been for many years.

“There clearly remains a desire from many to protect the area and keep it as woodland and it may be that an alternative management group could come to the fore in future, but for now it is over to SBC to look after."

After months of consideration, the Venlaw Community Woodland (VWC) management committee decided that with the little resources, both human and financial, that are available to them, the wood is no longer sustainable as a community woodland.

Issues include the increasing costs of tree management and the lack of ongoing funding, the decreasing interest in it as a community woodland, and the declining membership of the committee.

Michael added: “Personally, I would like to see some community involvement in the woodland management of all of Venlaw as it is the 'backdrop' to Peebles.

"I am definitely willing to co-ordinate any views or suggestions from other people in an attempt to explore ideas for it's future.

“Some areas of the Forestry Commission and privately owned woods are close to the 'clear fell' stage and any insensitive felling would create a significant visual scar, which, I guess, most people in Peebles would not appreciate.

“I did suggest at the meeting that if anyone had ideas regarding Venlaw Wood as a whole, then I would be happy to try and co-ordinate those and see if there was a sensible and workable option.”