House of Water South

This former opencast coal site presents an important large-scale opportunity for the creation of new productive woodland on a site benefiting from a soil enriched remediation, whilst at the same time facilitating the Scottish Government outcome of reducing the volume of vacant and derelict land and ensuring the recycling of nutrients from the waste-water industry.

The land rises gently from approximately 220m above sea level at its lowest point to 250m at the central point of the site.

The land is situated in a semi-rural location 4.5 miles west of New Cumnock. The larger regional centres of Ayr (18 miles) to the west and Glasgow (44 miles) to the north are within easy reach and provide extensive communication links. The primary road access being the B7046 to the north, whilst the Timber Transport Forum classifies the A76 as an Agreed Route for timber extraction. The site forms part of a much larger contiguous area of conifer forest, privately and state owned and has the attraction of benefitting from numerous sawmills and timber processors in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway including at Lockerbie, Troon, Dalbeattie and Irvine. Furthermore, large established processors in the North of England regularly source timber from this locality

There is now a long and proven track record over the past two decades of successful establishment of woodland on former coalfield sites. The utilisation of key techniques to deliver good natural drainage and suitable nutrient levels have now delivered impressive yield classes on nearby land. The rates of biosolids application are determined through a Paragraph 9 Waste Exemption Licence process with SEPA, who refer to the Key Principles for the Establishment of Woodland on Former Coalfield Sites document to take into account the requirement for tree growth.

The proposed planting scheme is based around large blocks of commercial Sitka Spruce and Lodgepole Pine planted across the central sections of the site. The proposed planting density being 2,700 stems/Ha with smaller sections of lower density planting of native broadleaves such as by Downy Birch, Rowan and Hazel suggested to soften edges.

The northern boundary is delineated by the upper reaches of the River Nith; it is here that sympathetic riparian planting has been proposed. This includes the creation of a native broadleaf scheme encompassing appropriate Alder, Aspen and Willow at a density of 1,600 stems per Ha.

The combined proposals amount to 134.68 hectares of conifers, 21.95 hectares of broadleaves and 48.87 hectares open ground.


Please note that the land will be subject to a restrictive covenant for agriculture and forestry only. Further details of this can be provided on request.