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Roots of Arran Community Woodland

Roots of Arran Community Woodland was formed in 2002 and volunteers have over the years planted up this large clear-fell site known as Fairy Glen or Lag a Bheith, with many young trees which include birch, rowan, beech, hazel, willow, oak, alder, blackthorn, Scots pine and even fruit trees in an enclosed orchard area.  This is in order to regenerate the woodland for locals and visitors to enjoy and increase the island’s biodiversity.

30 Hectares of woodland

Our beautiful community woodland is situated outside Brodick.

Monthly Meet-ups

We meet every second Sunday of the month at 10:30am at the Viewpoint car park.

Beautiful Features

From an ancient beechgrove to a silver birch spiral maze, there are plenty of wonderful features to discover.

Conservation and sustainability

We are ever so proud to be able to steward this land as a community!

About Us

Roots of Arran volunteers meet on the second Sunday of the month (10.30am at the Viewpoint car park between Brodick and Lamlash) to carry out conservation work in their 30 hectare woodland just outside of Brodick. Tasks include footpath creation and maintenance, tree-planting and management, as well as rhododendron removal (it is an invasive species which stops other trees and plants from thriving).

In spring 2012 a pond was added as well as more footpaths. The area is on ‘loan’ to Roots of Arran through a ‘concordat’ agreement with Forestry and Land Scotland (formerly The Forestry Commission). The site has fairly rough tracks leading through it but is accessible on foot from the Viewpoint car park on the hill leading out of Brodick towards Lamlash. You can also get to it by walking up the road which has the Brodick Bar on the left and the old Post Office (now a laundrette) on the right. It takes you on to a track known as the Mayish and this leads up to the site (approximately a 1.5km walk). There is an ancient beech grove to the right of the main track just before the bridge if walking up from the Mayish, which has provided a fantastic space in which to not only shelter and ‘chill out’ but make environmental art and practise woodland skills. We ask visitors to ‘leave no trace’ so that nature can continue to thrive in the woodland.

If you come to visit:
See if you can find the silver birch spiral maze made by retired art teacher, Mike Bailey. It’s near the beech grove and includes a bench if you want to rest in this tranquil hidden spot.

Tree Planting Fundraiser

Tree Planting Fundraiser

Roots of Arran Community Woodland volunteers will be planting an
additional 90 trees this winter in the woodland. Passla Gautier who was
born in Tibet and lives on Arran with her family want to provide 90 trees
for the volunteers to plant up. She asked the group if they could find
space for the trees in the woodland, with the number 90 marking the 90th
birthday of the Dalai Lama which was celebrated globally on 6th July
2025. R0A Treasurer, Juliette Walsh, said the committee was delighted
with the offer and will run two tree planting days this winter and protect
the young trees with vole guards. They regularly plant species which
contribute biodiversity to Arran’s natural landscape, such as hazel,
rowan and Arran whitebeam and the 20-year-old woodland is now
teaming with wildlife. Passla is a Roots of Arran volunteer and helped
with this year with early spring tree planting. She had the idea of
donating 90 trees to Roots of Arran saying, ‘Even back in the eighties,
the Dalai Lama was an environmental champion and was concerned
about deforestation in Tibet. Globally we share his vision of a nature rich
harmonious world for all sentient beings’. You can visit the woodland
from the view point car park between Brodick and Lamlash. Passla is
encouraging anyone to donate money for a tree to be planted in the
woodland. Funds raised will go directly to the Office of Tibet in India for
patients needing medical treatment in India. Here is the Go Fund Me link:
It’s raised over £400 for this good cause so far.