Situated in the Southern Uplands east of Moffat this 600ha sheep farm was purchased by Borders Forest Trust with the help of a group of enthusiastic supporters. In partnership with national conservation bodies, volunteer and professional help, the valley is being planted with nearly half a million native trees and gradually returned to a natural mix of varied broadleaf woodland and open moorland. “The Wildwood” will be created by planting half the area with native woodland over a period of 10 years and in the longer term, natural regeneration, with only minimal intervention, will supplement the planting. The Millennium Forest project has included the purchase of the site and the initial year's management which has involved fencing the boundaries of the site (8kms) against sheep and carrying out the first phase of 36ha of planting. Baseline surveys have been carried out to monitor any changes in the diversity of plants and animals. The “Wildwood” project officer and volunteers will continue to ensure the development of this visionary project to re-create and secure for the next millennium an example of the lost natural deciduous forest of the Southern Uplands.

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