COMMUNITY Spirit is blooming in Crossgates thanks to a team of volunteers who have given their time to spruce up the village's community woodland.

The Taft area – the wood and two large fields – is owned by the village after it was the subject of the first community land buyout in Scotland

Last year, an appeal for help attracted new volunteers and the charitable organisation has since been hard at work to gain support for its efforts to promote the beauty spot.

It received a £10,000 boost through the National Lottery Awards for All scheme which has allowed the creation of a woodland rockery, fairy dell, woodland sculptures and rubbings trail as well as houses for birds, bats, squirrels and hedgehogs.

Funding was also found to place signage at the area's three gates, improve paths and add ramp access and further help has been received after a mailshot to villages requesting a £5 membership fee.

Project Officer Ang Harris said they have organised clean up days once a month and work.

She said their efforts show that giving just two hours a month can make a "massive difference."

Crossgates Community Woodland was the first community land buyout in Scotland -some years ago - and as such the community owns an area of woodland which shows on old maps from the 1700s ....

A shout went out in the village via social media looking for volunteers to join the group as most of the founders and original members had left or retired.

Added Ang: "We were not disappointed as 15 people turned up to our first meeting and since this meeting at the end of last year- we have set up a Facebook page, obtained funding from Paths for All for signage at three gates, improved paths and added the access ramp for prams and wheelchairs.

"We have established regular clean up days on the third Saturday of every month 10-12 meeting at the British Legion Club's car park and more people would be welcomed.

"We have mailshot everyone in the village requesting for a £5 membership fee and advising that the site isn’t run by the council as it can be a common misconception that it is."

The volunteers have set up dog poo bins, cleared areas and felled trees and have tree planting planned for the end of the year ..and a wishing well being installed within the next few weeks.

Looking at the history of the site Ang went on: "We plan to mark the spot of Cox Sawmill and Cox Well, which were prominent land marks in the 1700s and part of the history of the village

"Our future plans are to work in partnership with Crossgates Green Fingers group - sharing resources and manpower to ensure our village remains looked after for future generations to enjoy. So we feel the future is green and bright and we hope more people will join us in making the Taft a real village beauty spot."