who gave so generously to the Carrifran project and,
in February this year, a significant private donation
doubled the funding total at a stroke and put the
acquisition of the land almost beyond question.
“We now have more than two-thirds of the money
in place,” Dr Ashmole said. “I have no doubt that
the balance will be raised well within the deadline.
The global economic meltdown really hasn’t had all
that much of an impact on us. People continue to
give generously with donations both large and small.
Whatever people can afford is gratefully received.”
Dr Ashmole concedes that the Devil’s Beef Tub
is not endangered in any way at the moment. “It is
completely denuded,” he said, “but people know and
love it like that. We’re not planning to transform it,
although I’d like to work toward some enhancement.
It could be made to look much more wild and natural
if there were some judicious plantings around the
rim to screen out a rather ugly conifer plantation
nearby. We’re aiming to preserve, enhance and focus
on the rich historical associations. Once we acquire
Corehead we have the opportunity to create a much
more natural spine right along the top of the Moffat
Hills. I think that would be an enormous enhancement
to the natural landscape. Every time I’ve driven up past
the Beef Tub over the past 35 years I’ve looked at those
completely barren desert hills, which are beautiful and
yet so unnatural. They just need a bit of adornment to
make them a living ecosystem and not just an entirely
man-made one.”
Dr Ashmole says that once the Corehead
acquisition is completed, the Trust is likely to
look favourably at continuing to run Corehead
Farm in a low-intensity, ecologically sustainable,
environmentally friendly way. “For example,” he
said, “there will be some planting of native woodland
species such as ash, oak and birch. We will also
recreate hay meadows and wetlands and restore the
heather moorland. Corehead is not just going to be a
replica of Corrifran. Borders Forest Trust will involve
local people to a great extent and will work closely
with the people of Moffat who have already expressed
an interest in being part of the site management.
That’s the beauty of these projects. They’re not just
about trees, trees, trees. They involve people who
rust
care very deeply about their landscape and wish to
est T
play a role in preserving and enhancing their natural
or
environment.”
s F
der Dr Ashmole emphasised that donations of any
Bor
size are warmly welcome. In particular, he says,
members of the public have an opportunity to
become stakeholders by donating £250 towards half
an acre or £500 towards one acre of Corehead.
The Devil’s Beef Tub in Winter
For further details visit
www.bordersforesttrust.org
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