Building works to develop first class visitor facilities at Glentress Forest are well under says Forestry Commission Scotland.
The foundations for the new buildings are now complete and surrounding landscaping and groundworks are entering their final phase.
In the next few months, the Commission expects to award the final contract to build the new café, bike shop, orientation centre and Peel building. All the facilities are expected to be ready early in 2011.
All the buildings have been designed sustainably including installation of a woodfuel boiler and a rainwater harvesting system for the bike washes.
Kate Troughton from Forestry Commission Scotland lives in Peebles and is helping deliver the project through its many stages. She said:
“At the moment I’m living and breathing the project! It’s a real challenge to bring the many parts together but I’m really pleased with how things are shaping up.
“When we put everything together, including the purchase of the land, the building works, landscaping and all the design and interpretation planned for the development, we are now talking about a project worth £8.4 million. That’s a huge investment for the Borders tourism industry and one that the Commission and its partners Scottish Enterprise and sportscotland are very proud of, especially as businesses in the area are going through tough times.”
Already, changes to improve the main entrance into Glentress Forest have been made as well as access to the osprey car park.
Kate added:
“People in the area will start to see even more activity at Glentress in the coming months. We’ll soon be taking down the old house on the hill to make way for new Peel building works and eventually we’ll see the site greened up with shrubs and trees.
“We’ll continue to keep access to the forest open as normal so apart from the added construction works, it should be business as usual for visitors.”
Once completed, the new café will have an outdoor decked area overlooking ponds and will sit next to the bike shop and hire outlet. The orientation building will act as a starting point for visitors with information and maps. This building will also house the changing rooms, toilets and showers as well as the osprey viewing centre and exhibition space.
The Peel building will replace the house on the hill and will be a base for Commission staff as well as offering a key venue for training and business meetings.
For more details and images of the proposed buildings, log on to www.forestry.gov.uk/glentress
Notes to news editors.
1. Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Government’s forestry directorate. For more information www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland.
2. Media enquiries to Steve Williams, Forestry Commission Scotland press office 0131 314 6508.