MUIRKIRK COMMUNITY WOODLAND (Smallburn)

Smallburn Community Woodland lies on the Northern edge of Muirkirk, just off the A70

Parking: Roadside parking along Miller Road is most convenient

Access: Formal Access exists throughout the site with some seating areas. Unaccompanied wheelchair use on some sections
of path may be difficult.

Within short walking distance: Kirk Plantation.

Description:

Despite having suffered from grass fires over a number of years, the site continues to develop and has a wealth of plantlife
and wildlife. The adjacent mature conifer plantation brings in a range of bird species, notably crossbill. The community woodland
has excellent views to the summit of Cairntable. The woodland was planted in 1999, primarily as a new native woodland. It is now
under the ownership of the Muirkirk Enterprise Group (MEG) and continues to be managed by East Ayrshire Woodlands.

The site has a healthy range of plants including Yarrow, Pignut, Heath Spotted Orchid, Ragged Robin and Tormentil, tree species
include Alder, Hawthorn, Rowan, Scots Pine, Downy & Silver Birch.

Selected bird information

Crossbill is probably the most notable species regularly encounted on a walk through Smallburn, their
distinctive chip-chip-chip call hear in the adjoining plantation. Redpoll can be heard overhead with their
regular cheecheechee zzzrrrr cheecheechee zzzrrrr call. In the tops of the plantation and at the far end
near Victory Park is where siskin are often heard and seen, with their nasally dzweee calls. The now much
rarer House Sparrow can also be seen at the Victory Park end.

Bullfinch, goldfinch, swallow, robin, blackbird, meadow pipit and thrushes have been seen and heard, while
the area is also good habitat for barn owl which are often seen at dusk and foraging kestrel.

General bird species information page