Trees planted in Castle Douglas park in bid to solve flooding problem

A tree-sy does it approach is being taken to improve an area of a popular Castle Douglas park.

A section of Lochside Park has been difficult to use in recent years due to being saturated with water.

But it has now been turned into a wild meadow, with locals spending Friday morning planting trees.

Castle Douglas Community Council treasurer Martin Fortnum said: “Lochside Park is a major attraction in the town and the community council are keen to keep it looking as good as possible.

“The benefits from tree planting are well known so we are glad to have been able to lead on this initiative.

“We have planted three or four different varieties, including alder, cherry and birch, that we have been told will help with the flooding.

“It’s an area of the park that is prone to flooding and we are trying to make it a bit nicer, as well as encouraging wildlife.”

The trees came from a nursery on the outskirts of Dumfries and were purchased thanks to funds from the South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme which is overseen by the Galloway Glens.

Local councillor Iain Howie, who also helped out on Friday, said: “This is part of a programme to remedy an area that is prone to flooding and had become impossible to mow.