Orkney Islands Council has announced a programme of specialist maintenance works at three wooded areas to ensure they continue to thrive and are a safe space for people to enjoy.

The woods earmarked for work in coming months are Muddisdale Woods in Kirkwall, Millennium Wood in Stromness, and Happy Valley in Stenness.

These areas are open to the public and form part of the Council's public spaces.

Following a survey of each of these woods by a qualified arborist, work such as pruning of eye-level branches near paths, surgery to remove unhealthy limbs, and thinning of branches and of poorly trees to open up the canopy and encourage growth will be carried out by a specialist. Some cuttings will be left in quieter parts of the woodland for insect life and other biodiversity.

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The work is expected to be completed before the spring. The Council will update the public closer to the time of works in each location. Meantime, the Council has been discussing the work planned for Happy Valley in detail with the Friends of Happy Valley, to ensure it fits with their aims and aspirations.

Susan Shearer is Service Manager for Development and Marine Planning: "These are works we require to regularly carry out to protect and enhance the long term health of the woodlands and the safety of everyone who enjoys them.

"We'd reassure folks that though they might notice some change at first, the work is based on specialist advice to optimise tree health, and the woods soon bounce back in abundance once the longer days of spring arrive."