A phallic-shaped woodland affectionately known as ‘Penis Woods’ is being chopped down, and only the tip remains.
Castle Crawford Wood sits upon a hillside south of Biggar and has caught the eye of travellers for around 200 years.
Perched on Tewsgill Hill just off the M74, it has been ‘welcoming people to Scotland’ for two centuries.
Plans to fell the woodland known as the ‘Treenis’ due to its distinctive outline sparked a huge petition to save it, with locals saying the trees should be a ‘protected landmark’.
But despite the swell of opposition, Scottish Forestry permitted its removal, and this week, the work is almost done – with only a tip of the woodland remaining.
Scottish Forestry said the wood had reached ‘the end of its natural lifecycle’ and was experiencing ‘significant windblow’, leaving many trees unstable.
The site, which is visible from the M74 motorway, has been felled and replanted several times throughout its history.
But the start of works has angered locals with a campaign to stop it now backed by over 2,700 signatures.
The petition starter wrote: ‘The Penis Woodland is a cultural landmark visible from the M74 in Scotland. This iconic cultivation is going to be felled.
‘It’s not just any woodland, it’s a penis-shaped woodland, visible from the motorway.’
The shepherd in charge of the day-to-day running of the farm said in a statement: ‘We feel that, for the safe keeping of the wood itself, it has to be done sooner rather than later as the damage will get worse and it will look nothing like a ‘T’ in a few years if we don’t.
‘We plan to get it back to its former glory ASAP. This is not for any financial gain. Once re-replanted and fenced, it will probably leave a loss.
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‘There are a lot of trees down which will be rotting, and a lot that are still standing are dying swell. We’ve sorted these things before, but eventually comes a time when you need to cut your losses and completely fell it and start again. If you want it to have any chance of staying the shape it is for hundreds of years to come, it’s the only way to do it.’
Castle Crawford Wood was originally planted in the 1800s, and features on maps dating back as far as 1849.
Several comments were also left on the petition by supporters of the wood.
One wrote: ‘This stretch of woodland is not only a memorable and wonderful landmark for those who have seen and visited it but holds so much life within that would otherwise be lost with its destruction.’
A spokesman for Scottish Forestry said: ‘Following assessment and public consultation, Scottish Forestry has approved the felling of the woodland, which is in progress.
‘This forms part of the wood’s long-established management, with the site having been felled and replanted several times throughout its history. The area is required to be restocked with an appropriate mix of tree species, helping to ensure a sustainable woodland long-term.’
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