Wood of Cree facts for kids

The Wood of Cree is a special nature reserve located in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It's about 4 miles (6.4 km) north-west of a town called Newton Stewart. This amazing place is looked after by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, also known as the RSPB.

Discovering Wood of Cree

The Wood of Cree is a very important place for nature. It covers about 690 acres, which is a huge area! It is the biggest ancient woodland in Southern Scotland. An ancient woodland means it has been a forest for a very long time.

Home to Amazing Birds

This reserve is a fantastic home for many different birds. You can find around 113 types of birds living here! It's a great spot for birdwatching and learning about different species.

Beautiful Bluebell Carpets

If you visit in spring, you might see something truly magical. The Wood of Cree is famous for its incredible "bluebell carpets." These are huge areas covered in beautiful blue bluebell flowers, making the forest floor look like a purple-blue sea. It's one of the best places in Scotland to see them!

Growing the Woodland

The RSPB is working to make the Wood of Cree even bigger and better.

Expanding the Forest Area

In 2006, the RSPB bought a nearby farm called Barclye Farm. This farm was about 996 acres. Their plan is to turn part of this land into more woodland, adding another 670 acres to the reserve.

Future Walking Trails

This expansion means that one day, visitors will be able to walk through about 18 kilometers (that's over 11 miles!) of continuous forest. Imagine exploring such a long path through beautiful trees! This will create a huge area of deciduous forest, which is a forest where trees lose their leaves in autumn.