Mid Plantation

Wood, Forest in West Lothian

Scotland

Mid Plantation

View to Wind Farm Sheep huddled at edge of field — View to Wind Farm Credit: Jim Smillie

Mid Plantation is a wooded area located in West Lothian, Scotland. It is part of a larger forested region and is characterized by its dense vegetation and diverse wildlife. The plantation spans an area of approximately 100 acres and is surrounded by rolling hills and picturesque landscapes.

The woodland in Mid Plantation consists primarily of deciduous trees such as oak, beech, and birch, which provide a rich canopy cover throughout the year. The forest floor is covered in a lush carpet of ferns, mosses, and wildflowers, creating a vibrant and enchanting atmosphere.

The plantation is home to a wide variety of wildlife, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers. Species such as red squirrels, roe deer, and foxes can be spotted roaming freely in the area. The forest also attracts a diverse array of bird species, including woodpeckers, owls, and various songbirds.

Mid Plantation offers a range of recreational activities for visitors. There are well-maintained walking trails that wind through the forest, providing opportunities for leisurely strolls and peaceful nature walks. The plantation also boasts picnic areas and viewpoints, allowing visitors to take in the scenic beauty of the surrounding countryside.

The management of Mid Plantation is overseen by local authorities, who ensure the preservation of its natural beauty and ecological balance. Efforts are made to maintain the health of the woodland through sustainable forestry practices and conservation initiatives.

Overall, Mid Plantation is a captivating woodland area in West Lothian, offering a tranquil retreat for nature lovers and a haven for diverse flora and fauna.

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Mid Plantation Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.912533/-3.7525194 or Grid Reference NS9070. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

View to Wind Farm

Sheep huddled at edge of field

Jim Smillie

Turbine at Drumduff Windfarm

Not being one to pore over detailed maps before heading out I assumed that the three turbines at Drumduff were part of the larger development at Burnhead, just North of here. The small windfarm is situated on the site of a former opencast coal mine. It has all been tidied up pretty well but the landscape still betrays its past, and is quite spellbinding in an industrial way. On the whole I'm all in favour of windfarms, though if several were proposed in my immediate vicinity I would probably be as hypocritical as most people! Here it seems to add to the surroundings. I always think it helps if they exist amongst what would be interesting enough surroundings anyway; it's when they are located in relatively featureless areas that they are at their bleakest. It is getting increasingly difficult to find accurate information for free online about a particular windfarm - a lot of independent data sites now require a subscription. From what I can gather though, the height of the turbines to blade tip is around 120 metres and their combined power generation comes in at somewhere between 6 and 8.55MW. The electricity reaches the grid via a big substation at Avonbridge three or four miles away. As usual with windfarms the ownership is a bit complicated. A company called Green Power, based in Alloa, owns a company called Green Breeze Energy which owns and manages this windfarm only. The bank Santander seems to be involved behind the scenes, though, making up the majority of the board at present.

Ian Dodds

Farm Ruins at Burnhead

This farm was in use - or at the very least a farm was in use at this spot - for either about 200 years, or 400 years plus. The confusion arises because maps from around 1800 up until the first OS map surveyed in the 1850s refer to this place as Easter Burnhead (the layout of the buildings is pretty much the same now as on that first OS map), no doubt to differentiate it from the nearby Wester Burnhead which these maps also show. All subsequent maps, and most pertinently those before 1800, only show a Burnhead though. So it is certainly possible that Wester Burnhead was the original Burnhead, and impossible to prove one way or the other due to the small scale of the early mapping. The original Burnhead pre-dates the oldest available online map of the area, which was drawn up around 1590. Apart from descriptions of both Wester and Easter Burnhead in the OS naming books which were compiled alongside their initial maps - a kind of gazetteer for every local area - I have found absolutely nothing about Burnhead online. Nor are there any pictures. While I understand the reasons why ruins like this are hardly ever afforded protected status, as opposed to, say, an unimpressive jumble of stones next to a small grassy mound believed to date from the early mediaeval period - principally there are numerous still-standing versions of the former about, along with a great deal of contemporary writing - I do think a few of these should be designated in every local area as they do greatly enhance the wonder of exploring the countryside.

Ian Dodds

Burnhead Moss wind farm from the air

Some of the thirteen turbines at wind farm which is located west of Armadale.

Thomas Nugent

Burnhead Moss wind farm from the air

Some of the thirteen turbines at wind farm which is located west of Armadale.

Thomas Nugent

Dumping Ground

The site of Woodend Colliery has been used as a convenient dumping ground for earth and boulders. The orange boulder in the foreground, believe it or not, is the same rock as the grey ones round about - it is a mafic rock with a high iron content, and its surface has literally rusted!

Anne Burgess

North-East Holehouse

There are four houses on the lands of Holehouse, and this one is marked on the map as North-East Holehouse in spite of the fact that it is south-west of Holehouse! The land in the low ground in front of the house looks very rushy and is probably wet.

Anne Burgess