‘Penis Wood’ chopped down despite locals standing up to stop it

By Tom Bevan

A phallic-shaped woodland affectionately known as "Penis Woods" is being chopped down — despite backlash from locals.

Castle Crawford Wood rises up a hillside south of Biggar and has caught the eye of travelers for about 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.

Locals said the trees should be a "protected landmark."

But despite the swell of opposition, Scottish Forestry gave permission for its removal.

Pictures taken this week show work is almost already complete — with just the tip of the woods now still 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 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-replanted and fenced it will probably leave a loss.

"There's a lots 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 where 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.

"The trees that are healthy are a fair height and now that there is so much space for wind to get at them by the time you planted more and the time it takes them to grow the big trees would be down on top of them in the next storm."

Castle Crawford Wood was originally planted in the 1800s, and features on maps dating back as far to 1849.

Several comments were also left on the petition by supporters of the wood.

One wrote: "These trees should be a protected landmark, as something of cultural significance."

Another added: "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: "Castle Crawford Wood, which was originally planted in the late 1800s, has reached the end of its natural lifecycle and is experiencing significant windblow, leaving many remaining trees unstable and at risk of further failure.

"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 trees species, helping to ensure a sustainable woodland long-term."