As part of a wider initiative by the Dunain Community Woodland trustees to improve the area around the duckpond, a colourful makeover took place in 2020 to inspire school children through nature.
Thanks to the Co-Op Local Community Fund. along with materials and labour from Robertson’s Homes, we were able to improve the path around the duck pond and install a giant mural featuring an eye-catching array of plants and flowers with lots of local wildlife for children to spot. Local Inverness artists, Heather Afrin and Suzanne Mcreevy, produced the vibrant mural alongside a carved and painted totem pole.
Thanks to the Co-Op Local Community Fund. along with materials and labour from Robertson’s Homes, we were able to improve the path around the duck pond and install a giant mural featuring an eye-catching array of plants and flowers with lots of local wildlife for children to spot. Local Inverness artists, Heather Afrin and Suzanne Mcreevy, produced the vibrant mural alongside a carved and painted totem pole.
The brief was to create something bright and colourful that would capture the imagination of children and help them fall in love with the wonderful nature on their doorstep. Some historical elements, such as the peacock and gravestones, have also been included which have sentimental relevance for local people. The wildlife, flowers and grasses are portrayed in a mix of styles, from cartoon-like to a degree of realism, which appeals to a range of ages.
In 2024, the Monday volunteers moved the mural to the new car park to prevent further water damage where it provides a welcoming entrance to the woods. Although the totem pole tree has since rotted and fallen, the committee hopes to reinstall the carved animals somewhere in the woods in the future.
Volunteers have also installed bench seats, repaired the fence and path, and regularly keep the rhododendrons in check. The noticeboard has a map of the woods and details on activities run by the Community Woods and others. We are working on opening up the area, providing map leaflets, replacing non-native plants with native plants and developing better access to other parts of the woodland. As part of ongoing plans, we’d love to find out what else you would like to see.
In 2024, the Monday volunteers moved the mural to the new car park to prevent further water damage where it provides a welcoming entrance to the woods. Although the totem pole tree has since rotted and fallen, the committee hopes to reinstall the carved animals somewhere in the woods in the future.
Volunteers have also installed bench seats, repaired the fence and path, and regularly keep the rhododendrons in check. The noticeboard has a map of the woods and details on activities run by the Community Woods and others. We are working on opening up the area, providing map leaflets, replacing non-native plants with native plants and developing better access to other parts of the woodland. As part of ongoing plans, we’d love to find out what else you would like to see.
Become a member
If you'd like to become a member and take a more active interest in Dunain Community Woodland, visit the Join Us page to sign up. Membership costs £5.00 per person a year, or £10.00 per family, and is managed through PayPal.
If you'd like to become a member and take a more active interest in Dunain Community Woodland, visit the Join Us page to sign up. Membership costs £5.00 per person a year, or £10.00 per family, and is managed through PayPal.