Stewarton Woodlands Action Trust

SWAT is a voluntary environmental group made up of people from all over Stewarton. It began in March 2004, after some initial work by East Ayrshire Woodlands and Lainshaw Residents Association identified the need and the opportunity.

SWAT (which stands for Stewarton Woodlands Action Trust), is a voluntary community organisation with charitable status. Its membership is made up of people from varying walks of life, and of varying ages, but all with the same goal, which is to preserve the woodlands and parks of Stewarton for all to enjoy. To date we have provided, with the aid of grants and donations from various sources, a network of paths around the town, taking in Annick Water and Lainshaw Woods. Cunningham Watt Park has had a much needed facelift making it more user friendly for anything from dog walking, to a quiet stroll, or even as a short cut to Stewarton Station.

Over the years since SWAT was first started, we have planted hundreds of trees in and around the neighbourhood, some of which have been paid for by donations from local benefactors. We meet twice a month for �workdays�, usually on a Sunday morning, and many of our members who are retired, take it upon themselves to do extra duties during the week, or whenever the need arises.

Our main function once the funding has been applied for and utilised, is to keep the paths in good repair for all the locals who make so much use of them, and we often have chats with grateful Stewarton residents when they come across us doing our work. Some of our members have taken part in training courses to use certain types of weed killers, or to use chain saws safely.