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Friday, Aug 07, 2026
Outside the box.
Scotland’s ‘Cock of the North’ Woodland Is Being Felled After Wind Damage
The distinctive tree formation beside the M74 in South Lanarkshire will be replanted after ageing trees were left unstable by severe windblow.
A Scottish woodland affectionately known as the “Cock of the North” is being felled after storm damage left many of its ageing trees unstable, ending — for now — one of the more eccentric landmarks visible from the M74.
Castle Crawford Wood, near the village of Crawford in South Lanarkshire, is widely recognised for its unusual outline, which many drivers see when travelling north from England.
It has acquired several informal names, including the “Phallic Forest”, and for many regular users of the motorway has become a humorous sign that Scotland is close.
Scottish Forestry said the woodland, first planted in the late nineteenth century, had reached the end of its natural life cycle.
Significant windblow — trees felled or damaged by strong winds — had left remaining trees at risk of further failure.
The regulator approved felling after an assessment and public consultation.
Work is already under way.
It said the clearance was part of the wood’s established management history, noting that the site has been felled and replanted several times before.
The decision prompted concern that the landmark could disappear permanently.
A petition launched last year to save the trees has attracted more than 2,500 signatures, but its organisers have since shifted their focus towards supporting replanting and raising money for charity.
Alex Allison, the Conservative councillor for the area, said the woodland was well loved locally and urged Scottish Forestry to ensure that it returned.
He said allowing the damaged trees to deteriorate would have left the site vulnerable to further wind damage and no longer enjoyable for residents and visitors.
Felling permissions in Scotland normally require the land to be restocked unless an exemption is granted.
Scottish Forestry has said Castle Crawford Wood must be replanted with an appropriate mix of tree species to create a sustainable woodland over the long term.
The familiar formation will therefore be removed, but the site’s next woodland is already required as part of the felling approval.
Castle Crawford Wood, near the village of Crawford in South Lanarkshire, is widely recognised for its unusual outline, which many drivers see when travelling north from England.
It has acquired several informal names, including the “Phallic Forest”, and for many regular users of the motorway has become a humorous sign that Scotland is close.
Scottish Forestry said the woodland, first planted in the late nineteenth century, had reached the end of its natural life cycle.
Significant windblow — trees felled or damaged by strong winds — had left remaining trees at risk of further failure.
The regulator approved felling after an assessment and public consultation.
Work is already under way.
It said the clearance was part of the wood’s established management history, noting that the site has been felled and replanted several times before.
The decision prompted concern that the landmark could disappear permanently.
A petition launched last year to save the trees has attracted more than 2,500 signatures, but its organisers have since shifted their focus towards supporting replanting and raising money for charity.
Alex Allison, the Conservative councillor for the area, said the woodland was well loved locally and urged Scottish Forestry to ensure that it returned.
He said allowing the damaged trees to deteriorate would have left the site vulnerable to further wind damage and no longer enjoyable for residents and visitors.
Felling permissions in Scotland normally require the land to be restocked unless an exemption is granted.
Scottish Forestry has said Castle Crawford Wood must be replanted with an appropriate mix of tree species to create a sustainable woodland over the long term.
The familiar formation will therefore be removed, but the site’s next woodland is already required as part of the felling approval.
