Hello and welcome to the recultivation project for Magic Wood. Here you’ll find all the information and progress reports of the work we’re doing in the Magic Wood forest to maintain it’s beauty, flora and wildlife and how we aim to ensure that this world class bouldering destination lasts the test of time.

 

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What’s the problem?

 

Due to the increased popularity of this climbing destination over the past decade, both the forest and the boulders have continuously been showing more signs of wear and we’re now taking action to curve this impact and aim to restore Magic Wood as best we can.

 

Magic wood is, in its nature, a very non-sequential bouldering area. The whole climbing area in densly packed with boulders ranging from the edge of the river to high up the hill side towards the cliff's edge along a 1km stretch. Due to this arrangement it can often be quite confusing for first time visitors to orientate themselves through the woods. For the veteran visitor it can mean that main paths are discarded for a more direct route from project to project. All in all this has meant that a plethora of new paths have been appearing in the forest, slowly reducing the forest flora and tamping down the soil making it unable to re-grow.

 

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What are we doing?

 

With this in mind the current goal of our recultivation project is to address the multitude of unnecessary paths throughout the forest. We aim to define a logical pathing system throughout the bouldering area ensuring that all blocs can still be accessed easily and in time look at the possibility of simple signage to help guide and orientate visitors. This will help ensure that the areas and paths that are not in use can be given back to nature for the opportunity of regrowth. 

 

We welcome your help with this project, be that in the form of volunteering on recultivation days, advice and feedback from anyone with forestry knowledge, or just helping eachother become more aware of our impacts on this beautiful yet delicate space.

 

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What methods are we using?

 

• Locking down unnecessary paths with non-intrusive materials

• Planting and replacing moss to assist growth in locked down areas

• loosening up top soil in tamped down area to allow growth and moisture absorption

• Planting native bushes and trees in locked down areas

• Littering fallen branches and flora on reclaimed areas to assist in regrowth and soil nutrition restoration

• Directing footfall with signage to assist orientation in the woods

• Educating visitors to our cause and it's impact for future longevity

 

 

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Whats our long term plan?

 

We aim to better manage the footfall in Magic Wood and reduce the negative impacts that the vast amount of visitors can have on the forest. In time our project will develop with new methods as we learn what has the greatest impact as well as taking into account the climbing communities input and feedback. We truly hope that we have an overall positive impact on this beautiful bouldering destination that many of us love to enjoy and that it lasts the test of time.

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