The Tree & Woodland Team is responsible for managing the tens of thousands of individual trees and over 1000 hectares of woodland on council land and in its care.
Storm Eowyn
Following Storm Eowyn on the 24 January 2025 and further wet and windy weather, the wooded areas across West Lothian suffered significant damage.
The main tracks and paths were cleared soon after the storm however most of the forest areas still have windblown or part blow trees. Visitors are advised to keep to the paths and not to enter these unstable wooded areas.
Plans are being made to clear the areas of windblown trees as part of future management of many of the council's woods, particularly in those areas most used by the public. In some areas the trees will be left to decay naturally.
West Lothian Council, in partnership with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, has been working to develop a range of tree donation packages to enable more trees to be planted as part of the Climate Change Initiative.