On 8 February, as the wind from storm Ciara whipped over the island of Great Cumbrae, a handful of hardy souls gathered at Millport Golf Club to re-plant the small forest that once nestled behind the 15th green.


The planted trees will fill the gaps between the trees framing the views over the Clyde to Bute, Arran and beyond. At present the new trees resemble small Christmas trees and will eventually grow to 40 feet tall or higher, with their tops flattening off as they mature.
A discrete small plaque informs anyone interested that the place is known as Coilleag Dughaill, or Dugald’s Wee Wood. 
Dugald M McIntyre was a well kent face amongst the golf clubs throughout the Firth of Clyde. He was a past captain, honorary life member and club historian of Millport Golf Club. He wrote the club’s history in the book 'Beyond Mount Pisgah'.
Honorary Life Member of MGC, Nettie Farquharson said, « As we played Westword Ho! (the 15th hole) Dugald would often remark that trees behind the green looked like a boxer’s mouth, what he meant by that was that the few trees still standing made the forest look like a mouth where most of the teeth had been knocked out! I’m sure he’d approve of this, it is a fitting tribute.
Among the friends and family present were Paul (Dugald’s grandson), both his sons (Niall and Ruaridh) and Davina, his daughter in law.
Ruaridh explained to the planting team that it was not that easy to get hold of the trees.
He said: "As someone who lives in Denmark, you really notice the effort that the government there are making, very active in promoting any kind of tree planting or reforestation projects, but from my experience it was not that easy to source the trees here in Scotland. In the end it was one of the members of the golf club who put us in touch with someone who was able to get us what we needed. Originally we were going to plant hundreds of seedlings, but that would have required thinning out and the rabbits would have had a field day with them. 
"By planting fewer more mature trees, we’ll get a much better survival rate and the wood will mature sooner. 
"We’ve planted 50 trees today and the golf course have already identified where the remaining trees will go."
Niall added: "This is a generational project and so I am delighted to be here with my brother, sister in law, my son and friends to plant these trees. By the time they are 40 years old each one will have sequestered 450 kilos of CO2 from the atmosphere so we’re doing our bit for the climate as well. 
"I’d like to thank Millport Golf Club for their kind support of our tree planting project in dad’s memory. 
"Without the help of the committee, the green keepers and the members who turned out today none of this would have been possible. On behalf of the family our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved."