Mike Harris of Criffel Coaches teamed up with the Forestry Commission after attending an Innovation Day organised by Scottish Enterprise.
“Keith Muir from the Forestry Commission came up with the idea of seed to sawmill trips, and we developed it from there,” said Mr Harris.
Parties of a maximum of 16 people are taken by minibus to a local tree nursery to see seedlings being planted and grown on. From there they travel through Galloway Forest Park to Clatteringshaws visitor centre to see a working forest site, complete with harvesters and forwarders.
Final visit of the day is Kirkdale Sawmill, the only operational water-powered sawmill remaining in southern Scotland.
“I hope to take people to a proper working sawmill next year as I would like them to see the whole modern technical process,” said Mr Harris.
Still in its pilot year, the trips are attracting mainly people who are interested in gardens and wildlife.
“Dumfries and Galloway is not Scotland’s Number One tourist attraction but we are talking to people about using the trip as an educational experience,” said Mr Harris.
