Local Nature Reserves in South Lanarkshire

Backmuir Woods is a Local Nature Reserve in north‑east Hamilton. It is a natural green space where you can enjoy walking, wildlife and woodland close to home. The area includes ancient woodland, scrub and two burns (Park Burn and Wellshaw Burn), which support a wide range of plants and animals. You can visit the site to explore nature, get fresh air or learn more about local habitats.

Where it is

Backmuir sits between housing to the west and industrial areas to the north and east. The A725 runs along the northern edge. To the south, it connects with Holy Cross High School grounds and Bothwell Road Park, making it easy to reach from nearby communities.

What makes it special

Backmuir is an area of ancient, semi‑natural woodland. This means parts of the woodland have been in place for a long time and support important wildlife. The burns running through the site add to this by creating a natural corridor for animals and plants, linking Backmuir to other green spaces and waterways.

Local nature reserve status

We designated Backmuir as a Local Nature Reserve in 2022. It is one of 16 new reserves created to protect and improve wildlife habitats across South Lanarkshire, alongside the extended Langlands Moss reserve.

Find out more or get involved

You can learn more about how the site is managed by reading the Local Nature Reserve management statement.

If you would like to ask a question or get involved in looking after the reserve, email our Countryside and Greenspace team.

A map of the reserve boundary and the official declaration notice are available below.

Notice of Backmuir Woods Local Nature Reserve - No. 1 Declaration 2022

Notice is hereby given that, in pursuance of Sections 19 and 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, on 25 February 2022, South Lanarkshire Council declared that it intends to manage land situated at Backmuir Woods, Hamilton in the South Lanarkshire Council area and shown delineated within black boundaries on the Plan attached to said Declaration, as a Local Nature Reserve. In declaring this site as a Local Nature Reserve, the council aims to recognise and protect the area for its biodiversity, cultural history, educational and recreational value. The site is of local value due to its wildlife, natural environment and use by the community; through designation as a Local Nature Reserve, the council will maintain open access to this site for recreation and continue to work with the local community to make improvements for both nature and people.

Publication/inspection of documents

The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 requires South Lanarkshire Council to publish Notice of such Declarations in such manner as appears to them best suited for informing persons concerned. In terms of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 Schedule 6 Part 3 Paragraph 9, South Lanarkshire Council are of the view that giving notice of where copies of the documentation may be inspected, or making them available for inspection in a particular manner, may give rise to a significant risk of the transmission of coronavirus, or is likely to be ineffective or inappropriate due to action taken in order to control the incidence or transmission of coronavirus and is therefore publishing this Notice and the Plan referred to here on our website. 

Enquiries

Any enquiries regarding this Notice or the Declaration should be sent by email or by post to the Countryside and Greenspace Service.

Date of Notice: 8 March 2022