Since 2007 volunteers have been planting new trees to "fill the gap" and link about 12 miles of woodland from Newton Stewart to Glentrool.

BBC: Wood of Cree tree planting project ends

Links between Windsor Road and Ewart Drive in Newton Stewart, New Abbey Road to the Kirkpatrick Macmillan Bridge in Dumfries and Craigs Road to Georgetown in Dumfries have also gained support.

BBC: Dumfries train-to-trail mountain bike link considered