WORK on an ambitious scheme to create a zip wire course through the trees at Scotland’s first wakeboarding park could start within a matter of weeks.

Foxlake Adventures was given the green light by East Lothian Council at the end of last week to get its zip wire course off the ground.

The business, which not only boasts a wakeboarding park but also a rope course over its lake, hopes the zip wire course will help it extend its operational season and provide another reason for members of the public to visit.

James Barbour, operations director, was pleased to see things moving forward.

He said: “Now we have been given planning permission we can commence work on the site as quickly as possible.

“We are actually relying on specialist contractors to do the cable work, install the platforms in the trees and the zip lines.

“We had them pencilled in to come in May and to commence work then.”

Work at the visitor attraction, between East Linton and West Barns, is expected to take about a month.

Staff will then undergo specialist training, with Mr Barbour keen to see the facility up and running by July or potentially even earlier.

The zip wire course, which is split into three sections, will see two zip lines running parallel to one another.

Mr Barbour was hoping the course, which is between three and eight metres off the ground, would prove a real hit with members of the public and particularly families.

He said: “It’s nothing too gnarly. It is not going to be extremely long zips and it is very much going to be a family friendly thing.

“The difference with this is the dual line.

“We have selected trees that are alongside each other so you can zip through the woods with your buddy alongside you just a few metres away.”

Currently, Foxlake Adventures employs six full-time members of staff and a further 20 during the summer season.

It is hoped those figures could receive a boost with the new attraction.

According to the planning documents: “Each zone is well-contained within the existing woodland setting and views of the starting and landing platforms would generally be screened by trees from view outwith the wood itself.

“The starting platforms to each zip line will be free standing on timber posts and not directly fixed to the trees; all works will be carried out in a manner to minimise damage to significant tree roots.”