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| SORTING THE WOOD FROM THE TREES |
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2004/1/16
The future of Scotland's national forests will be aired at a series of public meetings around the country over the next fortnight.
The meetings are part of a nation-wide public consultation over the future direction of Scotland's national forests, which are forests owned by Scottish Ministers and managed by Forestry Commission Scotland.
The consultation is part of a review of the size, nature, distribution and other aspects of the national forest estate, launched by Forestry Minister Allan Wilson last August. The Commission manages nearly 667,000 hectares of forests and other land throughout Scotland to provide a range of public benefits, including timber production, nature conservation and public recreation. These forests represent about 35 per cent of the total of 1.35 million hectares of forest and woodland in Scotland.
Now Ministers want to "take stock" of the national forest estate and consider whether any changes might help them better achieve the aims of the Scottish Executive's forestry strategy and provide the benefits that the public wants from them. Part of the stock-taking review is to ask the public for their views on topics such as where public forests should be, how much public forest there should be, what benefits forests should provide, and what role local communities can play in forest planning and management.
To help this consultation process, the Commission has published a consultation document that summarises the Executive's forestry policy, provides a range of key facts and figures about the national forests, and raises some of the questions and issues on which Ministers would like to hear the public's views. It also includes a response form that readers can fill in and send as their response to the consultation.
Forestry Commission Scotland Director Dr Bob McIntosh said,
"Our forests in the 21st century are very much more than just wood farms - they are now Scotland's biggest provider of outdoor recreation in the form of walking, cycling and riding trails, wildlife-watching, visitor centres, and camping, caravan and cabin sites, and they are also homes to many of our most precious wild plants and animals.
"This means that how we manage and where we establish national forests can affect the lives of a great many people, and it is therefore very important that we know and understand just what the people of Scotland want from their forests.
"I would therefore recommend that anyone who is interested should read the consultation document, come along to one of the meetings if they can, and give us their views." The consultation document can be downloaded from the Commission's website, www.forestry.gov.uk/consultations, or a free paper copy can be ordered from Kenny Murray, Forestry Commission Scotland, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT, telephone 0131 314 6408; fax 0131 314 6152; e-mail: kenny.murray@forestry.gsi.gov.ukResponses to the consultation should be received by Forestry Commission Scotland by 27th February 2004, and the review is expected to be completed by the end of April 2004.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Details of the public meetings are as follows:
- Oban, Argyll, in the Regent hotel on The Esplanade, Monday 19th January, 2pm - 4.30pm. Telephone 01631 566155 for further information;
- Dundee, in the Swallow Hotel, Tuesday 20th January, 6pm - 8pm. Telephone 01738 442830 for further information;
- Dingwall, Ross-shire, in the Tulloch Castle Hotel, Thursday 22nd January, 2pm - 4pm. Telephone 01349 862144 for further information;
- Newtown St Boswells, Scottish Borders, in the Tweed Horizons Centre, Friday 23rd January, 2pm - 4pm. Telephone 01750 721120 for further information;
- Newton Stewart, Galloway, in the McMillan Hall in Dashwood Square, Monday 26th January, 3pm - 9pm. This meeting will feature a rolling, "drop-in" programme of presentations and discussions starting on the hour every hour from 3pm to 8pm, ending at 9pm. Telephone 01671 402420 for further information;
- Glasgow, in the Royal Concert Hall in Buchanan Street, Wednesday 28th January, 6.15pm - 8.30pm. Telephone 0141 941 2611 for further information; and
- Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, in the Thainstone House Hotel, on Thursday 29th January, 1.45pm - 4.45pm. Telephone 01466 794542 for further information.
2. Among the better-known national forests in local areas are the following (counties/localities listed alphabetically). (Editors who have no national forests in their circulation/broadcast area should note that the review includes consideration of whether new national forests should be provided.):
Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire - Clashindarroch, Bennachie, Bunzeach, Pitfichie, Bin, Balloch, Delgaty, Gight, Durris, Drumtochty, Kirkhill, Fetteresso, Banchory Woods, Inver, Stonehaven, Dunnottar, Maryculter, Peterculter, Countesswells, Lumphanan and Cambus o'May Forests;
Angus - Glen Doll and Montreathmont Forests;
Argyll - see Stirling District and the Cowal Peninsula, and West Argyll;
Arran - Dyemill, Glen Rickard, Glen Ashdale and Shedog Forests;
Ayrshire - Patna and Kyle Forests, near Dalmellington, and Whitelee Forest, north of Darvel;
Borders - see Scottish Borders;
Caithness & Sutherland - see Far North;
Clackmannanshire - Gartmorn and Forestmill Forests;
Dumfries-shire - Mabie, Dalbeattie, Ae, Castle O'er and Craigieburn Forests;
East Lothian - see Edinburgh and the Lothians;
Falkirk - Callendar Wood and Limerigg;
Far North - Morangie, Borgie, Rumster, Dalchork, Benmore, Carbisdale, Achany and Rosal Forests, and Camore Wood;
Edinburgh and the Lothians - Tweed Valley Forest Park, including Glentress Forest, near Peebles, and Camilty, Selm Muir and Fauldhouse Forests in West Lothian;
Fife: Devilla Forest, near Kincardine-on-Forth; Blairadam Forest, near Kelty and Dunfermline; Benarty Wood, at Ballingry; and Tentsmuir Forest, north of St Andrews;
Galloway - Bareagle, Arecleoch, Kilsture, Barr, Loch Doon, Dundeugh, Bennan, Laurieston, Fleet, Clatteringshaws, Kirroughtree, Penninghame, Glentrool, Tairlaw/Straiton and Glengap Forests;
Inverness-shire - Strathnairn, Culloden Forest, Craig Phadrig, Ord Hill, Clash Wood, the Black Isle forests and Reelig Glen;
Kincardineshire - see Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire;
Lanarkshire: Whitelee, Campwood, Forth & Wilsontown, and Kingshill Forests in South Lanarkshire, and West Benhar, Drumbow, and the forests of the Carron Valley in North Lanarkshire;
Lochaber - Sunart, Leanachan, Glen Righ, Glen Nevis and Glen Garry;
Lorne - Mull, Morvern, Barcaldine, Fearnoch, Glencoe and Glen Orchy Forests;
Midlothian - see Edinburgh and the Lothians;
Moray - Culbin, Monaughty, Ben Aigan, Roseisle and Winding Walks;
Perthshire - Allean, Faskally, Drummond Hill and Craigvinean Forests and Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park, some of which make up parts of Tay Forest Park;
Ross-shire - Black Isle forests and Torrachilty, Slattadale and Lael Forests;
Scottish Borders - Tweed Valley Forest Park between Peebles and Galashiels, Cloich Forest near Eddleston, Dollar and Hallmanor Forests in the Manor Valley, Ladyurd Forest north-west of Peebles, Craik Forest west of Hawick, Wauchope Forest south of Hawick, Newcastleton and Tinnisburn Forests near Newcastleton, and Swinnie, Falside and Mevinslaw Forests south of Jedburgh;
Skye and Raasay eastwards to Loch Ness-side - the Glen Affric National Nature Reserve; forests in Glen Urquhart; Allt Saigh, Inchnacardoch, Farigaig and Erchite on Loch Ness-side; forests in Glen Moriston and Glen Shiel; Mam Ratagan and Inverinate Forests around Loch Duich; North and South Strome forests around Loch Carron; Kinloch, Glen Brittle, Glen Varragill and Broadford Forests on Skye; and Inverarish and Brochel Forests on Raasay;
Stirling District and the Cowal Peninsula - Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, including Loch Ard, Loch Achray, Strathyre, Flanders Moss and Rowardennan Forests, as well as Coilliehallan Wood near Callander, Balmaha Forest near Balmaha, and Ross Priory Woodlands near Drymen. Among the best-known in Cowal are the forests of Argyll Forest Park, such as Glenbranter, Ardgartan, Lochgoilhead, Kilmun and Corlarach Forests;
Strathspey & Badenoch - Glenmore Forest Park, Strathmashie and Inshriach Forests;
West Argyll - Beinn Ghuilean Forest, near Campbeltown; Carradale Forest, near Carradale; Torinturk and Corranbuie Forests, near Tarbert; Knapdale Forest, near Lochgilphead; Ardrishaig, in mid-Argyll; and Inverliever Forest, near Dalavich and Ford;
West Lothian - see Edinburgh and the Lothians; 3. Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Executive's forestry department. It manages nearly 667,000 hectares of forested and other land owned by Scottish Ministers for timber production, public recreation and nature conservation; supports other woodland owners with grants, felling licences, regulation and advice; and advises Ministers on forestry policy.
MEDIA CONTACT: Charlton Clark, FC Scotland press office, 0131 314 6507; mobile: 07810 181067
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