The Rest and Be Thankful Woodland Creation Project area (PDF 1.9MB) is located on the steep south western flanks of Ben Luibhean above the A83 trunk road, at the head of Glen Croe. These slopes are notoriously unstable and, over the past few years, a number of engineering works have been carried out to help stabilize them and protect the road infrastructure. Native woodland creation will complement the "hard" engineering and bring other benefits such as improved water quality and added landscape and conservation value. The plan has been approved by Scottish Forestry, and Forestry and Land Scotland are working with Transport Scotland, planting a mixed native woodland with a range of species selected to maximise slope stability. Natural regeneration of native species will also be encouraged and there is scope for further planting adjacent to the core project area.

This site is very challenging. We are using helicopters and experimenting with novel planting techniques to help establish the new woodland. More information is available below.

Moving equipment by helicopter

Our team uses helicopters to move fencing equipment owing to the steep nature of the site.

Find more about our use of helicopters on the A83 project. 

Seed planting using drones

We are also experimenting with seed planting drones to help us establish native broadleaves on the steep hillside.

Learn more about how this modern approach to forestry can help us plant in our harder to reach locations.

Project documents

Text

• Glen Croe Woodland Creation Project (PDF)

Maps

• M1 Location and viewpoints (PDF 1.9MB)
• M2 Opportunities and constraints (PDF 985KB)
• M3 Slope and stability (PDF 546KB)
• M4 Landscape character and analysis (PDF 1007KB)
• M5 Design concept (PDF 430KB)
• M6 Planting design (PDF 646KB)
• M7 Planting infrastructure (PDF 671KB)
• M8 Planting timescales (PDF)

Visualisations

• VP1 Rest and Be Thankful car park (PDF 337KB)
• VP2 A83 approach to site from south (PDF 458KB)
• VP3 Ben Ime path close to summit (PDF 296KB)
• VP4 Ben Ime path at coll (PDF 317KB)
• VP5 Ben Arthur (PDF 392KB)
• VP6 Core path in FE woodland to the west (PDF 359KB)
• VP7 Beinn an Lochain (PDF 441KB)

Appendices

• A1 Background information and analysis (PDF)
• A2 Consultation record (PDF)
• A3 Deer management plan (PDF 302KB)
• A4 Golden eagle impacts (PDF 91KB)
• A5 Skylark and curlew report (PDF)
• A6 Archaeology (PDF 1.2MB)
• A7 Potential for woodland restoration (PDF)
• A8 Ecological and related landslide mitigation options (PDF)
• A9 Supplementary report on ground preparation and planting (PDF)
• A10 Track specifications (PDF)
• A11 Protected species survey (PDF)
• A12 References (PDF)