Kinharvie and Southwick Land Management Plan

The Land Management Unit covers 2438.87 ha, is made up of 2 forest blocks, Kinharvie 1939.83 ha and Southwick 498.04 ha and is located in Dumfries and Galloway, approximately 1.4 km west of the village of New Abbey and forms part of FLS South Region.

The composite is just south of Dumfries, southern Scotland’s largest town and  is surrounded by private woodland creation, open hill farm land, small settlements and adjacent to the Nith Estuary and East Stewartry Coast, National Scenic Areas (NSA).  It is part of Scotland’s national forests and land, owned by Scottish Ministers on behalf of the people of Scotland, and managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS).  

The current Land Management Plan (2025-35) identifies management objectives and sets out our operations for the next ten years.  The plan has been approved by Scottish Forestry.  The successful delivery of this plan will contribute to the objectives of Forestry and Land Scotland's Corporate plan, as well as the priorities, objectives and vision of Scotland's Forestry Strategy.  The plan has been developed in accordance with the requirements of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) and its supporting guidelines.  The UKFS is the benchmark for sustainable forestry practice, and the Scottish Government is committed to its use. 

Significant features in the plan area

Environmental

There are no designated environmental sites in the plan area, however there are important priority open habitats on the hilltops.  There are also some small areas of Ancient woodland, and Long established of plantation origin (LEPO) woodland, we are keen to grow broadleaves and Scots pine in these areas.  

Heritage

There are three Scheduled Ancient Monuments including the remains of Slew Cairns and a hut circle, all are in the Southwick part of the forest.  The Waterloo Tower listed building is within Kinharvie forest, but the land it is on isn't managed or owned by FLS.  However this tower is a important part of the view, and we have considered carefully how we manage the land around it.  

Landscape

This forest is within two National Scenic Areas (NSAs), the Nith Estuary (this encompasses the north east of the forest) and the East Stewartry Coast (this encompasses the southern tip of the forest.  Most of the forest is within the Solway Coast Local Landscape Area too.   These landscape designations have impacted how we manage these parts of the forest.

Long Term Vision

"Kinharvie and Southwick is a beautiful woodland with a history of productive timber, for this reason we will continue to grow a range of conifer species in the core production zone.  The hilltops are important open habitats in their own right, and these will remain unplanted.  The north east and south west of the forest will be planted with a range of diverse conifers and broadleaves, to help improve local views and conserve soil on steep slopes".

Management objectives (next ten years)

1. Manage the woodland under appropriate silvicultural systems to produce quality saw logs and other timber products. 
2. Ensure that the landscape design is sympathetic to the landform with a particular focus on the parts of the forest in the National Scenic Areas. 
3. Maintain and enhance the species richness of the woodland and open habitats to benefit biodiversity. 

Summary of planned operations (next ten years)

• Total plan area = 1949 ha of forested land and 490 ha of open unforested hill ground.
• Felling = 510 ha 
• Restocking = 516 ha
• Forest roads = 4.01 km 
• Forest quarries = 3.75 ha 

How is the forest likely to change over the next twenty years?

Over the next twenty years, Kinharvie and Southwick will become more biodiverse, with the planting of four types of conifer trees, and a range of native broadleaves.  The forest roads form a extensive core footpath network and will continue to be a enjoyable way to explore the forest. The forest floor under the conifer tree canopy will also become brighter as the woodland is thinned.  The 

The full Land Management Plan for Kinharvie and Southwick (2025 to 2035) and supporting maps are available to download below. 

• Land Management Plan Brief  – Provides an outline of the plan objectives and factors that will influence management of the forest block.
• Land Management Plan Full Text
  
  
• Map 1 – Location
• Map 2 - Current Tree Species
• Map 3 - Concept and Analysis
• Map 4 - Management
• Map 5 - Potential Thinning
• Map 6 - Future Habitats
• Map 7 - Timber Haulage
• Map 8 - Soil
• Map 9 - Heritage
• Map 10 - Recreation