Loch Lomond Forests Land Management Plan

Loch Lomond Forests Land Management Plan (LMP) is the 10-year renewal LMP for three existing Forestry and Land Scotland woodland blocks: East Loch Lomond (including Rowardennan and Sallochy), Balmaha, and Ross Priory. The area of these blocks are 979 ha, 54 ha and 71 ha respectively, together forming an LMP area of 1104 ha within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. 

These blocks have been incorporated into this new management area due to their position on the banks of Loch Lomond, all falling within the Atlantic Strategic Rainforest (ASR) zone. After five years the plan will be subject to review. 

It is with the ASR zone in mind that the objectives for this LMP have been conceived, with large areas of felling at East Loch Lomond aimed at completing the goals of the Ben Lomond National Memorial Landscape which were conceived over two decades ago. 

Here, non-native conifers will be removed in their entirety and regeneration from the seeds of these managed, moving the area closer to the restoration of native temperate rainforest. In Balmaha, diseased Larch trees will be fully removed along with a chunk of non-native conifers there, also moving towards temperate rainforest restoration. Ross Priory is a diverse and young woodland area of predominantly native broadleaves, work here over the next 10 years will focus on encouraging a healthy woodland, maximising the number of opportunities for management as it moves into maturity. 

While the main objectives for the entire LMP area are centred around environmental restoration and tree health, public engagement is an essential part of designing management objectives with a strong local community and a high volume of visitor footfall within the blocks. All objectives will contribute to the visitor experience, enhancing landscape characteristics and opportunities for recreation in the long-term. 

The plan below and associated maps describe our management objectives and proposals over the next 10 years and considers management beyond.

Preliminary work on plan revision started in Spring 2024 with draft concept maps produced for initial scoping in May 2024.

Public consultation for the plan took place between 20 January and 20 February 2025, including two in-person drop-in days on 4 February and 8 February 2025. This consultation has informed the creation of the LMP and associated maps.

Following approval from Scottish Forestry, our final plan will be published on our Active Land Management Plan page.

The LMP documentation and maps can be found at the links below.

• Loch Lomond Forests Land Management Plan
• Map 1: location
• Map 2: current species map
• Map 3: analysis map (hydrology)
• Map 4: analysis map (designations and heritage features)
• Map 5: analysis map (utilities and transport)
• Map 6: analysis map (recreation)
• Map 7: concept map
• Map 8: management map
• Map 9: thinning map
• Map 10: future habitats and species map 
• Map 11: timber transport map
• Appendix I: consultation record
• Appendix II: Cowal and Trossachs deer management plan