Merkland Land Management Plan

The Merkland Land Management Plan (LMP) comprises a woodland on the southern and eastern slopes of Goatfell. It provides a backdrop to Brodick on the Isle of Arran and has a major impact in the view from the ferry on arrival to the island.

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).

Forestry and Land Scotland is currently revising this land management plan that will define the management prescription for the ten-year period between 2026 to 2036 and presents a long-term vision for the area. 

This plan has now been submitted to Scottish Forestry for approval and any comments regarding the plans should be made to Scottish Forestry.

Progress update

Scoping consultation with stakeholders (including the local community) is a requirement of the land management planning process but it is also a valuable opportunity for us to engage with the public, talk about our work, and discover what's important to you. 

The initial phase of public consultation was carried out via Storymaps, an interactive web-based platform with the opportunity to fill in comments on a Google Form; with a later public drop-in event held in Brodick.  

As per the information above, any further comments regarding the plans should be directed to Scottish Forestry.

Documents and maps

• Land Management Plan
• Map 1: location
• Map 4: management
• Map 6: future habitats and species