FLS calls for caution as winter conditions hit forests
Following heavy snow fall and freezing conditions across the north and east of the country, and continued weather warnings for most of the country, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is urging people to take extra care if they visit a local woodland.
FLS car parks and trails are open but may be icy as temperatures remain low into the weekend.
The significant snowfall and weather warnings have also meant FLS staff have not been able to quickly visit sites and assess their condition.
FLS Regional Visitor Services Manager, Paul Hibberd, said:
“We know people enjoy going for a woodland walk in the snow especially after the festive period as it can be a really refreshing experience and some of our trails and sites are stunning when blanketed in snow.
“But the snow – and ice – can make things pretty treacherous underfoot. Heavy snow can also bend and break tree branches so paths may occasionally be obstructed.
“With our staff following safety advice during this time, it has also meant we have not been able to get out to fully inspect the conditions.
“So, if you are intending to visit one of our sites that is local to you – enjoy it but please take extra care and pay attention to any safety signage that might be in place.”
Visitors are being asked to pay particular attention when arriving at FLS car parks as they can be prone to icing when the snow gets compacted due to vehicle and foot traffic. This can often be a hidden or unexpected hazard especially when main roads are clear.
Milder temperatures are expected next week, so anyone accessing FLS sites should be mindful of wet and soggy conditions resulting from the thawing of ice and snow.
The extreme winter has also impacted on FLS operations in the north and east of Scotland with some work suspended. This may have a knock-on effect to current and planned forest works in some areas.
FLS’ East Region Manager Doug Harvey said:
“We are advising our staff to avoid accessing severely impacted sites as vehicles in the forest will only compact the snow down leaving ice which will take longer to melt once a thaw starts.
“The freezing conditions look to continue into the weekend which will mean that it may take some time for the snow to clear. Clearance work is being planned and undertaken on a priority basis where it makes sense to do so to enable operations to restart when it’s safe.
“We’ll keep working as hard as we can to get things back to normal as soon as we can and we appreciate the patience and understanding being shown.”
FLS does not routinely apply salt or salted gravel to car parks and tracks because of the damage that can be done to the underlying path surface. Visitors are therefore urged to exercise their discretion.
Please visit our web pages for local information: Destinations Search | Forestry and Land Scotland
Notes to editors
- Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
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