Steep ground harvesting operations to resume

Forestry and Land Scotland is to recommence re felling work on the steep slopes beside the A82 at Grotaig on 1 September.

Harvesting work was suspended earlier in the year to allow Transport Scotland to safely manage rock stabilisation works at roadside, which is Transport Scotland’s area of responsibility.

FLS' North Region Manager, Alex Macleod, said;

“Public safety – as well as the safety of staff and contractors – is paramount, so that is clearly the priority issue.

“Putting a hold on operations for so many months was necessary and unavoidable but it is another illustration of how extremely challenging this work can be.

“It can be frustrating but hopefully, when we get back to work in September, we will make good progress. Over the next year – weather permitting, we intend to continue felling right through to June 2026.”

Extensive surveying before any tree felling highlights potential areas of landslip or rockfallssues that need to be dealt with and made safe.

This is imperative for the safety of all involved and affected by the work but we are taking precautions to control the hazards we see in what is already a high risk area of work.

New issues can emerge as felling operations proceed and more of the hillside is laid bare and these are dealt with as they arise.

Alex added;

“This is a long-term programme across the land we manage and relies on the skill and expertise of a great many specialists – engineers, foresters, surveyors and more.

“We’re looking forward to resuming the tree felling but this will also mean a resumption of traffic management under the area where we’ll be working.

“We understand that it can be frustrating but short delays due to traffic management are preferable to the lengthy closures that would eventually transpire from windblow if we didn’t carry out this work.

“However, we  apologise in advance for any inconvenience that the traffic management might cause.”

Earlier this year, FLS completed the first stage of replanting the cleared slopes near Drumnadrochit with 5000 native trees. Planted in high density pockets, these will help  to help boost the natural regeneration of ancient oak forest that is already underway.

The trees will grow to establish a rich native natural woodland – a mixture of blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, birch, cherry and oak – that will replace the 100-year-old conifers being felled to reduce the risk of windblow. The native woodland will also help to improve resilience and reduce the risk of hillside erosion.

These pockets of planted trees will act as seed sources for ongoing natural regeneration.

Notes to Editors

1. 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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