Friday, 13 January 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland is advising that access restrictions and diversions will be in place at several locations across the Trossachs as work begins to tackle forests affected by tree disease, Phytophthora ramorum, which attacks larch trees. The work – which has already started at Loch Ard and is scheduled for Braeval and Balmaha from mid-January until March – will involve some diversions...
Tuesday, 27 December 2022
New research and a five-year study of red squirrel behaviour indicate that conservation efforts targeting one of Scotland’s most-loved species need to be rethought. One report - from Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Inverness and Heriot-Watt University - indicates that red squirrel populations are viable in landscapes managed for timber u...
Monday, 05 December 2022
Forestry and Land Scotland will this month begin major forestry works along the north coastal section of Tentsmuir Forest to clear damage caused by Storm Arwen last winter. The work planned for December should not impact access but from January 2023 the felling operations, which will include the removal of the remaining standing trees in this section of forest, will see diversions in place with m...
Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) South Region team has helped keep the wheels on Arran High School Mountain Bike Club’s plans to develop an all-weather skills trail facility at Dyemill Forest, Lamlash. Following a successful asset transfer request to FLS the Club purchased 5.71 hectares of land at Dyemill Forest. The project was given a written offer of funding from SportsScotland - a...
Saturday, 26 November 2022
Following last year’s exceptional storm events, Forestry and Land Scotland is helping to boost resilience and winter preparedness levels by hosting (26 Nov) a Community Off-road Transport Action Group (COTAG 4x4 Response) in Aultmore Forest. A registered Scottish Charity, the group consists of around 44 community-minded men and women from across northeast Scotland, who as unpaid volunteers work...
Monday, 21 November 2022
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has announced that Twinflower will take on management of the Glenmore campsite on the shores of Aviemore’s Loch Morlich. A new dedicated Scottish outdoor business, Twinflower has been established by the management team behind the multi-award-winning Holdfast Entertainment Company and will commence operating the site from 1 December 2022. The Scottis...
Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Forestry and Land Scotland’s team in Fife will not be opening the Christmas Tree sales centre at Blairadam this year. With more and more outlets selling trees over the past few years, fewer people have been visiting FLS’ sales centre and it has become uneconomical to continue. Andrew Clark, Regional Visitor Services Manager for FLS said; “We know that our not being there this year w...
Monday, 14 November 2022
Forestry and Land Scotland is inviting people living in and around Campbeltown to help shape a new Land Management Plan for Beinn Ghuilean Forest. A popular recreational resource and part of the Woods in and Around Towns (WIAT) initiative the 144 ha, (roughly half a square mile) 40 year-old forest consists mostly of Sitka Spruce and Larch, although small areas of Pine and native broadleaves...
Friday, 11 November 2022
Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) Head of Wildlife Management, Ian Ferguson, has been awarded the Balfour Browne Trophy for 2022 in recognition of the exceptional contribution he has made to deer management in Scotland in his 44 year career. As an authority on deer and their sustainable management, and as an expert on the safe use of firearms, Ian’s expertise is recognised across Scotti...
Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is working with SSE’s network businesses – SSEN Transmission and SSEN Distribution - to increase power line resilience before winter weather sets in. Thousands of homes were left without power last winter when unprecedented storms flattened swathes of forestry and caused a major failure of power supplies. Despite a Herculean effort to clear windblown trees an...
Thursday, 03 November 2022
Local residents in Larbert are being invited by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) to offer feedback on long-term plans for the management of Larbert woods, located beside the Forth Valley Royal Hospital. Sitting within a former designed landscape, this is a significant site for recreation, health and wellbeing with areas of woodland dating back to the 1800s. The site suffered from a lack of manag...
Monday, 31 October 2022
Specially-designed thermal imaging cameras are being used to identify an increasing population of pine martens. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is trialling innovative technique using thermal imaging cameras to capture the occupancy of over 100 artificial den boxes in Galloway Forest. Trials have been taking place over the past year and have showed positive results for monitoring the local pine...