Friday, 15 May 2020
State forestry organisations from Latvia, Barbados and Australia have all expressed a keen interest in learning more about some pioneering solutions being developed to try and improve the yield from Scotland’s existing seed stock. Planting trees is probably being the simplest and most effective method of tackling the global climate emergency. Meeting the challenges of growing more young t...
Wednesday, 13 May 2020
Anyone with an interest in how Forestry and Land Scotland’s Ashiestiel site, 6 km east of Walkerburn, is managed over the next 20 years is invited to take part in a consultation and give their views. The Land Management Plan being developed for the recently acquired Tweed Valley site includes details of how FLS intends to manage the site until 2030, and gives a direction of travel for the follo...
Wednesday, 13 May 2020
Anyone with an interest in how Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) Piperhill site (2 km east of Sinclairston, East Ayrshire) is managed over the next 10 years is invited to take part in a consultation and give their views. This former open cast coal mine site, a recent FLS acquisition, is located on the shoulder slopes between North Kyle Forest to the south and extensive lowland pastures to the ...
Tuesday, 12 May 2020
Traffic management at Glen Croe on the A83 has been removed (2nd of May) thanks to the completion of landslip protection work at the roadside. The catchpit - large enough to capture the volume generated in the original landslip at the end of January – has been installed to collect any residual material from the landslip channel over the coming months and years. FLS Planning Manager, Joh...
Monday, 11 May 2020
Forestry and Land Scotland has vowed to deliver as much as possible of its business plan for 2020/21– with the preparations required for an eventual return to normal duties post-COVID19 underway. With the majority of FLS staff now working from home, some are still involved with essential felling work – while also maintaining physical distance and following current government and NHS health ad...
Monday, 04 May 2020
An unusual archaeological survey by Forestry and Land Scotland has added a new chapter to an old story – of a hidden fort built by William Wallace. The Dumfriesshire site is recorded in The New Statistical Account of Scotland (3) (published 1834-1845) as the location of a small fort occupied by Sir William Wallace – a hidden stronghold from which Wallace and his 16 men-at-arms would ‘...
Friday, 01 May 2020
A former visitor centre in Ardgartan that has been out of use for some time has been re-purposed…as a food bank distribution point to support the community in Arrochar and Tarbet. Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) building, which have been unused and vacant for almost ten years, were due to be occupied by a new tenant – local Councillor, Iain Paterson - in time for the visitor s...
Wednesday, 29 April 2020
Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, has commended Forestry and Land Scotland’s move to help suppliers weather the COVID-19 lockdown and ensure that essential timber supplies will continue to support frontline healthcare workers. Working in the spirit of Scottish Government’s supplier relief policies, FLS’s procurement, civil engineering and local teams have developed a system of ...
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
As the extreme fire risk warning continues across Scotland, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is urging all members of the public to observe wildfire prevention guidance to avoid putting the emergency services under unnecessary pressure. The call comes as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service tackles a spate of wildfires – including ten over the last two weeks on land managed by FLS. ...
Monday, 27 April 2020
Young, budding artists have been offered the chance to become a character in new artwork created to support Forestry and Land Scotland’s Into the Wildwoods learning resource – by drawing their own Mesolithic map. The two lucky artists – apprentice Mesolithic Map Makers – will be turned into a cartoon illustration and make their own appearance in the distant past. Their maps will also be ...
Friday, 24 April 2020
Forestry and Land Scotland has advised that there is likely to be a one week delay in reopening both lanes of the A83 at the Rest & Be Thankful. Work to complete a catch-pit at the bottom of the landslip that occurred in January, has been delayed as some materials suppliers have shut down in compliance with COVID-19 guidance. FLS Planning Manager, John Hair, said; ...
Wednesday, 22 April 2020
Essential remediation work at the Rest and Be Thankful is on target to see traffic management measures on the A83 at the recent landslip site removed by Monday 26 April. Completion of the “catch pit”, which is designed to hold up to 1000 tonnes of debris in the event of any further slip, will allow both lanes on the road to be open, allowing free movement for essential transport. Work on the...