Thursday, 15 June 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland is reminding members of the public that its Carron Valley MtB trails are to be closed until 31 December. The closure, effective from Monday 19 June, is to allow the safe felling and removal of trees around the trails. Advance warning has ben trailed on the FLS website since April, although the star date has not been determined until now. Katy McGregor, FLS’ Area Vis...
Wednesday, 14 June 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) recent purchase of Ariogan Farm, just south of Oban, is set to see an expansion of woodland creation and forest activity yet with less disruption to local communities, residents and businesses. Sitting between FLS’ Cologin Forest (near Lerags) and the main A816 road, the purchase will allow the local team to further develop sustainable management of the exis...
Tuesday, 13 June 2023
At least 30 capercaillie hens attended leks in managed forests on Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) land in Strathspey this year, the most in years. The number of male capercaillies displaying on the leks was also up to 58 from 52 in 2020. This bucks the trend of the last few years and gives some hope for this endangered species. Ecologists from Forestry and Land Scotland...
Tuesday, 13 June 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has contacted the police in Perthshire after a fire was started by an overturned disposable barbecue. The incident took place on FLS managed land on the shores of Loch Rannoch opposite Kilvrecht campsite. Several young men are reported to have arrived at the site by car and lit the barbecue that initial impressions suggest was later kicked over. Robin Lofthouse,...
Tuesday, 13 June 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland is advising visitors to Glentress that the café and bike shop will not now re-open until 28 June. The postponement follows the discovery of a number of groundwork issues that only came to light after the old decking was removed and the framework lifted. The boardwalk replacement is part of FLS’ £6 million investment in the Masterplan development programme. We are ...
Friday, 09 June 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland has joined with SFRS in urging anyone who is planning to visit the countryside to help save lives by exercising extreme caution. The call comes as fire crews, foresters and a host of land management partners tackle wildfires across Scotland that are placing people at significant risk, either those at the scenes of fires or members of the public who rely on a swift respo...
Friday, 09 June 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has recreated a 1984 photo of the Ryvoan Pass overlooking the Green Lochan to document the impact of deer management over the past 30 years. The 1984 image was taken by George Dey, a forester who donated his collection of photos to the University of Aberdeen. The caption on the photo states: “Lovely high view of the Green Loch at Glenmore Forest. ...
Thursday, 08 June 2023
Mountain bikers hoping for a sneak preview of the new Glentress Masterplan trails that are facilitating the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championship event in Aug, are to be disappointed after the hot, dry weather – and safety concerns - has resulted in the UCI team asking that the trails remain closed prior to the event. The call comes after trail-builders, On Track, advised Forestry and Land Scotla...
Thursday, 08 June 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is starting preliminary preparations for a major felling operation at Dunardry Hill, Knapdale. Although harvesting is not due to begin on the 40ha site until late summer 2023, the fact that it is a National Scenic Area, is well used by local residents and is located immediately next to the road to Crinan and the Crinan Canal, means that the team has a unique set o...
Wednesday, 07 June 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is inviting people living in and around Brodick to give their views on a how Merkland Forest is to be managed over the next ten years. Merkland Forest (681ha), on the southern and eastern slopes of Goatfell, is a productive conifer forest that provides a backdrop to Brodick on the isle of Arran and is a major landscape feature in the view from the ferry on arrival...
Tuesday, 06 June 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland has reassured members of the public that the Glen Coe Lochan is refilling following a sluice gate block, last week. Concerns were raised when visitors to the lochan were distressed to see that the water had drained away leaving a muddy hollow. The incident occurred during a routine check of the mechanism controlling the sluice gate on the dam at the lochan. The check i...
Monday, 05 June 2023
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is urging members of the public to adhere to warning and safety signage to avoid putting themselves in danger from being crushed by trees, machinery or being ‘shot’ by broken chain links from chainsaws or harvesters. The call comes as the organisation records significant increase in reports from worried staff and contractors regarding incursions onto liv...