The forests on the Isle of Arran are more than just trees - they’re vital for the economy, a solution to the climate crisis, a home for wildlife and provide beautiful places for recreation.

We manage a quarter of the island and much of our productive forest is now reaching its planned felling cycle. This means we’re looking to increase the amount of timber harvesting and associated replanting on Arran over the next 10 to 15 years. 

Timber is a significant contributor to Scotland’s rural economy and supports more than 34,000 jobs.  

The timber harvested from Arran will provide essential materials for:

• house construction
• agriculture (predominantly fencing)
• logistics (pallets)
• paper and packaging
  

We’re also looking at the potential impact on people and the environment, and other opportunities such as recreation, natural flood management, and habitat for red squirrels and other key species.

Drop-in sessions

Finding and delivering the right solutions for Arran includes listening to concerns, different ideas, points-of-view, and gathering data and information.

We hosted two public drop-in sessions in September 2025 to discuss our work and the challenges for sustainable forest management on Arran. 

Five main sections were covered at the drop-in event:

• Overview and challenges
• Timber transport
• Accommodation at Whitefield Farm
• Woodland creation and grazing project
• Visitor Services on Arran

The display panels from these session are available below:

Arran display panels | Accessible text for section 2

We also gathered feedback from these events, currently this is being collated and will be shared on this page. 

Overview and challenges

Timber transport

To manage the increasing timber production on Arran we've tendered a new long-term timber sales contract of approximately 85,000 tonnes per year for up to 15 years. This is pending for late 2025.

We've also invested significantly in Market Road, Brodick after purchasing and upgrading the site. This is the main and primary timber export point on Arran.

Options for a potential additional timber export facility at Whitefield Farm, Kingscross are also being explored due to the increase in timber production. This site is located in the south where around half of the timber will be harvested. 

We've been looking at ideas and gathering information (including from the drop-in) but no decisions have been made. The outcome of the new timber contract is a key factor in helping us make any decisions on a secondary export from Whitefield Farm.

The document below features the SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) for these options, plus consideration of alternative in-forest haulage routes. 

Map and analysis

Accommodation at Whitefield Farm 

Our existing office and storage facilities at Brodick are at the end of their life-cycle. The farmhouse and outbuildings at Whitefield Farm provide a great opportunity to relocate to a larger site nearer to where the majority of the work will take place. The farmhouse also provides the opportunity to provide ‘tied’ accommodation for the increased staff needed on the island to manage the increasing timber volumes and re-planting programmes in years to come.

A previous ‘holiday cottage’ annex of the farmhouse is currently being changed to an office, with plans being developed for the associated yard and storage solutions. We will also be modernising the farmhouse to get it ready for staff residential accommodation. 

Woodland creation and grazing project

One of the key topics at the drop-ins was the integrated land-use project at Whitefield Farm. Ideas and suggestions from residents are currently being collated. At the drop-in sessions we asked what people thought to the potential objectives for this site:

• Biodiversity - create new native woodland priority habitats that will link to existing woodland and priority habitats
• Landscape - complement and enhance existing landscape features that could screen future development if it is progressed
• Agriculture - main agricultural use
• Public access and recreation
• Carbon sequestration

We will develop these plans taking this feedback into account and share a proposal for further comment and feedback in sure course. This will likely happen in early 2026.

Visitor Services on Arran

We have six forests on Arran offering recreation facilities. There’s stunning coastline, archaeological remains, temperate rainforests and a range of trails.

We also work with community groups and other organisations, like at Dyemill Forest. Here we worked with Arran High School Mountain Bike Club to transfer land to them so they could build, manage and maintain an accessible all weather skills trail facility for mountain biking.

This project has led to the creation of the first purpose-built mountain bike trails on the island, which will provide a home for the club and community for many years to come.

Learn more about this project

Timeline

We are committed to identifying appropriate and balanced solutions to the long-term challenges on Arran. In finding and delivering those solutions we will be listening to concerns and ideas as well as gathering data and information. We will continue to be open and transparent with our decision making. Click below to see the latest updates.

Whitefield Farmland and timber export assessments

Documents are available on request for:

• Noise assessment
• Environment overview
• Landscape overview
• Agricultural options (due early 2026)
• Traffic assessment (due early 2026)

To view, please contact enquiries.south@forestryandland.gov.scot