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.
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 sessions are available below:
Arran display panels | Accessible text for section 2
We also gathered feedback from these events, which has been collated and summarised in the document below.
Overview and challenges
- 10,754 hectares of land
- an office
- one farm and house
- two slipways
- barge points (Market Road, Brodick and Sannox North)
- a short section of coastline at Machrie
- six forests offering recreation facilities
- leased site for a wood fuel producer
The Isle of Arran sits within the Atlantic Rainforest Zone, we work to protect and restore this as a member of the Alliance For Scotland's Rainforest. A third of our land is open ground, most of which is designated as a Special Protection Area for breeding hen harrier. Arran is also a red squirrel stronghold and rich in archaeological remains, many of these are of high cultural significance.
Over the next 10 to 15 years there will be an increased period of timber harvesting on Arran. After this period, felling will reduce to much lower levels. This is due to many forests planted for timber reaching maturity at the same time and they require felling and replanting.
The increase in timber production presents opportunities to invest in staff, equipment and shipping options for the island and the timber supply chain for Scotland. Some of the key challenges during this time will be:
- securing the sale of increasing harvesting volumes on Arran over the next 10 years (which then drop away to much lower levels)
- historic challenges with timber export capacity via one main site
- contractor availability for forestry operations and other work
- ageing office and storage facilities in Brodick
- supporting a sustainable recreation and visitor services offer on Arran
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.
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.
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