To meet the UK Forestry Standard, this plan sets out proposals to be undertaken by Forestry and Land Scotland in Blairadam forest. The forest is shown on Map 1 and covers 1335.25 hectares. It is managed to deliver a broad range of public benefits but key objectives are listed below:

• Provide a sustainable supply of conifer and broadleaved timber products. 
• Maintain recreational assets and community engagement. 
• Diversify tree species and forest structure to increase forest resilience.   
• Restore priority open peat habitats.
• Gradually move to lower impact forest management systems in visitor zones, recognising the value of these areas for local communities and tourism. 
• Protect & enhance heritage assets, focusing on the designed landscapes linked to Blairadam Estate.
• Protect and enhance wildlife and hydrological assets. 
• Manage and mitigate impacts of tree pests and diseases (e.g. Phytophthora ramorum in larch). 
• Work in partnership to create woodland on vacant and derelict land. 

Timeline of this plan’s production

• April 2021: Internal scoping meeting to identify key considerations for next plan.
• January 2022 - July 2023: Baseline desk and field surveys, site meetings and drafting of plan.
• August 2023: Face-to-face community drop-in sessions.
• September 2023 - January 2024: Draft plan placed on FLS consultation webpage, assessment by internal teams, revisions and further consultation with stakeholders.
• January 2024: Final draft submitted to Forestry Regulator (Scottish Forestry). As part of the approval process, the plan was placed on Scottish Forestry’s public register for 28 days.
• November 2024: Plan approved

Key plan documents and management maps

1.       Summary of Proposals (PDF)
2. Main document (PDF)
3. Map 1 - Forest location and context (PDF)
4. Map 6 - Woodland management in visitor zones (PDF)
5. Map 9 - Future concept design (PDF)
6. Map 10a - Management coupes (PDF)
7. Map 10b - Ten year felling & thinning coupes (PDF)
8. Maps 11a & 11b - Future species & habitats and 10 year proposals (PDF)
9.  Map 13 – Operational access & timber haulage (PDF)
10. Map 14 – Woodland creation (PDF)
11. Map annotations text (PDF)

Note: To see the Appendices and additional supporting maps referenced in the Main Document please contact Central Region using the e-mail address below.