Spey Mouth land management plan

Spey Mouth forest is situated next to the village of Fochabers and is split by the A96 and A98 trunk roads. The block covers an area of approximately 4025 hectares where a large proportion of the forest is currently managed under a low impact silvicultural system. The river Spey lies to the west of the forest and this borders some of the forest outliers.

During the development of the land management plan for Spey Mouth we consulted publically including with the local community representatives and stakeholders known to have an interest in the plan area.

This plan has been approved and is now active. It will be renewed in July 2026.

• Maintain the forest as a recreational hub.
• Use silviculture that is beneficial to the environment, biodiversity and recreation whilst creating a forest with a sustainable timber yield. The preference will be a low impact silviculture system where conditions are suitable.
• Establish Scots pine on the most appropriate sites; while elsewhere take opportunities to diversify the species mix in order to create a forest more robust to disease and climate change.
• Restore deep peat areas associated with Moss of Cairnty and Gow Moss.
• Manage watercourses and catchment area to help alleviate flooding and erosion.
• Naturalise areas designated as SSSI, SAC, SPA or RAMSAR where appropriate.

• Plan summary (PDF 0.5MB) - provides an outline of the objectives for the area and our management proposals.
• Land management plan  text (PDF 2.1MB) - provides an outline of the objectives for the area and our management proposals.
• Location map (PDF 7.4MB ) - shows the location of Spey mouth forest in relation to the local area.
• Key features map (PDF 4.4MB ) - shows the key features that influence the management of the forest.
• Current species map (PDF 7.1MB) - shows the current tree species that are growing in the area.
• Analysis and concept map (PDF 4.3MB) - shows how the key features influence the management of the forest.
• Management map (PDF 4.1MB) - shows the management for the area.
• Thinning map (PDF 7.7MB) - shows the thinning that is planned for the area.
• Future species map (PDF 4.3MB) - shows the tree species that are planned to be growing in the area in the long term.
• Restock map (PDF 3.5MB) - shows the tree species that are to be planted in the area in the period of the plan.
• Planned roads map (PDF 7.6MB) - shows the forest roads that are planned to be constructed in the period of the plan.
• Low impact silviculture map (PDF 7.6MB) – shows the areas that are to be managed by a silvicultural system other than clearfelling.