Pencloe new woodland creation (Amendment to Pencloe Forest Design Plan)

The Pencloe Woodland Creation site is located in Glen Afton, around 4 km to the south of New Cumnock, East Ayrshire. Formerly Pencloe Farm, the landholding of around 180 ha adjoins the existing Penlcoe forest block managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. It is part of Scotland’s national forests and land, owned by Scottish Ministers on behalf of the people of Scotland, and managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS).

This Woodland Creation scheme will be incorporated into the adjacent Pencloe Land Management Plan (LMP) area once approved.  The main management objectives for Pencloe Woodland Creation support the wider LMP objectives and focus on:

• Establish a new productive and resilient woodland for the sustainable supply of timber.
• Increase biodiversity provision through well-connected forest habitat networks of native broadleaf species and riparian zone improvements. Protect areas of Priority Open Habitat by removing grazing and retaining as open ground.
• Protection and conservation of heritage features in accordance with the Regional Historic Asset management plan.

Draft versions of the plan will be published here and we invite comments and feedback from the public on all of our proposals.

Community consultation event

Unfortunately due to the on-going situation with COVID-19 we have been unable to hold a community engagement drop in event. As an alternative on online external consultation process has taken place as the timeline details below. The survey is now closed but we would like to thank all those who took the time to comment.

Timeline

• Development of draft brief and design concept | September 2020
• External stakeolder consultations | November - December 2020
• Press release and public engagement | December 2020 - January 2021
• Development of final plans | January - July 2021
• Submission to Scottish Forestry (the submitted LMP will be available on their public register | September 2021

Documents and maps

Forestry and Land Scotland have recently completed a draft plan. The draft final documents can be viewed below. The plan has now been submitted to Scottish Forestry for regulatory approval, during which time the plan will be listed on their public register for a final consultation period of 28 days. If required, further comments should be made through the public register. For more details and advice on how to comment, please visit the Scottish Forestry website or access the Public Register.

• Pencloe Woodland Creation Operational Plan Draft (PDF) – proposed plan submitted to Scottish Forestry for consideration and approval
• Management Plan Brief (PDF) - provides an outline of the objectives for the site and the factors that will influence how we manage it
• Map 1: Key Features (PDF) - identifies the key factors (issues or constraints), that will influence the new planting proposals and forest design.
• Map 2: Analysis and Concept (PDF) - analyses the key factors that will influence the new planting proposals and states design concepts for the new forest design.
• Map 3: Future Habitats and Species (PDF) – shows the proposed planting scheme.
• Map 4: Soils (PDF) – details the soils types present, following soil surveys.
• Portfolio Pencloe Future Forest Visualisations (PDF) - This displays a series of computer generated images from several vantage points around the area to show the proposed planting scheme over the next 20 years.