The Strathyre Forests Larch Removal Plan (LRP) covers a total of 4225 ha of coniferous forest, broadleaf woodland and open hills located around the villages of Strathyre and Balquhidder in Stirlingshire.

The LRP area is divided into three forest blocks. They are the Kirkton block (~472 ha) above Balquhidder, the West Strathyre block (~2631 ha) on the west side of Loch Lubnaig, and the Strathyre East block (~1122 ha) on the east side of Strathyre. 

Forests in the Trossachs are now becoming increasingly affected by Phytophthora ramorum infections, resulting in numerous Statutory Plant Health Notices (SPHNs) which necessitate widespread felling of infected trees, and uninfected trees within a stipulated buffer area. More information about this disease and the control measures required can be found on the Scottish Forestry website: Phytophthora ramorum in Scotland.

This LRP is a five-year plan developed to undertake a structured removal of larch trees from Kirkton, West Strathyre and Strathyre East in response to these increasing infections and to help minimise the spread of the disease. Our intention is to remove the majority larch tree species from these areas within this five-year timeframe, both in response to existing infections and to reduce the likelihood of future infections. 

A revised 10-year Land Management Plan will subsequently be produced to succeed this interim Larch Removal Plan, which will cover other aspects of forest management in greater detail.

Stakeholder engagement

Following the development of our management proposals to tackle this disease we have now begun to communicate these proposals with local communities and other key stakeholders, prior to gaining regulatory approval from Scottish Forestry to begin the proposed works. 

If you would like to know more about the proposals, we will be hosting an engagement event from 9.45am to 11.30am on Saturday 29 March 2025 starting at Balquhidder Village Hall. 

Alternatively, you can contact us directly via the details below. 

Documents and maps

• Strathyre Forests Larch Removal Plan
• Map 1: Location and background
• Map 2: Current species
• Map 3: SPHN and larch
• Map 4: Designations and species
• Map 5: Utilities
• Map 6: Hydrology
• Map 7: Recreation
• Map 8: Issues and concept
• Map 9: Management
• Map 10: Future habitat and species
• Map 11: Road access and haulage
• Map 12: Strathyre ash condition
• Map 13: Kirkton visualisation viewpoints
• Appendix 1: Table of operations 2024 - 2034
• Appendix 2: Visualisation Kirkton
• Appendix 3: Context for felling