Achnashellach LMP 2015 - 2025

Appendix 3: Forest Design Plan Consultation Record

Consultee Address Date Date Issue raised Forest District Response contacted response received

Statutory consultees and communities of interest.

Highland Council Robert Patton, Screening No N/A None required as yet. Principal Officer, Land, Email response Telephone (01463) 702 285, 11/12/14 Email robert.patton@.gov.uk

SEPA Dingwall office Screening 20/01/15 Plan should highlight environmental risks & Sensitive features of the water environment will Graesser House Email mitigation proposals. be identified in a separate map, specific Fodderty Way 11/12/14 measures to comply with the UK Forest Standard, Dingwall Business Park Compliance with UK Forest Standard CAR regulations and SEPA waste policy guidance DINGWALL, IV15 9XB Compliance with CAR regulations. will be detailed in the Forestry and Water Tel: 01349 862021 appendix. Fax: 01349 863987 Restrict felling within acid sensitive catchments to less than 20% of the area. The Carron catchment is not identified as acidified. The total plan area is 1535Ha. Felling Identify presence of INNS and control proposals. percentages are detailed below;

Supportive of bog restoration – new planting 2015-2017: 75Ha (4.8% of the plan area) should not take place on deep peat – evidence required. 2018-2020: 111.4Ha (7.3% of the plan area)

Compliance with the SEPA guidance on 2021-2023: 58.4Ha (3.8% of the plan area) management of forestry waste. 2024-2025: 33.5Ha (2% of the plan area)

Identify redundant structures that are inhibiting Deep peat over 50cm will not be restocked. the passage of migratory fish. Opportunities for peatland restoration will be Details of all infrastructure should be included in identified post clearfell when land form and the plan. hydrology can be better assessed. All forest infrastructure proposals will be detailed in the management proposals section of the plan. There are no known structures inhibiting fish passage, but identification of these will form part of our future management considerations.

SNH Highland Office Screening 15/01/15 Maintain low deer numbers Deer numbers will be maintained at a level that is Email conducive to the establishment of natural Fodderty Way, Dingwall Business 11/12/14 Support native woodland restoration and regeneration of native tree species. A detailed Park, Dingwall, IV15 9XB Tel: 01349 potential to benefits Salmonids, FWP river Deer Management plan will be included in the 865333 lamprey. LMP.

Rhododendron removal supported. Rhododendron control forms a key part of the plan. Monitoring will be put in place to ensure We would also encourage consideration of other successful control is delivered. projects that would support the We aim to engage with Trees for life and the Local Biodiversity Action Plan and provide further Scottish School of Forestry on the prospect of opportunities for volunteers to become involved using volunteers to undertake conservation

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Achnashellach LMP 2015 - 2025

in the positive management and monitoring of works. the forest. Historic Historic Scotland Not Longmore House consulted to Salisbury Place date. Edinburgh EH9 1SH Tel: + 44 (0) 131 668 8600

Lochalsh Deer Management Screening No N/A None required as yet. Group Email response

05/01/15

South West Ross Deer Screening No N/A None required as yet. Management Group Email response

05/01/15

RSPB North Scotland Regional Office Screening 27/01/15 Achnashellach can make an important Deer numbers will be maintained at a level that is E-mail: [email protected] Email contribution to native flora & fauna and link to conducive to the establishment of natural Telephone:01463 715000 11/12/14 Coulin forest in the north. regeneration of native tree species. A detailed Etive House Deer Management plan will be included in the Beechwood Park Black grouse populations increasing nearby – LMP. Inverness improvement of habitat would allow re- IV2 3BW colonisation. Redundant internal fencing will be removed post clearfelling operations.

The Golden Valley area was particularly A regular monitoring regime to assess highlighted, as an area where FCS should regeneration, deer impact, tree health and stand consider the following actions as a matter of development will implement across the core priority: pinewood areas (Golden Valley, Coire dubh, Sloc mor and Glen Carron). 1. Remove all non-native trees and shrubs (Rhodies) We do not intend to undertake muir burning 2. Carry out muirburns on the lee side of within the plan area because of the risk this native pinewood stands – this will increase would pose to woodland. We will consider establishment rate ten-fold. undertaking ground disturbance where this is 3. Cull deer to 5 per sq km. required to encourage regeneration. And ideally- Rhododendron control and monitoring will be 4. Monitor change by systematic grid of continued through the period of the plan. sample quadrats every 5 years.

Glen Carron Estate Glencarron Estate Screening No N/A None required as yet. Strathcarron Email response Ross-Shire 11/12/14 IV54 8YU [email protected] Coulin Estate The Gate Lodge, Coulin Screening No N/A None required as yet. Postcode/City:IV22 2ES Achnasheen - Letter response Kinlochewe 11/12/14 County:Ross-ShirePhone: 01445 760383 Achnashellach Estate The Estate office Screening No N/A None required as yet.

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Achnashellach LMP 2015 - 2025

Miserden Letter response Near Stroud Gloucestershire 05/01/15 GL6 7JA Network rail Brian Macleod Screening Awaiting a Level Crossing Manager letter response Inverness 15/04/15 Office: 01463 245159 Mobile: 07718003741 Email : [email protected] Wester Ross Fisheries Trust Wester Ross Fisheries Trust Screening 02/03/15 Provided a copy of the River Carron Fisheries The River Carron Fisheries Management plan has Harbour Centre Letter Management Plan. been used to inform the development of the plan Gairloch 11/12/14 proposals, specifically; Wester Ross Interested in possible future research projects IV21 2BQ with University of the Highlands and Islands. Riparian woodland is to be restored along the flood plain and three main tributaries to the River Telephone: 01445 712 899 Carron within the plan area (Golden Valley burn, Allt Coire a’ bhainidh and Allt a’ chonais) Fax: 01445 712 899 Rhododendron control and monitoring will be undertaken throughout the whole plan area.

Mountaineering Council of The Mountaineering Council of Screening 06/01/15 Maintain access routes open to hills. Access routes will be maintained open. Where Scotland Scotland Letter required appropriate diversions and signage will 11/12/14 Potential for low circular walking route on the be used to ensure operations can be undertaken The Old Granary South side, river crossing required. with minimum risk to the public.

West Mill Street Would like more information. There is a proposal to re-locate the car to the Perth, PH1 5QP south side of the public road and link this into the forest road network. Telephone. 01738 493942 Unfortunately due to the cost and unstable Fax. 01738-442095 nature of the River Carron we do not intend to re-instate the wire crossing at Lair.

Scottish and Southern Energy Not consulted to date

Scottish Water Castle House Screening No N/A None required as yet. 6 Castle Drive Letter response Carnegie Campus 11/12/14 Dunfermline KY11 8GG

Lochcarron Community Driftwood Screening No None required as yet. Council Rhunasoul, Achintraid 11/12/14 response N/A Strathcarron IV54 8XB

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Achnashellach LMP 2015 - 2025

River Carron restoration [email protected] Screening No N/A None required as yet. project Email response Inverness College UHI 11/12/14 Longman Campus 3 Longman Road Inverness IV1 1SA

Confor Jamie Farghuar Screening No N/A None required as yet. Email & response general concept

20/03/15

Local Community Drop in session: open to Loch Carron Community Hall 05/03/15 Eight • Request for more information to be • A copy of the plan will be sent to all general public, advertised in attendees provided in due course residents who have expressed an interest in Loch Carron and direct invites • Request for availability of firewood. receiving the information. A follow up sent to local residents (Craig, • Noted interest from the Kirkton Woodland meeting on site was also undertaken on the Lair & Coulags). Initial concept group in securing a long term supply of 12th of May. and key features displayed. wood fuel. • Firewood will be made available locally • Interest in a community hydro project at following harvesting operations within Coire a’ Bhainidh noted. Achnashellach. • Request for reinstatement of the walkers • The community group interested in wire crossing over the River Carron. developing a potential scheme a Coire a’ • Noted the Coulin pass now forms part of Bhainidh have been put into contact with the Cape Wrath Trail. Forest Renewables and formally expressed their interest, we will continue to work with interested parties on community owned schemes. • Unfortunately as stated above the wire crossing will not be re-instated due to funding and the unstable river banks. • Recognition of the Cape Wrath Trail is included within the Land Management Plan, access along the Coulin pass and other key routes will be maintained during forest operations. Field visit with local Achnashellach Forest 12/05/15 Nine • Supportive of LMP proposals • Copies of the plan will be provided to interested community and Green attendees • Attendees would like copies of the maps and parties. Highland Renewables: draft text. • Fallow policy outlined (4-5 years for and vision, aims and detailed • Visual impact of clearfell sites raised. reduced on steep slopes), temporary visual proposals explained on site. • Possibility of native seed collection raised. impact will be mitigated by restocking of native • Disappointment at level of consultation woodland. Brash treatment on winch sites will regarding the GHR Coire Lair hydro proposal. be considered where it is deemed a viable option. • IRS FD would be open to investigating the potential for native seed collection at Achnashellach. • Local residents are now in direct contact with Green Highland Renewables and have been provided with information on the proposed Coire Lair hydro scheme.

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Achnashellach LMP 2015 - 2025

Kristine Mackenzie [email protected] 17/02/15 • Expression of interest lodged - potential for • As above for the Community drop in session hydro development Allt Coire a'Bhainidh as a response Starthcarron, Lochcarron & community/developer partnership • IRS FD are currently engaged in the Wester Kishorn Devlopement Officer • Timber production - potentially interested in Ross Biosphere project and have provided felled timber as an additional source of information on the National Forest Estate to woodfuel for Kirkton Trading (Kirkton support the proposal. Woodland). The likelihood is that the existing fire wood supply will be exhausted after 3 years and there will be a requirement for a further source to be made available locally • BiosPhere - The likelihood is that Achnashellach will be included in the transitional zone of the proposed Biosphere Reserve

Martin Moran 17/02/15 03/03/15 Despite these efforts to promote i) The section from the forest road down to the Achnashellach as a walking destination bridge is currently being improved Local resident, member of the there has been little or no investment in (resurfaced & drained), beyond the bridge Loch Carron Business Group recreational provision the forest area in we intend to keep the route open using and proprietor of outdoor the 30 years that I have lived there. I some form of scrub clearing, but do not adventure business. hope that the recent felling operations and currently have plans to formalise the path current review offer a chance to put that beyond the bridge. right and develop the potential. ii) We are proposing removing the non-native conifer from the vicinity of the Golden Valley The walking infrastructure of the forest through felling in the second phase of plan, has seriously deteriorated:- this will require the construction of a i) Loss of old route down west side of Allt forwarder route (along the line of the a’Chonais gorge from bridge at GR current path), this could be upgraded post 063488 to 048492; this forms one of our felling to improve the access route up to the advertised walks, offering a circular route Golden Valley. Enhanced buffer zones will that visits old pine stands and offers great also be applied during the restocking to views of the gorge. I have made several ensure the path does not get overgrown in attempts to clear and mark this route and the future and a better visitor experience is walked the route with Bruce Taylor in provided. 2013 with a view to getting waymarks iii) We have had several comments from installed and a rough brush-cut of the stakeholders regarding the re-instatement of heather. No action has been taken to the wire bridge crossing, unfortunately due date. to resource restrictions and the highly ii) Deterioration of access path to Golden mobile river system we do not intend to Valley pinewood at GR 017476 – it is reinstate this crossing. We are currently badly drained and overgrown, offering enduring a period of tightening of budgets visitors little opportunity to enjoy the site and are trying to prioritise spending in areas iii) Loss of old wire bridge at Lair GR 010482 that will provide greatest public benefit. I do – effectively cutting off the potential for however appreciate that a crossing here circular walks round the forest; this bridge would improve opportunities for walking in disappeared in the early 1990’s and would the west end of Achnashellach. be expensive to replace; but walkers must iv) Access to along the east side of now ford the River Carron to gain direct the River Lair is being maintained, there are access to the Golden Valley or Sgurr na no current proposals to create a rail Feartaig hill-path crossing. We will investigate the potential iv) There is no access to Fuar Tholl from for a foot bridge. Achnashellach station without trespassing v) We are proposing moving the car park to the on the railway. This is an important south side of the public road and connecting

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Achnashellach LMP 2015 - 2025

climbing destination. The River Lair is not onto the forest road network via a footpath bridged at any point. A footbridge near to under the railway. This will allow us to the weir at GR 087486 would eliminate improve the signage, parking space this problem. available and the sight lines onto the public v) Car parking space at Achnashellach road. station and Craig is limited and poorly signed. General: we are committed to removing rhododendron from within Achnashellach. These specific issues for walkers are We will undertake remedial works where accompanied by general problems of required to maintain the level of access. rhododendron infestation and waterlogging or blockage of access routes to the areas of ecological and scenic interest around the River Carron.

Alastair Beattie Achnashellach 17/02/15 25/02/15 Welcome the proposed ‘slope resilience’ on the During the future restocking of the coupes that steep slope to the north of our houses. We hope surround the Pony track and Creag a’ Chaorainn we Local Resident this will lead to greater stabilisation of the banks will apply suitable buffer zones from the vicinity of of the burn from which our water supply comes the foot paths, this will enhance the visitor as well as protecting the road, railway and our experience along the routes. Opportunities to houses. develop routes where this will achieve multiple During tree clearance and replanting in two benefits will be explored, such as the path to the particular areas can you please provide for a Golden Valley. wider corridor than at present to be kept clear Requirement to maintain up to date signage from where there are long established through paths forest operations has been passed onto the Local that are well used. And also, please, provide for Management team and is an ongoing consideration. improved drainage and, as necessary, path repair along those paths. The two areas in question are: 1) The “Pony Track” that runs from near Craig up to join the Coulin Road below the Coulin Pass, and

2) The path down from Creag a’ Chaorainn to the foot of the Golden Valley.

As operations are required, can you please ensure that signage closing or diverting paths is kept accurate and up to date

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