Strategic Plan

Galloway Forest District Strategic Plan 2009-2013

Click here to begin Strategic plan 2009-2013

Contents

Introduction ...... 3 About Galloway Forest District...... 6

Section one: strategic context...... 15 Context...... 16 Strategic priorities for Galloway Forest District...... 18 Forest policy context...... 20

Section two: how Galloway Forest District contributes to the delivery of the Scottish Forestry Strategy...... 21 Key theme one: climate change...... 23 Key theme two: timber...... 26 Key theme three: business development...... 31 Key theme four: community development...... 35 Key theme five: access and health...... 39 Key theme six: environmental quality...... 42 Key theme seven: biodiversity...... 46

Section three: delivery and monitoring...... 51

Appendices:...... 54 Appendix one: supporting maps...... 55 Appendix two: evaluation of achievements (1999-2006) under previous strategic plan.....61 Appendix three: glossary for forest policy context diagram...... 79 Appendix four: local thematic plans, management plans and guidance notes...... 81 Appendix five: portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate...... 83

Using the document This document is principally intended to be read as an online publication and there are several hyperlinks linking readers to the Forestry Commission Scotland website for relevant publications. Please use the Microsoft Word ‘edit: find’ facility to search for specific words.

2 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Strategic plan 2009-2013 - Introduction

Introduction

Woodlands offer endless opportunities for health, enjoyment and learning

3 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Introduction

Galloway Forest District

Introduction

The Scottish Forestry Strategy was launched in October 2006 as the Scottish Government’s framework for taking forestry forward through the first half of this century and beyond. This strategic plan defines how Forestry Commission Scotland, through its operating arm, Forest Enterprise Scotland, will implement the Scottish Forestry Strategy on that part of the national forest estate in Galloway Forest District. This is a five-year plan starting in 2009 and finishing in 2013.

This strategic plan will also provide This plan has been amended to reflect the direction for implementing a repositioning feedback from a formal consultation process policy that will ensure that the nature and during 2008. The summarised consultation distribution of the national forest estate responses and the Forest Enterprise better reflects its role and purpose. Scotland response are both available on the Forestry Commission Scotland website.

4 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Introduction

The strategic plan is divided into three sections:

Section one: strategic context Section three: delivery and monitoring This section explains how this strategic plan relates This section gives an overview of how Galloway to other Forestry Commission Scotland policies Forest District will effectively and efficiently deliver and strategies, taking a lead from the Scottish our strategic plan. It includes sections on: Forestry Strategy and the strategic plan for the national forest estate. • the operating principles that underpin all Forest Enterprise Scotland policies • operations and activities Section two: how Galloway Forest District contributes to delivery of the Scottish • delivery mechanisms, including Forestry Strategy repositioning the national forest estate • the monitoring and implementation process This section describes the context and specific actions that will be undertaken on the national forest estate in the district under each of the seven Impact on environment and equality themes of the Scottish Forestry Strategy: The results of environment and equality • climate change and diversity impact assessments of the strategic plan are available on the Forestry • business development Commission Scotland website. • timber • community development Review • access and health A review will take place towards the end of the • environmental quality period of delivery of the plan. If significant changes • biodiversity are made to the Scottish Forestry Strategy we will, if necessary, prepare a new strategic plan. The baseline figures detailed in the monitoring section of the strategic plan for the national forest estate will be updated and reported on annually, with contributions from each forest district.

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About Galloway Forest District

Galloway Forest District lies in South West Scotland Natural environment across the local authority areas of Dumfries and Galloway, South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire General and North Ayrshire. The district now extends to 117, 000 hectares (ha) as a result of the recent The district can be divided into inclusion of Arran and Kyle forests. It ranges from four major landform types that are pine plantation on coastal sand dunes, through reflected in our management: extensive spruce forests and wild moorland to the • Galloway Uplands, forming a contiguous summit of the Merrick (843 m), mainland southern block of upland forest and open hill, Scotland’s highest mountain, and the slopes of extending to around 60,000 ha Goat Fell (874 m) on Arran. Maps of the district and the forest blocks are given in Appendix one. • Machars moorland lying to the west of the district The district office is in Newton Stewart with • The eastern areas, moving away from outstations in Straiton (South Ayrshire), the granite upland and more typical Brodick (Arran) and Castle Douglas. of a Southern Upland landform The core of the district is around 25,000 ha • Arran – ‘Scotland in miniature’ (nearly 100 square miles) of rugged mountain, moorland and grassland surrounded by an extensive conifer forest, which is mirrored on a smaller scale on Arran. The earliest forests were established on the lower ground, and owing to good soils and early silvicultural practice they have a diverse range of tree species. The later forests, established from the 1960s to the early 1990s, were generally on poorer soils higher up the hill and established primarily as monocultures of Sitka spruce, reflecting the objectives of the time. Today, these forests are being restructured through harvesting and establishment of more diverse open and woodland habitats.

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About Galloway Forest District

Climate Water In general, the area has a wet maritime climate Galloway is drained by a number of river systems influenced by the Gulf Stream. Rainfall is that find their way to the Solway Firth or Clyde relatively high ranging from 1200 mm a year Estuary and are all key elements of the landscape to around 2000 mm in the upland zone. character and ecology of the area. There are Exposure to strong Atlantic winds is high. also many lochs in the area, mainly in the Doon and Ken-Dee catchments, where there are four Temperatures tend to be more moderate and hydroelectric generating plants. Some are public suffer less from extremes than most of Scotland, water supplies. Loch Grannoch and Loch Dee producing ideal growing conditions for conifers. are the only larger lochs owned or controlled Given the prevalence of deep peats and gley soils by Forestry Commission Scotland. Angling, which provide less support to tree roots than particularly for salmon and trout, is of significant do well drained mineral soils, however these importance in the local economy. A map of water conditions also lead to a high risk of windthrow. catchments in the district is given in Appendix one. River basin management is a developing skill and already involves close co-operation between the district, the Conservator for South West Scotland, the Forest Research Agency (FRA), Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage, Galloway Fisheries Trust (GFT), Ayrshire Rivers Trust and Durham University. Surface water acidification is the main issue for most of these parties. Surface water acidification was at its worst in the 1980s, when many lochs and streams had become fishless. The problem is reducing over time and we are working closely with FRA, SEPA and GFT in particular to make sure that we continue to take measures through forest restructuring that redress surface water acidification. Surface water acidification is caused by airborne pollutants and is expressed in Galloway because the geology offers little acid -buffering capacity. It is also the case that Galloway’s tall trees act as ”scrubbing brushes” and capture more pollutants than would shorter vegetation

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About Galloway Forest District

Geology and landform Soils The major physical feature of the central Galloway The soils reflect the glacial past and the climate uplands is a metamorphic aureole surrounding rather than the solid geology. Consolidated the large granite intrusion that formed the boulder till with a high degree of silt is found over Merrick and Rhinns of Kells ranges. To the south the whole district and is the main substrate for soil east, another granite intrusion forms Cairnsmore formation. The underlying rock type is only evident of Fleet and further west, the Black Hill of the in soil formation at higher elevations and on the Bennan contributes yet more acidic geology to steeper slopes. The other principal factor is high the forest. The Southern Upland Boundary Fault rainfall and consequent peat formation. There is a lies to the north and runs through the forest peat layer of at least 10 cm over 80% of the planted from Pinwherry to just south of Dalmellington. area, with significant flows in the lower western The geology on the margins of the boundary regions. As a result, the majority of the soil is peaty fault is generally less acid than further south, gleys, deep peats and surface water gleys. Given the but overlying peaty soils often obscures this. variety of terrain and conditions in the district there are also areas of brown earths, podzols and sand. The solid geology of the district has been subject to much ‘shaping’ during the last two Ice Ages. Induration (compaction by glaciers) is a very Equally relevant is the extensive boulder till important soil constraint, generally lying which is often solid and indurated, in many at a depth of about 30 cm and impervious places covered by varying depths of peat, with to water and root penetration. This is a some considerable flows. Both the peat and the severe limiting factor for crop stability and boulder till tend to mask the solid geology. Both constrains the area suitable for thinning. add to the acidic nature of the soils, but the drift geology is in effect the more critical factor. Lying to the west is an area characterised by extensive blanket and basin bogs, interspersed with lochs, drumlins and low convex hills. All are sited on Ordovician and Silurian sandstones and greywackes, interspersed with porphorite dykes. The north of Arran is dominated by another granite mass, although the southern section forms the most western part of the Midland Valley region. This area is dominated by Devonian and carboniferous units, cut by more igneous intrusions. These take the form of both carboniferous and tertiary sills and dykes.

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About Galloway Forest District

Landscape Biodiversity The landscape context of the district can Key theme seven details the great diversity be described in terms of the four zones: of species and habitats to be found in the district. Our focus is to protect and enhance • Galloway uplands: the most striking landforms habitats to maximise their conservation with high mountains, lochs and large areas potential strategically in the national context. of open ground. It comprises mainly the Particular species of note in the district are Galloway Forest Park and is the main focus black grouse, golden eagle, nightjar, hen for recreation and tourism. Long-distance harrier, red squirrel and downy willow. views are very important and over recent years steps have been taken to lower the In addition to native woodland habitats, there upper tree planting line and temper the are over 100 lochs, over 500 km of larger forest more with the rugged landscape. watercourses and around a third of the district comprises unplanted mountain, moorland and • Machars moorland: moderately undulating grassland habitats. There are 16 sites of special terrain with few panoramic views. Forest design scientific interest, most designated as upland plans tend to focus on immediate views. heaths, silicaceous grassland and mire habitats, • Southern Uplands-type: an interface with the but Atlantic oakwoods, geological sites and a Galloway uplands, before the typical landscapes decalcified sand dune system are also included. of the Border Hills emerge in fully typical form, showing characteristics of both. The Cally Woods lie in a national scenic area and are subject to a detailed management plan reflecting their unique character of mature broadleaved woodland in an estuarine setting. • Arran: varies from coastal lowland moor to the rugged granite uplands. Most of the national forest estate falls in the category of ‘rugged moorland hills and valleys with forestry’.

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About Galloway Forest District

Cultural environment Heritage We have mapped over 1000 heritage features, based on a combination of the Royal Commission Historical context on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of The district originally comprised 17 separate forest Scotland database and finds reported during units, gradually amalgamated over many years. forest operations. The list is updated continuously Most were established in the early years after the as more sites are uncovered by our surveyors. Second World War. These forests were intimate The majority of the built heritage relates parts of remote rural communities, with new forest to medieval or later agricultural and rural villages and foresters’ houses adding significantly settlements. A vast network of drystone walls to the rural population and to cultural diversity. from this period are also mapped and treated The maturing forests of Galloway have led to a as archaeological features for operational number of sawmill and processing developments purposes. Prehistoric remains form much of the in both Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway. This remainder, with standing stones, hut circles and has increased employment in the manufacturing a series of ritual and funerary sites that include and haulage industries, perhaps compensating examples of the distinctive Bargrennan style of for a reduced work force in the forest itself chambered burial cairn. Little appears to have (owing principally to mechanisation). survived from the early medieval period and The decline in traditional forestry jobs is before, other than large defensive works. now slowing and staff are being recruited to All heritage features are managed in accordance meet the new agendas of tourism and social with Forestry Commission Scotland forests and inclusion (e.g. nine new staff are working with archaeology guidelines. There are 41 scheduled 50 volunteers and trainees in partnership with ancient monuments, each of which is managed to ProjectScotland, aiming to provide training and an individual plan agreed with Historic Scotland. employment opportunities to 16-25 year-olds).

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About Galloway Forest District

Demographics Economy The current structure of many small villages with strategic market towns is well established. The district lies in a rural setting with no large Employment towns/cities directly within its boundaries. The district turns over about £14 m in Dumfries and Ayr are the largest population expenditure, of which about £11 m (including centres on the fringes of the district, and salaries) is spent in the local economy. We Brodick is the main settlement on Arran. employ 117 people directly, with a broadly The population age structure has changed, with an comparable number of sub-contractors increasing number of people retiring to the area (though this is not specifically measured). Up and young people leaving to find work in the cities, to 20 engineers in other Forestry Commission partly due to the shortage of affordable homes. business units are also deployed in the district. Tourism is a key driver and has a long history in Over 55% of our timber is used by sawmills, Galloway (Galloway Forest Park was established primarily to produce sawnwood for the in 1947). Our three visitor centres and many construction industry, but also fencing and pallet recreational facilities (including formal walks boards. The remainder is largely used to make and cycle paths) are designed both to meet lightweight-coated paper (for glossy magazines) the needs of visitors and to assist the local and chipboard (for floors and kitchens). The vast tourism economy by circulating people majority of the timber is processed in Dumfries through the park and to other visitor attractions and Galloway and Ayrshire. Employment in the and facilities in adjacent communities. processing industries is greater than in the forest itself, with at least 500 people involved in the haulage and processing of the district’s timber.

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About Galloway Forest District

Tourism Renewable energy After timber production and agriculture, tourism is There is extensive interest in windfarm the next most important rural industry in our area development in the district, both in the forest in terms of turnover and employment. It is the only area and adjacent to our boundaries. These sector that is growing annually (by approximately range from smaller community proposals 5% year on year), although the tourism economy to the 120 MW installation currently under of the hinterland of South West Scotland is construction in Arecleoch forest. considered to be fragile and underdeveloped. Several potential small scale hydro sites VisitScotland ranks our tourism strategy for have also been identified in the district Galloway Forest Park as vital to the sustainability and there are proposals for power and and growth of tourism in Galloway and its heat generation via biomass plants. top priority away from the coastal fringe. Our In line with government policy, we will three visitor centres and recreational facilities continue to encourage the development (including formal walks and cycle paths) are of renewables with due regard to designed both to meet the needs of visitors and community and environmental issues. to assist the local tourism economy by circulating people through the park and to other visitor attractions and facilities in adjacent communities. Initiatives such as the 7stanes mountain bike routes are seen as highly important in delivering paying customers to local businesses. Figures from the Forest Tourism Initiative 2005 all forest survey indicate that there are approximately 850,000 visits/year in mainland Galloway with a further 150,000 on Arran. Visitors to the Galloway Forest Park alone spend an estimated £11m, which generates a gross value added (GVA) of £4.9m in the local economy. Tourism is a major objective and we are developing and enhancing our facilities and staff resources to handle this growing sector. Beyond walkers and cyclists, we also cater for more specialist interests, including angling, motor sport and military training.

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About Galloway Forest District

Forest resource

Extent and distribution During 2008, the district was extended to include Of this, 74,400 ha are afforested and 42,500 ha are the Kyle and Arran forests. It originally covered unplanted (this includes 3,800 ha of felled area some 97,000 ha of forest and open ground, but which is effectively transitional open land). A map it now incorporates 117,400 ha. Despite this, of land capability classifications is in Appendix one. Arran aside, the district is very compact. It forms The tables below show the age class and the most densely afforested part of Dumfries and species distributions for the district. Galloway, which had 26.5% woodland cover in the last national inventory, the highest in the UK. This As felling and re-stocking continues, the includes private forestry (48% of all forests) mainly percentage area of broadleaves will increase on the peripheries of the district and further east. to 15% of the woodland area, but this The combination as a whole however represents will take a number of years to attain. a key timber resource for the processing sector.

Table one: age distribution Age class Ha % 1-20 21387 28.7 21-40 35384 47.6 41-60 16317 21.9 61-80 934 1.3 >80 391 0.5 74414

Table two: species distribution Age class Ha % Broadleaves 3070 4.1 Pines 6984 9.4 Other conifer 626 0.8 Larch 5141 6.9 Spruce 58592 78.7 74414

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About Galloway Forest District

Extent and distribution (continued) The timber harvesting programmes are: Low impact silvicultural systems: Part of the forest has been classified into areas where Clearfell: The forest yields some 625,000 cubic clearfell harvesting need not be practised. metres of felled timber/year (approx. 1400 ha This is mostly the low-lying forests with better of felling and re-stocking each year). This will soil types and lower windthrow hazard scores increase to 725,000 cubic metres over the next that permit thinning and harvesting of small few years and remain at that level for the next patches without excessive risk of windthrow. 20 years. A clearfell volume of about 600,000 Some 5,100 ha has been designated so far, often cubic metres is sustainable in the longer term. coinciding with areas of high public use. Thinning: Unfortunately the forest is generally The forest is well roaded with a current 1132 km not well suited to thinning, with a predominance of forest road of various categories. A continuing of shallow, gleyed peaty soils that makes it construction programme is necessary to build over very susceptible to windthrow. An annual 200 km more to harvest plantations that are yet target of around 300 ha (15,000 cubic metres) come into production. The current programme is possible in the short term, rising to 25,000 of 16 km/year will continue until around 2020. cubic metres as the earliest re-stocked sites on better soils again reach thinning age.

14 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Strategic plan 2009-2013 - Section one

Section one: strategic context

Scottish forestry is helping to make a sustainable contribution to Scotland’s economy.

15 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section one

Section one: strategic context

Context

The context in which this plan will be delivered has been set by the success in delivering the previous strategic plan over the past seven years. That plan, published in 2001, included a wide range of local targets set against the national priorities identified in the previous version of the Scottish Forestry Strategy (published in 2000). These are summarised in Appendix two.

Overall, progress has been made on a • we have made sure that the district wide range of activities. Achievements to has full design plan coverage highlight from the previous plan include: • work to improve age class diversity of the forest is ongoing. Implementation of the forest • we have generated a smoothed timber design plans has led to structural diversification, production forecast established at a although given the even nature of many of the programme of 500,000 cubic metres/year district’s forests and dealing with windthrow • we achieved the target to harvest within +/-5% events, this will be a continuing target of production forecast, but with an increased • we have achieved standards of stocking proportion of the programme based in clearfell densities at planting detailed in the Forestry to redress a shortfall in the thinning forecast. This Commission Operational Guidance Booklet 4 has latterly been resolved through application of to ensure the quality of future timber crops the new, more robust, thinning forecast via GIS • action plans for all designated sites of special • we have met supply contracts in all years scientific interest are in place, maintained with appropriate product quality in agreement with Scottish Natural Heritage • we have partially achieved the target to move and subject to scheduled review a lower proportion of timber by road. We have • appropriate sites are being restored to successfully planned and started to install a ancient woodland and other natural habitats. network of strategic forest roads that reduce the The Cree Valley Community Woodland impact of timber traffic on rural communities project is ongoing. Design plan reviews are and weak, single-track public roads. And identifying further improvements at each working with technical experts and private iteration. We have achieved successful bog companies, we have successfully facilitated development of low impact timber haulage restoration at Moss of Cree and Blood Moss vehicles for use on the strategic forest roads. We are also continuing to work with private sector developers in relation to the establishment of a timber despatching railhead near Barrhill

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Section one: strategic context

• we have introduced the ‘moorland fringe’ concept • we are providing information on events to improve the conservation and landscape through the website, the Galloway Ranger value of the forest edges. Good progress has newspaper and an email newsletter been made on felling, but regeneration so far has available to tourism businesses been poorer than anticipated with broadleaves • we have provided new recreational and more prolific conifers requiring some facilities, e.g. the 7stanes mountain bike additional management input. The moorland trails at Kirroughtree and Glentrool, fringe concept is increasingly evolving towards and the upgraded Merrick hill path woodland fringe, which involves planting a higher proportion of native broadleaved species. • we are meeting requests for educational visits, e.g. more than 1500 pupils/year visit the Forest • action plans for all scheduled ancient School at Kirroughtree, run in partnership with monuments were agreed with Historic Cree Valley Community Woodlands Trust Scotland and are in place • we are helping communities to benefit • we have partially reduced the effect from their national forests, e.g. through the of surface water acidification from air successful Galloway Forest Volunteer Project pollutants in acid-sensitive catchments. A good deal of restructuring and research/ • we are engaging with communities through monitoring has been undertaken, but this is successful projects including Cree Valley, Balloch an area of ongoing works. Combined with and Bellsbank community woodlands and the reducing ambient pollution, positive results Penfield Project. We are continuing to make use are being seen in aquatic populations of the Galloway Forest Forum and Arran Forest Environment Panel as a communication vehicle • we are promoting outdoor recreation and sustainable tourism through the Galloway Much remains to be done and new challenges Forest Park tourism and interpretive arise out of the revised Scottish Forestry Strategy and the demands of our stakeholders. The strategies and the district recreation plan proposals for responding to these and building on the successful implementation of the previous strategic plan are detailed in Section two.

17 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section one

Strategic priorities for Galloway Forest District

District vision Safeguarding national forestry treasures Galloway Forest District will become an exemplar In working with partners to promote sustainable in integrating timber production with tourism economic development of tourism in the and community projects in a diversified forest. Galloway Forest Park and the national forest estate Native woodland, mountain and moorland on Arran, we will also ensure we protect and habitat networks will be at its heart. enhance environmental quality and biodiversity. We will improve structural and species diversity to provide landscape and habitat stability and District priorities seek to apply low impact silvicultural systems The main priority is to practice sustainable forest where the risk of windthrow permits, for management, which is one of the fundamental example at Kirroughtree and Cally Woods. operating principles outlined in the Forest Commission Scotland national strategic plan. This is based on implementation of a range of important Delivering forestry for people and rural development benefits standards and best practice national guidelines, where people live and work such as Forestry Commission forests and water guidelines and legislation such as the Health We will work with communities to encourage and Safety Act. Our performance is externally community projects and involvement in audited against the Forest Stewardship Council- forest management, with due emphasis approved UK Woodland Assurance Standard. on improving accessibility ,social inclusion Our Forest Stewardship Council certification and building capacity and skills. provides third party confirmation that Forestry Commission Scotland forests are well-managed. Managing landscape scale core areas We are firmly committed to retaining the high for threatened species and habitats standards required by UK Woodland Assurance We will enhance the natural landscape through Standard. This requires us to deliver a baseline well-considered forest design plans, giving of good practice in all our work. However, local particular emphasis to the sensitivities on circumstances and opportunities mean that Arran and in the Galloway Forest Park. there are a number of areas where we can also We will develop and manage native woodland, make a significant contribution to the national mountain and moorland habitat networks to assist delivery against the Scottish Forestry Strategy: wildlife species in a changing climate

18 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section one

Strategic priorities for Galloway Forest District

Retaining sufficient timber production potential Sustaining sufficient regional presence to to facilitate market stability and development exercise policy development, exemplar and leadership roles We will continue to focus on sustainable production of a quality timber resource to meet We will work with partners, current and new, in the the needs of the processing sector, maximising implementation of the Galloway Tourism Strategy the return on investment from the national forest and other related initiatives. estate by application of sound silvicultural practice. The district contains a large and diverse range of forests and communities, with a wide range Using acquisition/disposal, partnerships and of management options. We will deliver an other arrangements to generate greater scale appropriate balance of economic, environmental and pace of change and social outputs from each forest through active stakeholder engagement in long-term We will make sure that any new woodlands will forest planning. We will utilise these long-term provide substantial benefits for communities or forest plans and management approach to biodiversity. Carbon sequestration is an important, provide exemplars of multi-benefit forestry and if secondary objective in Galloway FD. demonstrate how sustainable forest and habitat management is delivered on the ground.

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Forest policy context

The national strategic plan describes the strategic and operational context; monitoring framework and implementation proposals that guide the district plan. The components of the delivery of the district strategic plan are indicated in the forest policy context diagram below. A glossary describing elements of the forest policy context diagram is contained in Appendix three.

Scottish Forestry Strategy UK Forestry Standard 2006 – 2015

Forest Enterprise Scotland POLICIES Forestry Commission framework document guidelines and policies 2008 – 2013

Strategic plan for the UK Woodland national forest estate Assurance Standard 2009 - 2013

Galloway Forest District Indicative forestry strategies Strategic Plan Forestry frameworks Regional 2009 – 2013 Forestry Forum

Forest plans Thematic plans 10 year plans in e.g. biodiversity, thinning 20 – 30 year frameworks Review

Work plans Monitoring Site specific plans for projects planned up to 2 years in advance of implementation Work programme

PLANNING Business plan Action Rolling 3 year plan

20 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Strategic plan 2009-2013 - Section two

Section two: how Galloway Forest District contributes to the delivery of the Scottish Forestry Strategy

Scotland’s forests and woodlands are helping support many rural communities and businesses.

21 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Section two: how Galloway Forest District contributes to the delivery of the Scottish Forestry Strategy

Context The issues identified below are arranged under the seven key national themes of the Scottish Forestry Strategy, with analysis and evaluation of their local context. The strategy identifies three outcomes, 12 headline objectives and 69 detailed objectives. Only the most relevant objective and main local issues are included to reflect the strategic nature of this plan.

In identifying issues, we seek to identify key things the international trade in timber as a limiting we can influence. This requires an analysis of our factor because this may not be immediately operating environment, with consideration of obvious. In contrast, we do not mention the details problems and limiting factors. If it is appropriate, of silvicultural improvement when identifying this analysis will sometimes be summarised in the thinning as an issue as we feel these will be plan. For example, in considering our operating assumed intuitively e.g. thinning improves crops. environment for timber, we include mention of

22 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme one: climate change

Climate change is both an opportunity and a threat to forestry. It is a primary consideration for sustainable forest management and the wood-using sectors, and a cross-cutting issue with links to all other key themes.

Renewable energy The district is well placed to contribute Although we have virtually no suitable ground towards meeting existing and future renewable for short rotation energy crops (two-three year energy targets. There are a number of existing rotations), there is potential for expanding hydroelectric reservoirs and power stations in conventional coppice production (12-20 year the area, and we are hosting a major windfarm rotations). This energy harvest might be based on project in the forest at Arecleoch, near Barrhill. part of the increasing proportion of broadleaved species we are planting, although we are unlikely We will continue to make sites available for to harvest much woodfuel from self-sown native renewable energy projects and work positively woodlands as these are so rare in our portfolio. with developers, particularly those with opportunities that will directly benefit local The woodfuel market is small, but likely to grow. communities. We expect developers to fully We will help facilitate market growth and work engage with and take account of all stakeholder with emerging woodfuel entrepreneurs and interest. Forestry Commission Scotland business prospective energy generators. Supply contracts units will consider windfarm projects and will normally be offered only by competition. The small-scale hydro schemes for investment. harvesting of woodfuel must be profitable (or at worst, cost-neutral) to the grower and most of all, There is scope to harvest additional woodfuel from branches and reject material currently left the process must be environmentally sustainable. on clearfell sites and from thinning, although the available tonnage is rather modest in relation to the demands of the biomass power plants at Lockerbie and the Irvine pulpmill.

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Key theme one: climate change

Adapting to climate change Carbon sequestration Recent climate change guidance suggests that the Across Scotland, there is considerable potential to climate of the district will remain wet and mild, acquire land for planting new woodlands for carbon although we can expect an increased frequency sequestration, and to meet other environmental and of extreme weather events. There will be modest social objectives. Given the abundance of conifer impact on our local forests with regard to primary forests in the district (and the contribution they will species choice, but there may be threats to wildlife make to carbon sequestration), any acquisitions here habitats. Habitat networks will be important in are likely to be primarily focused on facilitating new creating more robust and responsive ecosystems, community woodlands and/or habitat networks. allowing local migration of wildlife species and We can also improve the carbon sequestration reducing the probability of local extinctions. performance of the national forest estate The increased windiness, along with by habitat restoration of priority habitats waterlogged sites, will result in a higher such as bogs and native woodlands that risk of wind damage. This will have to be permanently accumulate carbon. managed through forest design and silviculture appropriate to succeeding rotations.

24 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme one: climate change

Key issue What Galloway forest district will do

Renewable energy

Continue to work with Scottish Power Renewables on the development of the GAL Arecleoch windfarm and its proposed extension at Kilgallioch. We will install a small 1.01 wind turbine, and possibly solar panels, on one of our buildings as a pilot project.

Continue to work with external parties on future renewables developments GAL in the district (and those requiring access through the district) where 1.02 they show due regard for community and environmental issues.

Adapting to climate change

Flood management is not currently a serious issue in the district, but GAL we will work with the Scottish Environment Agency to address flood 1.03 and catchment management planning in an uncertain future.

Carbon sequestration

Acquiring land to establish new woodlands is not a high priority for the district, but opportunities for new community woodlands, or new sections GAL of native woodland habitat networks will be considered. We do not seek 1.04 to establish substantial new woodlands on our moorlands and mountains, where our main objectives are public access and nature conservation.

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Key theme two: timber

An informed, vibrant and competitive wood processing sector in Scotland is vital to maximise market opportunities for the growing volume of timber reaching maturity. It is vital that growers produce predictable quantities and qualities of timber that meet market needs to sustain continued investment in efficient processing capacity and to realise the carbon benefits from greater use of timber in construction.

Timber supply Forestry Commission Scotland has continued to We are reducing our area committed to commercial invest in the accuracy of its production forecast conifer restocking, but the use of improved growing to supply the processing sector with accurate stock should compensate for this reduced area predictions of volume and product assortment on and maintain production levels in the longer which to base future investment. Along with this, term. Where possible in our limited conditions, felling programmes have been smoothed to deliver thinnings and management of areas under low an even, sustainable cut. impact silvicultural systems will assist in improving timber quality, thus maximising log potential for the construction market.

26 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme two: timber

Timber quality Timber transport The district grows timber for the construction The district is ideally suited to serve local industry and quality paper manufacture, and we processors in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, plan to make sure that the majority of our timber where the infrastructure of sawmills, pulpmill continues to feed high-value industries. We also and board factory is well established. But the aspire to increasing hardwood timber production supply chain is fragile and lack of continuity and contributing to the new woodfuel markets. of contracts and low margins can contribute to driving some contractors out of business. Maintaining and improving timber quality in all markets (even the woodfuel markets) is a We have to work co-operatively with our partners priority and will be pursued with attention to in the supply chain to achieve market placement species choice, provenance and spacing. In areas for our products and maintain margins for devoted to low impact silvicultural systems, we everyone in the chain. Good progress has been will have to learn more about managing natural made with long-term harvesting and timber supply regeneration, where this occurs. We also have contracts, which have provided some added to do more thinning as a means to improve final security. We will continue with processes such as crop quality, although we are constrained by long-term contracts and competent contractor the impact of wind damage on crops growing status to provide security, while regularly testing in our windy climate on often wet and weakly the market rate through open tenders. structured peat and gley soils. Thinning will International markets set the value of timber inevitably be restricted to the more stable sites. and constrain profitability. Harvesting and Sitka spruce is our main timber tree, with larch establishment techniques are well understood an important secondary species. We also seek to and very cost effective, although costs are broaden the range of broadleaved species (and likely to rise with increased fuel prices and Scots pine) that we plan to feature in future timber local shortages of skilled labour. This leads us production. A detailed rationale is provided in to the view that the main way to improve the our local guidance note on species choice. profitability of timber production is through reducing the combined cost of timber transport. We have pioneered strategic forest roads in the district with the aim of reducing the impact of timber traffic on weak, single-track public roads and rural communities. This involves building more forest roads and using them to a greater extent than is strictly economic. We have also pioneered the use of low impact timber haulage vehicles (developed by local private entrepreneurs) to reduce the consequent increased burden of road maintenance. These vehicles are now in wide use. We are also working with potential developers to establish a railhead at Barrhill, South Ayrshire, capable of taking 100,000 tonnes/year of timber off public roads. 27 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme two: timber

Hardwood timber Timber in construction The district has a very modest, but nevertheless We will seek to demonstrate and showcase valuable area of lowland-type broadleaved plantations, the use of timber in construction when most notably at Cally Woods. These will produce some considering investment in our buildings, high quality hardwood timber, together with associated including offices and visitor centres. There is fencing and firewood products. There is little scope also scope for considering the use of woodfuel- for expanding lowland-type timber production owing based heating systems in our buildings, and in to our generally poor upland soils. Our ancient and facilitating woodfuel harvesting by others. semi-natural woods are also normally of highest value to nature conservation without timber production. But we feel there is scope for field trials of broadleaves for hardwood timber production in certain upland situations and we have already established trial plots established at timber spacing. Woodfuel is the most likely product, but we will also test our ability to produce specifications that are more demanding. In this way, we intend to maximise the potential of our new broadleaved woods to produce utilisable timber.

28 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme two: timber

Key issue What Galloway forest district will do

Timber supply

GAL Increase production from 625,000 m3/year over the next few years to a 2.01 sustainable level of 725,000 m3/year over the following 20 years.

Timber quality

GAL Where timber production is a principal objective, we will make sure of appropriate 2.02 species choice, plant type and stocking densities at establishment.

Timber transport

GAL Continue to work with the private sector in improving low impact 2.03 vehicles to improve their service and reduce costs.

GAL Continue to work with Forest Civil Engineering in improving forest 2.04 road specifications to reduce maintenance costs.

GAL Continue to work with potential developers to establish the railhead at Barrhill. 2.05

29 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme two: timber

Key issue What Galloway forest district will do

Hardwood timber

GAL Establish at least one new hardwood timber trial/demonstration area each year and 2.06 maximise the potential for timber production in new broadleaved woodland area.

GAL Seek to increase the future broadleaved resource from 4% of woodland area to 15% by 2050. 2.07

Timber in construction

GAL Showcase the use of timber at the planned new district office and Galloway Forest Park visitor 2.08 centres (although the timing and availability of capital for such developments is uncertain).

30 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme three: business development

Forestry can bring much needed economic activity and employment to fragile and remote rural areas through traditional activities such as timber production and forest management, and diversified income sources from provision of forest goods and other services. However, this is reliant on the availability of a properly skilled and motivated workforce. We also recognise that we are part of a wider network supporting rural business development. Synergy with other economic development agencies will deliver best value for the local forest industry. The existing links with these organisations need to be strengthened and maintained.

Skills We require an increasing range of skills to deliver We will offer staff, contractors and volunteers our objectives and also need to make sure that we formal and informal learning experiences. continually upgrade existing skills so that we can Staff and volunteers will be served by our continue to improve our standards. There is currently formal training plan and we will work with a shortage of skilled labour in the Galloway area, others (chiefly Scottish Enterprise and local both in our industry and in others. There is also colleges) to assist in providing opportunities a large pool of unskilled people, many of whom for training events targeting contractors. have been excluded from the job market by their We need to work harder to make sure that staff, health, habits or personal history. We believe the contractors and volunteers are fully aware of district can contribute to improving this situation. national and district aspirations and directions. There is a continuing need to develop staff and contractor skills to sustain current programmes, meet new challenges and improve performance. The Galloway Forest Volunteer and Trainee Project offers training and consolidation in a variety of skills to each of its 50 full-time volunteers, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Key theme three: business development

Tourism Realising economic potential of the national forest estate Local government, agriculture, timber and tourism are the mainstay of the rural economy Timber production is a key objective. We pursue in Galloway, but only tourism is increasing in cost-effective management to produce quality its turnover and employment. This is a major crops and creative harvesting and marketing to area in which the district can contribute. We optimise value added to our wood products. We are working closely with VisitScotland, Scottish will also seek to generate non-timber sources Enterprise Destination Development Organisations of income chiefly from renewable energy and local tourism businesses in delivering our projects and visitor services. We are also open tourism strategy for the Galloway Forest Park. to developments of other non-timber products This has been adopted as a flagship policy by provided that environmental sustainability can be the tourism sector in South West Scotland. demonstrated and significant revenue generated for re-investment in the national forest estate.

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Key theme three: business development

Contribution to rural development As of 2007, the vast majority (85%) of our timber We are open to new business ideas and will is processed locally and this is likely to increase consider appropriate proposals that will assist given the arrangement implicit in our long- the growth or development of local private term contracts. This production is currently businesses. Completely original ideas may be geared largely to key sawmills at Dalbeattie taken forward with companies that approach and Lockerbie, the Irvine pulpmill and the us, but as a public organisation, we will particleboard factory at Auchenleck. The smaller normally have to make sure that the business sawmills and craft users are mainly supplied by opportunities we provide are either non- our standing sales customers, although we do exclusive or made available by competition. offer some small contracts ourselves. We will seek We are working with local authorities and to make sure that timber contracts are available Scottish Natural Heritage to consider a Biosphere for tender, in parcel sizes and specifications that Reserve proposal for South West Scotland (with will enable smaller companies to compete. Galloway Forest Park at its heart) as a vehicle The national forest estate in the district for sustainable rural development and to has potential to add value to and provide promote ‘green’ businesses. The proposal is being opportunities for other private business pursued with the aims of stimulating the rural ventures, where these are consistent with our economy and sustaining communities, while own objectives. We are keen to demonstrate maintaining and enhancing the environment. the value of the forests to the local economy In the Kyle area, opencast mining supports and to improve on the contribution they make. much employment in the areas of Dalmellington We are working with a range of organisations and Cumnock and generates revenue for including local authorities, Scottish Enterprise, Forest Enterprise Scotland, which assists VisitScotland and local private enterprises our other activities. We demand high with a view to supporting local businesses. standards of environmental restoration and Local businesses already derive direct or indirect seek added value for communities from benefits from recreational forest visitors. There mineral companies. We will adopt some is potential for further development in this restored areas as community woodlands. area, particularly in relation to equestrian use, cycle hire and camping. There is also potential for modest further development of small local timber-using businesses (turnery, firewood etc.), renewable energy and affordable housing (in areas where the local authority structure plans and the Scottish Government Housing and Regeneration directorate identify a need).

33 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme three: business development

Key issue What Galloway forest district will do

Skills

GAL Provide training for Forestry Commission Scotland staff and 3.01 for 50 full time volunteers and/or trainees

Tourism

GAL Deliver the plans and outcomes of the Galloway Forest Park tourism strategy. 3.02

Contribution to rural development

GAL Proactively create opportunities for private businesses to be made available by 3.03 competition, e.g. establish a mountain bike hire business at Kirroughtree.

GAL Work with partners to progress the proposed Biosphere Reserve or suitable alternative 3.04 as a vehicle for sustainable rural development and to promote ‘green’ businesses.

Continue to work with external parties on future renewables and mineral extraction GAL developments in the district (and those requiring access through the district) 3.05 where they show due regard for community and environmental issues.

34 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme four: community development

Community forestry in Scotland is a diverse and dynamic sector supported by the great changes in Scottish forestry since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament. Forestry is devolved, and land reform has introduced a stronger connection between the land and the people of Scotland. As part of our work, we will continue to strengthen that connection.

Contributing to quality of life The district’s forests and moorlands offer excellent We are very pleased to be serving and listening opportunities for outdoor recreation that can be to these people, because they make an excellent enjoyed by local people and visitors alike. But we contribution. But we need to do more to need to work harder to appeal to a wider range engage with people on low incomes, with of local people and visitors, and not just those special needs and especially with families. We with easy access to cars and lots of leisure time. should also consider more facilities nearer areas of economic and social deprivation. We have nearly one million day visits/year in the Galloway Forest Park and considerable public involvement in our management. The typical visitor and interested parties fall into two groups: the ‘empty nesters’ or the ‘young independents’. These groups tend to have a high degree of disposable income and leisure time.

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Key theme four: community development

Community engagement Communities are all different and their needs vary There is also a healthy demand for greater enormously, and we continue to works towards involvement in community partnerships, improving our service and relevance to them. often with specific local forests. A number of Some communities have only a limited interest, community woodlands projects have evolved in some only want to be kept informed, and others partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland appreciate an opportunity to become involved (discussed below), and we aim to develop in planning and management of woods. our Galloway Forest Volunteer and Trainee Project in partnership with ProjectScotland We have recently improved our standards of and the South Ayrshire Volunteer Centre. information provision through publication of the Galloway Ranger newspaper. Although it The objectives of the current and proposed volunteer is aimed primarily at visitors, the newspaper project are to assist the Scottish Government has a large local readership. We have also put with delivery of its policies on social inclusion, greater effort into communicating through promoting volunteering as an important aspect press articles and announcements. of Scottish life, assisting the voluntary sector to meets its objectives, creating wider employment The main vehicles for active community engagement opportunities and providing opportunities for are the Galloway Forest Forum (or ‘Environment greater community involvement in forestry. Panel’) and the Arran Environment Panel. Both involve representatives of various organisations and interest groups, including community councils, which advise on all forest design plans and many major initiatives. We also make use of various participatory events, such as ‘drop in meetings’ to consult on major initiatives.

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Key theme four: community development

Community ownership A number of community woodlands projects are There is an apparently insatiable demand for high- at various stages of development of community class homes with an acre or more of land set in ownership and management. Some have beautiful countryside, but it is not an objective formal concordats or agreements, and others of the district to take part in this market and are more informal. Some, e.g. in the Cree Valley, we will not normally respond to requests from at Creetown and at Bellsbank, have taken on developers to release land for this purpose. a great deal of management responsibility, We may tender building plots or properties from while others are currently more focused on time to time, but this will normally be for reasons specific cultural events or recreation facilities. associated with other aspects of our business. We do Many of these less formal community projects do recognise the acute shortage of affordable homes in also need some element of formal arrangements, much of rural Scotland and we are working with local e.g. the Newton Stewart Angling Association project authorities to identify land for affordable housing at Loch Dee is subject to a lease. All our community where this is a priority. We will release land, although projects share the objectives of encouraging the only to a Registered Social Landlord or Community widest possible enjoyment of local forest areas, and Housing Trust in keeping with our national policy. promoting developments that are in the interests of the community and the wider public alike. Learning We currently have four community woodlands projects subject to formal agreement and another Our commitment to develop the skills of staff and two likely to develop in this direction. We also contractors, and the volunteers of the Galloway have five leases for fisheries management with Forest Volunteer and Trainee Project, also applies community-based angling clubs. We are keen to more widely to education and lifelong learning. work with more communities with ideas to develop There is a demand for learning about the woodlands and recreation facilities in the public environment and rural pursuits beyond the interest and a will to take on management. need for vocational skills. We are making a There is currently a shortage of land for affordable contribution towards young people through housing. This situation is particularly acute on our education programme for primary schools Arran where we are engaging with North Ayrshire (1500 pupil visits/year from 18 local schools) and Council and HIFAR, the Housing Initiative For a small annual programme of work opportunity Arran Residents, to assess the potential in the experience for secondary pupils. We are also national forest estate for affordable housing working with private companies and the Cree and woodland crofts (Arran to be covered Valley Community Woodlands Trust to provide by an amendment to the Crofting Act). learning opportunities to adults, notably through bus tours to explain the ‘working forest’. Our visitor centres also have a role in providing information and learning experiences, as part of our tourism strategy.

37 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme four: community development

Key issue What Galloway forest district will do

Contributing to quality of life

Promote social inclusion in all community projects and proactively GAL reach out to disadvantaged and excluded groups as part of the Galloway 4.01 Forest Volunteer and Trainee Project . We will endeavour to develop more outdoor recreation to appeal to families and the less able.

Community engagement

GAL Operate the Galloway Forest Forum and Arran Environment Panel, with four 4.02 meetings/year to consider all forest design plans and major initiatives.

Community ownership

Encourage communities to become more involved in management GAL of their local Forestry Commission Scotland forests and recreational 4.03 facilities, with an increasing sense of ownership.

Work with HIFAR, the housing initiative for Arran residents, and North Ayrshire GAL Council on affordable housing land and woodland crofts on Arran. And, we will also 4.04 work closely with the Dumfries & Galloway Small Communities Housing Trust

GAL Consider releasing land to registered social landlords in areas identified 4.05 by local authorities as priorities for affordable housing.

Learning

Develop the Galloway Forest Volunteer and Trainee Project (currently 50 GAL full-time placements), and actively seek partnerships with communities 4.06 and with other organisations aiming to support communities.

GAL Assist local primary school teachers with around 1,500 pupil visits/year and offer 4.07 a programme of work experience opportunities to secondary school pupils.

38 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme five: access and health

Scotland has one of the greatest health challenges of the developed nations of Europe. A major part in addressing this will be to increase people’s physical activity levels. Woodlands and forests can make a positive contribution to people’s health and wellbeing and offer access opportunities for the communities that live by, travel through and visit them. They are a place for all types of recreation activity catering for the novice to the international competition.

Recreation There is a high level of use of the forest (around The Scottish Outdoor Access Code provides for one million day visits/year) and we are seeking to free and open responsible access to land. Forestry double this as part of our tourism strategy. We have Commission Scotland fully supports and promotes a wide range of recreation facilities, including visitor the code. Unauthorised access with off-road centres, forest drives, cycle trails, formal and informal vehicles is not supported by the code or by us, footpaths, and wild animal parks (wild goats and red but it is proving environmentally damaging in deer) that are all designed for the visitor to enjoy. certain parts of the Galloway Forest Park and Arran, and is unpopular with walkers and horse-riders. We are working with a number of motorcycling/ quad biking groups with a view to reducing the impact on the environment and visitors by providing bespoke tracks and other measures.

39 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme five: access and health

Making access easier Health We promote access to the national forest Providing opportunities for exercise is our estate and maintain a number of forest walks, main contribution to improving the nation’s cycle paths and less formal trails. We also work health. We actively promote walking, with access forums convened by the local cycling and horse-riding in the forest, and authorities to establish core path networks. organise events to encourage local people and visitors to get out into the fresh air. The distribution of the forests we manage in the district reflects past policies and few are in easy The widest range of people enjoys walking. walking distance from towns. More could be done Another major contributor to the nation’s health to encourage access to forests by public transport, and fitness is the 7stanes cycle routes, focused in cycle and on foot. We also seek to provide facilities the district on Kirroughtree and Glentrool. With for all abilities, e.g. the Penninghame Pond 7stanes, we have enjoyed enormous success in trail, in partnership with the Penfield Project. facilitating high energy exercising. This has often focused on elite riders (who inspire others), We need to do more to make sure that people but we now wish to broaden the appeal by know they are welcome in our forests and catering increasingly for novices and families. provide further encouragement for healthy outdoor pursuits. Our formal recreation We also seek to improve our signage and other facilities form part of our approach, but we interpretation so that we reduce conflicts and also need to work more closely with local uncertainties experienced by cyclists, walkers communities to identify barriers to access. and horse-riders. Under the access code, we cannot restrict any particular trail to any We expect this approach will lead to initiatives particular use, but we are convinced that we such as improved signage demonstrating a can help riders and walkers make sensible welcome to the national forest estate, improved choices that reduce potential conflict. gates encouraging access while discouraging unauthorised vehicles, acquisition of land or access We have done much over the years to encourage rights to help the public get to the estate and visitor physical activity in the open air, but we have facilities and working with partners to facilitate often underestimated the value of the outdoors access by physically and mentally disadvantaged in promoting good mental health. We need people (e.g. by bus and through guided walks). to do more to encourage people with mental and physical disabilities to have rewarding experiences contributing to their well-being. Progress has already been made with the Penfield Project’s creation of a forest garden at Whitefield loch, near Luce for people with schizophrenia. The Galloway Forest Volunteer and Trainee Project and the community-based Cree Valley Community Woodlands Trust regularly bring people with moderate to severe disabilities into the forest to help with conservation and access projects.

40 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme five: access and health

Key issue What Galloway forest district will do

Recreation

GAL Maintain the 7stanes cyclepath network, manage it to reduce conflict with 5.01 walkers and horse-riders, and encourage novices and families.

Making access easier

GAL Work with the local authority-led access forums to identify 5.03 core paths and add value where appropriate.

Health

GAL Seek to work with the health and medical communities to 5.06 develop new projects or activities, where appropriate.

41 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme six: environmental quality

The UK Forestry Standard defines the minimum standard for sustainable management of Britain’s forests. Beyond this, the national forest estate is certified by the UK Woodland Assurance Standard, which is affiliated to the Forest Stewardship Council, an international environmental and social certification process for forests. The UK Woodland Assurance Standard is very demanding, but enthusiastically embraced by Forestry Commission Scotland in managing the estate.

Soil, water and air quality Careful adherence to Forestry Commission forests Surface water acidification was at its worst in the and water guidelines effectively deals with the main 1980s, when many lochs and streams had become issues of soil erosion and water quality in the district. fishless. The problem is reducing over time as Water quality in particular is of a very high standard ambient air pollution declines and the forest is in all but one respect: surface water acidification. restructured. There has been a recovery of fish The geology of most of the district is generally so in virtually all of the previously fishless lochs, but low in available calcium and other acid-buffering recovery in many headwater streams has been elements that surface waters can become acidified. much slower and remains a substantial problem. The source of the acidification is primarily air Establishing streamside buffer areas to protect pollution, although there are also natural sources freshwaters from sedimentation and excessive of airborne acidity. Surface water acidification shading by conifers is a key product of the occurs when the input of acid pollutants exceeds forests and water guidelines. These now form the capacity of soils and geology to buffer the the skeleton of our habitat networks, providing acidity. Unfortunately, tall coniferous trees ‘scrub’ ‘soft’ permanent boundaries to forest crops. This more pollutant from the air than does shorter is increasingly delivering major improvements vegetation. This means that some afforested to landscape compared to the ‘wall-to-wall catchments are more severely acidified than they conifers’ established in the 1960s and 1970s. would be if they were occupied by moorland.

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Key theme six: environmental quality

Landscape The Galloway Forest Park and the National regeneration of native tree species (and pine and Forest Estate on Arran are regarded as a major larch) has been rather poor on many sites, and tourist destination in South West Scotland and is we are increasingly planting these species and renowned for its landscape quality. But there are putting further emphasis on their protection. some examples of poor forest design in places and We will continue to develop our methodology. major challenges as regards windthrow, harvesting We are keen to maximise the extent of lower and re-stocking cycling through the landscapes. impact silvicultural systems to reduce the For these reasons, all felling and planting in scale of clearfell and extent of intensive re- the district is subject to forest design plans that stocking practices that are needed to deliver are considered by the Galloway Forest Forum quality woodlands. We are however severely and the Arran Forest Environment Panel before constrained by expected wind damage on being subject to formal consultation. Our aim our exposed sites and poorly drained soils. is to involve as many stakeholders in the forest There is public demand for forestry to operate planning process as wish to contribute, not just on a smaller scale. There are also many areas the forum and statutory consultees. The main of the district where public access, landscape formalised intervals for consultation are at and biodiversity are overriding objectives, with 10-yearly intervals subject to review at 5 years. timber production of much lesser priority. The margins of the conifer forest are increasingly Our response to this is to increase the area devoted being managed as moorland and woodland to low impact silvicultural systems. We use the fringe, which are a ‘fuzzy’ blend of moorland, term to encompass a range of situations including: conifers and native broadleaves at low density, with woodland fringe reaching a higher cover • alternatives to clearfell that have no of native broadleaves. Although this initiative is felling coupe exceeding 2 ha principally aimed at wildlife, it will bring distinct • continuous cover that has no felling advantages in landscape terms by producing a coupe exceeding 0.25 ha forest edge of natural appearance, blending gently into mountain and moorland landscapes beyond. • single tree selection, group selection and shelterwood silvicultural systems The rate of spruce regeneration is rather too high in some places. This suggests that repeated • natural reserves, where biodiversity is the clearance will be a poor investment (compared to prime objective and we do not plan to harvest other environmental objectives) and a significant timber (including most of our established native minority of sites (possibly as much as 25%) woodlands and some stands of conifers) may be resumed to conifer forest. The rate of

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Key theme six: environmental quality

Cultural heritage There is a rich cultural heritage in the district, with many archaeological features. This includes 41 scheduled ancient monuments that are all managed with plans agreed with Historic Scotland, and over 1000 other archaeological features that are also recorded and where we avoid planting trees. We use the National Countryside Monitoring Scheme database and take advice from local authority archaeologists (or other specialists) to assist us with determining relative importance. A few of our sites have been interpreted and are readily accessible to the public, but we have so far not been able to satisfy demand for well- interpreted sites and archaeological trails. We will seek funding for this as a priority for the future. Some of our woodlands have historical and archaeological significance, particularly those on ancient woodland sites. Some, e.g. Kirroughtree and Kilsture, overlay former industrial landscapes where woodlands have established on old mineral working sites. These ancient woods and post-industrial sites offer opportunities for future development and interpretation.

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Key theme six: environmental quality

Key issue What Galloway forest district will do

Soil, water and air quality

Work closely with the Forest Research Agency, Scottish Environment Protection GAL Agency and Galloway Fisheries Trust in particular to make sure that we continue to 6.01 take measures through forest restructuring that redress surface water acidification.

Landscape

Consult Galloway Forest Forum/Arran Environment Panel on all forest design GAL plans and encourage further public participation though our ‘open door’ policy 6.02 and invitations to neighbours and communities to ‘drop in’ meetings.

GAL Expand the area devoted to low impact silvicultural systems from 6.03 about 8% of the forest area to about 15% by 2025.

Cultural heritage

GAL Review all of our 41 scheduled ancient monument plans in 6.04 agreement with Historic Scotland on a five-yearly basis.

45 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Section two

Key theme seven: biodiversity

Our targeted actions on biodiversity are:

• managing all habitats ( including the forest crops) as a means to sustain the widest range of wildlife species (including plants, insects and fungi as well as birds and mammals) • managing priority habitats (in our case raised bogs and ancient woodlands, with some consideration of sand dune habitat) • managing for individual priority species that are regarded as rare or threatened

The habitats of greatest importance to biodiversity are:

• designated sites (e.g. sites of special scientific interest, special areas of conservation and national nature reserves): we have 16 sites (covering 11% of the district) all subject to formal management agreements with Scottish Natural Heritage. Details are given in Appendix one: Location of national parks, national scenic areas, forest parks and areas of great landscape value; and Location of national nature reserves, Natura sites, sites of special scientific interest and ancient woodland. • ancient woodlands: the district has a very low proportion of native woodland with only 185 ha of ancient and semi-natural woodland. We have another 475 ha of plantations on ancient woodland sites, much of which is being gradually restored to native or mixed woodland • other native woodlands • other semi-natural habitats: these include bogs and other moorland

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Key theme seven: biodiversity

Species and habitats Other native woodlands We will also make best efforts to improve the condition of all native woodlands and Ancient woodlands and upland oakwood (priority habitat) associated open habitat in the district. The majority of our ancient woodland has in Much of the existing native woodland will never the past been largely replaced by conifers or be managed for timber production because the grazing. Most of the areas of plantations on older established woodland (including ancient ancient woodland sites (PAWS) that have retained semi-natural woodland) is rather rare in Galloway a high degree of native habitat features are and of highest value to nature conservation. included in habitat action plans plans agreed We do however plan to manage much with Scottish Natural Heritage some years ago. of the proposed increased area of native Progress will be continued in restoring PAWS woodland for timber as well as for sites, normally by thinning, to gradually reduce conservation and landscape objectives. the introduced species without adversely impacting on any vestiges of native flora. Other semi-natural habitats Over 20,000 ha of mountain, moorland and Lowland raised bogs (priority habitat) bog lies at the core of the district. We intend to Opportunities for restoration of lowland raised manage this primarily for nature conservation bog will be considered, with highest priority and public access. About 50% is tenanted by afforded to forested bogs adjacent to sites of sheep farmers and the remainder is grazed special scientific interest in the same hydrological only by wild animals (including feral goats). unit, and where uncommon native plant species Some of the most important moorlands for birds remain in substantive populations, e.g. Andromeda, are not scheduled, but they are recognised by the Vaccinium Oxycoccus, Sphagnum Tenellum. ornithological community and we manage them for moorland birds. A trial is underway with cattle being used as a tool in moorland management. We intend to retain the wild open character of the Galloway hills and do not intend to promote extensive regeneration of trees. Some low level regeneration of montane scrub is appropriate and is being achieved at present.

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Key theme seven: biodiversity

Habitat networks Forest plans will develop and enhance internal Moorland and Woodland fringe habitat networks and links to wider networks We have introduced the ‘moorland and in surrounding land. These will permit woodland fringe’ concept into forest migration and flexibility in the face of climate design as described under landscape. change and other ecological pressures, and reduce the probability of local extinctions. Deadwood Deadwood is a vital habitat component providing Deer management plan niches for a high number of species and will be The district deer management plan is subject to managed via our deadwood management policy. consultation with the area deer management group and the Deer Commission Scotland. Since Invasive plants about 2001, deer numbers have been kept at a consistent level at which natural regeneration of Rhododendron, knotweed and Western hemlock native trees and shrubs is now occurring. We now regeneration are causing ecological damage to plan to allow a gentle increase in deer numbers the forest and other wildlife habitats in the district, in places where our nature conservation and shading out sensitive native species. We will seek crop protection objectives are being met. resources to tackle the spread of these through implementation of our invasive species plan.

Feral goat management plan The district feral goat management plan is subject to consultation with the British Feral Goat Research Group. Feral goats are not native animals and have a bad reputation for damaging wildlife habitats, but we feel they have a place in the Galloway scene. Our overall objective is to maintain all existing populations, but to contain their numbers and extent.

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Key theme seven: biodiversity

Priority species Increasing awareness and improving knowledge Conservation of most wildlife species, including many of the UK and Scottish priority species, will All efforts should be made to increase the be addressed through general forest management awareness, understanding and enjoyment of and habitat management prescriptions, and the rich biodiversity of the district’s forests. through building resilient habitat networks. A range of scientific research is undertaken in We will also make sure that we meet the legal the Galloway Forest Park by research institutes, requirements for protected species under the Nature universities and local groups (such as the Raptor Conservation (Scotland) Act, Wildlife & Countryside Study Group) that adds greatly to our knowledge Act and the various conservation regulations. base. Wildlife specialists on the Galloway Forest Forum and the Arran Forest Environment Beyond this, we identify the following species for Panel and our own rangers provide prodigious special attention and further specific action: advice on the distribution and abundance • firstly, we consider those species that depend of key species and priorities for action. strongly on woodland or woodland edge habitats: we have a special responsibility for Geodiversity black grouse, juniper and red squirrel We will continue to identify important geodiversity • we also give priority to other species that sites on the national forest estate, and maintain and are threatened across Scotland or make a enhance them through the forest plan process. particular contribution to Galloway, and (most importantly) where action by the district can make a significant contribution: Arctic char, azure hawker dragonfly, barn owl, bats, golden eagle, freshwater pearl mussel, nightjar, salmon, vendace All species listed above are covered by local biodiversity action plans and most species are included in UK national species action plans. The Scottish Natural Heritage species framework also identifies threats to species conservation objectives. The main threats to species conservation in the district are grey squirrel and signal crayfish.

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Key theme seven: biodiversity

Key issue What Galloway forest district will do

Species and habitats

GAL All sites of special scientific interest to reach favourable condition by 7.01 2012 (unless beyond Forestry Commission Scotland control).

GAL Target 100% restoration of ancient woodland except on sites where this would have 7.02 a detrimental conservation impact e.g. Norway spruce retentions for red squirrel.

GAL Establish a further 3,000 ha of native woodland in the district 7.03 (and aspire to establish a further 6,000 ha) by 2025.

GAL Plan to define favourable condition status for moorland and woodland fringe 7.04 and achieve 1,000 ha comfortably progressing to this condition by 2025.

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Section three: delivery and monitoring

Scottish forestry is helping to tackle climate change capturing carbon naturally with trees

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Section three: delivery and monitoring

Context Delivery will be based on the creation of a rolling three year business plan identifying resources required to deliver work programmes identified in forest plans, other local plans and emergent issues. Detailed work plans are prepared for all significant elements of the programme. In sensitive sites, this often requires further consultation with relevant stakeholders. These are normally prepared 18-24 months before actual work commences. Work is delivered in accordance with a series of guidance notes listed in Appendix four, and all delivery adheres to the operating principles detailed in the strategic plan for the national forest estate.

Following approval of the business plan, the • national policies e.g. UK Forestry Standard, work programmes and allocated resources are Forestry Commission People Strategy confirmed with the local staff who then organise • memoranda and instructions e.g. monitoring the work and monitor delivery against agreed of stocking densities according to the Forestry timescales, costs and quality standards. Commission Operational Guidance Booklet 4 Monitoring forms an integral part of sustainable Two types of monitoring carried out in the district - forest management and is regarded as an essential formal and informal. tool for improving practice. It is in-built into almost every aspect of management from financial to operational, to environmental, to health and safety, to recreational, to landscape, through:

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Section three: delivery and monitoring

Formal monitoring is concerned with Informal monitoring is concerned primarily with areas where we have legal, moral or the day-to-day management of the district work policy obligations to fulfil and is often also programme and is carried out primarily in-house. audited by external parties. Important areas Informal monitoring include activities such as: covered under this heading include: • contract progress monitoring of overall standards (e.g. compliance with forest plans, UK • site visits Woodland Assurance Standard, etc.) • personal budget monitoring

• conservation monitoring • work programme monitoring • archaeological monitoring • time management

• health and safety monitoring The results from these have a variety of uses, • business plan monitoring both long and short-term and are a useful tool in improving our management skills. We also have to monitor against the indicators The results that we receive are analysed and identified in the Forest Enterprise Scotland strategic the recommendations are fed back, where plan for the national forest estate. These will then appropriate, into our planning process. The be amalgamated across all ten forest districts results help to influence future management of to determine collective progress in delivering the forests, as well as aiding development of the against the Scottish Forestry Strategy. These results future work programme and budget planning. will be published annually at national level. The results received can also help shape new local policies, as well as improving existing ones. The repositioning of the national forest estate will continue, with woods of greatest public benefit retained as part of the estate. Information about the repositioning policy is contained in the strategic plan for the national forest estate. Details of the scoring for woods in the district are contained in Appendix five.

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Appendices

The use of wood as a fuel will help reduce harmful greenhouse emissions and we are working hard to promote wood fuel developments.

54 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Appendix one: Supporting maps

55 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Appendix one: Supporting maps

56 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Appendix one: Supporting maps

57 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Appendix one: Supporting maps

58 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Appendix one: Supporting maps

59 | Strategic plan 2009 - 2013 Appendix one: Supporting maps

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 1: To create a diverse forest resource for the future

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Forecast timber Yes Has been reviewed annually. The Yes production. smoothed forecast indicates a sustained yield from felling of approximately 700,000 m3/yr (standing), rising modestly in 10 years time. The original thinning forecast has proven to be an aspiration and is unachievable. In keeping with a national initiative, the thinning forecast has now been replaced with a more robust methodology that indicates a lower (but rising) level of achievable thinning. Annual harvesting Yes Achieved overall, but with some Yes programme to be within over-cutting on clearfell to +/-5% of production compensate for failure to achieve forecast/sale plan forecast. forecast thinning production. The thinning forecast has now been radically revised (see above).

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 1: To create a diverse forest resource for the future

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Meet customer Yes We have met supply contracts in Yes requirements in terms of all years, with a good record on timing of sales and quality timing through the year. Product of product. quality has been appropriate to contracts, although there has been a level of substandard sawlogs produced throughout the period. We - and our principle sawlog customer - view this as an inevitable by-product of working together to maximise the overall volume of high quality sawlogs. Move a lower proportion Partial We have successfully planned Yes of timber by public road. and started to install a network of strategic forest roads that reduce the impact of timber traffic on rural communities and weak, single-track public roads. Working with technical experts and private companies, we have successfully facilitated development of low impact timber haulage vehicles for use on the strategic forest roads. We have investigated options for creation of a railhead facility in Arecleoch Forest near Barrhill. This is a current project.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 2: To create a diverse forest resource for the future

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Ensure every forest is part Yes The district has full coverage of Yes of an approved forest forest design plans approved plan. by the Conservator, and subject to local consultation. Improve age class diversity Partial Results are in keeping with Yes through staggering dates expectations regarding the difficulties of clearfell, to achieve of restructuring even-aged first minimum 2 m height rotation forests on wet soils. difference between Clearfell and re-stocking have largely adjacent coupes. been worked on time, but some delays have occurred. Windthrow has frequently intervened, resulting in unsatisfactory results in a significant proportion of the forest (chiefly in the areas on wet peaty and gleyed soils). Forest planning procedures and business planning provision have been tightened to improve delivery of structural diversity, but this objective may not be fully met until the next rotation. There is a current argument in favour of extending the fallow period between felling and re- stocking to reduce pesticides use against pine weevil (Hylobius). Achieving 2 m height differential is still our main aim although, in the interests of minimising chemical usage, this may be compromised where unavoidable as a result of application of the fallow policy.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 2: To create a diverse forest resource for the future

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Ensure quality timber Partial Target stocking density improved Yes crops are created for the through the review period. We future by achieving target are now achieving the demanding re-stocking densities OGB4 standards for our timber (OGB4). producing conifers. In the last two years, a decision has been taken to increase markedly the planting of broadleaves and Scots pine, with the additional area selected for timber production and for environmental objectives. Achieving OGB4 standards will be technically difficult and is a major objective for the next five years. (Broadleaves and Scots pine planted solely for nature conservation or amenity do not have to meet these standards.) Protect trees from damage Yes We can now grow larch, pine and Yes by mammals, insects and broadleaves without establishing fungi. 2 m high deer fences in many cases. We are also able to renew and expand native woodlands by natural regeneration in most parts of the district. This follows improvements in our deer and goat management since 1999, bringing numbers into balance with the environment.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 2: To create a diverse forest resource for the future

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Develop rationale and Partial A much improved thinning Yes planning processes for plan has been produced, but thinning programme. still requires work to ensure its accuracy. We will probably need five years of surveys and new thinning data to achieve the degree of accuracy on delivery we achieve with clearfell plans.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 3: To make a positive contribution to the environment

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Maintain action plans for Yes All SSSI plans in place and Yes designated sites of special agreed with SNH, and subject scientific interest (SSSIs) in to periodic review. agreement with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Convert appropriate Partial We are working our way through Yes sites back to ancient plans agreed with SNH to restore woodlands and other priority native woodland. Cree natural habitats. Valley Community Woodlands Trust (CVCWT) has helped us greatly in this regard. Progressive forest design plan reviews continue to increase the target area of woodlands for restoration to native species. We have agreed with CVCWT that some restoration should be conducted more slowly than of late (‘instant’ conifer removal can prove damaging to lower plants, invertebrates and squirrels in some mixed woods). The restoration of raised bogs at Moss of Cree and Blood Moss was initiated during the period with promising early results.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 3: To make a positive contribution to the environment

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Improve forest landscape, Partial Good progress has been made Yes particularly in Galloway in opening up views hidden for Forest Park and the a generation and in delivering national scenic area. much improved forest design throughout the district. There has been less success in retaining stands of tall growing trees, owing to the ravages of windthrow. We are continuing to take risks in retaining stands of tree on longer rotations (especially larch and pine) with the overall objective of keeping more mature trees in the forest landscape.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 3: To make a positive contribution to the environment

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Introduce the ‘moorland Partial Good progress has been made in Yes fringe’ concept into prioritising and felling moorland forest design, replacing fringe areas throughout the district. conifer plantations on The rate of spruce regeneration is the forest edge with an rather too high in some places. This open scrubby habitat suggests that repeated clearance will comprising moorland be a poor investment (compared species with a sparse to other environmental objectives) mixture of native and a significant minority of sites broadleaves and conifer (possibly as much as 25%) may regeneration. be resumed to conifer forest. The rate of regeneration of native tree species (and pine and larch) has been rather poor on many sites, and we are increasingly planting these species and putting further emphasis on their protection in the moorland fringe. Prepare action plans Yes All plans are in place and agreed with Yes for scheduled ancient Historic Scotland. monuments.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 3: To make a positive contribution to the environment

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Identify and protect Partial Pre-harvesting surveys identify Yes unscheduled monuments. previously unknown structures and engineered landforms, and steps are taken to prevent them from damage. Only a fraction of these are interpreted by experts, i.e. we frequently do not know what we are protecting!

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 3: To make a positive contribution to the environment

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Reduce the effect of Partial All parts of the district are either Yes acidification from air in, or adjacent to, a critical loads pollutants in acid-sensitive exceedence square (i.e. the catchments. acid load of incoming pollution can often exceed the buffering capacity of soils). And forests ‘scrub’ more pollutant out of the air than shorter vegetation. Happily, the ambient pollution levels are in decline and surface waters above the treeline are rapidly normalising. Previously fishless lochs now have breeding fish. Recovery below the treeline is slower, but restructuring and redesign of forests in the headwaters of the most acidified streams is now showing benefits, e.g. populations of invertebrates, dippers and trout are now recovering in the high Cree. The district has paid for continuous water sampling equipment now used by Galloway Fisheries Trust and contributes to further water sampling in keeping with new procedures in the Forestry Commission Scotland forests and water guidelines (fourth edition).

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 3: To make a positive contribution to the environment

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Increase the area Partial The area of LISS has been raised Yes committed to low impact from virtually zero to nearly 8% silviculture (LISS) and of the forest over the period, and improve management the ambition is to reach 15% in techniques. time. But there are very significant technical difficulties and resource implications to reducing coupe size, given our soils and relative exposure to windthrow. More work is needed to identify and formalise management plans at the site level, as the strategic plan and even forest design plans are as yet too general in approach.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 4: To create opportunities for more people to enjoy trees, woods and forests

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Promote outdoor Partial We have created and launched the Yes recreation and green Galloway Forest Park tourism and tourism. interpretative strategies and the district recreation plan. In the next period, we will progress a visitor centre investment plan and a Galloway Forest Park marketing plan. Provide information about Partial We now publish the Galloway Ranger Yes major events and forest newspaper to advise visitors and operations. communities about our activities and events, and a weekly email newsletter

is now available to advise tourism businesses. We have improved the transparency and accountability of our operational planning. We need to provide better information at operational sites, with maps and dates etc. This approach is currently being developed.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 4: To create opportunities for more people to enjoy trees, woods and forests

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Provide interpretation on Partial Ranger-led walks and our Yes significant natural and schools educational programme cultural history at popular have improved our delivery of sites. interpretation. We have invested in improved on-site interpretation (e.g. at Moss of Cree) with the help of Scottish Natural Heritage, but the level of our interpretation overall is not yet meeting demand from the public. Provide new recreational Partial The 7stanes development at Yes facilities in response to Kirroughtree is now recognised as demand. one of the world’s best mountain biking facilities. Further trails are now in place at Glentrool. The Merrick hill path has been upgraded to a nationally acclaimed standard, though some upgrade remains to be done. Further work is required to improve many of our 35 formal forest walks and the three forest drives. Work to assist wider access for horse-riders is in its infancy.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 4: To create opportunities for more people to enjoy trees, woods and forests

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Meet requests for Yes We now have visits from 1,500 Yes educational visits. Our primary school pupils/year to our aim is to assist teachers Forest School at Kirroughtree, delivering the curriculum which is run in partnership with (with opportunities for the Cree Valley Community activities such as ‘pond Woodlands Trust. dipping’.)

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 5: To help communities benefit from woods and forests

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Help communities benefit Yes We established a Galloway Forest Yes from their national forests: Volunteer Project with 30 places for volunteers seeking opportunities to work 30 hours/week or more in the forest, often on recreation and conservation work. (The work is in partnership with ProjectScotland, which promotes volunteering, particularly in the 16-25 year age group. Forest volunteers also include older people and people with a wide range of abilities.) Training opportunities were offered to assist personal development and future employment prospects. We now aim to expand the project to 70 places. Respond to increasing Yes We have a number of successful public interest in our community woodlands projects, activities. including the Cree Valley, Balloch and Bellsbank community woodlands, and the Penfield Project We operate an Environment Panel (sometimes called ‘Forest Forum’) that brings together individuals form a range of local organisations, including community councils to advise us on our plans. This has greatly added value to our work.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Scottish Forestry Strategy Priority for Action 5: To help communities benefit from woods and forests

Target description and Target Comments Should this target planned achievement date achieved be updated and (yes/no/ carried forward to partial)? new district strategic plan? Promote opportunities for Yes Over the strategic plan period, we other activities on forest have introduced and developed land. mountain biking as a significant outdoor activity in the district, though our 7stanes projects.We have successfully formed a broad partnership with local tourism businesses, which helped us prepare the Galloway Forest Park tourism and interpretative strategies. We are working with a number of business that use Galloway Forest Park as a backdrop or resource for their businesses, e.g. mountain bike hire and bus tours We organise events and assist others to organise events, especially in the Forest Park, e.g. ‘spooky’ Halloween walks and battle re-enactments. In keeping with Scottish Executive policies on renewable energy, we have assisted windfarm developers to progress proposals to the local planning authority. To date, only Arecleoch windfarm has been approved and entered construction. The proposed railhead in Arecleoch, although targeted principally at timber transport, will assist economic development in other sectors in the Barrhill area.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Maintain an efficient and effective organisation

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Manage impact (positive Yes Computer infrastructure and Yes and negative) of staff capability have been information technology. greatly enhanced since 1999. Specialist training has been made available for key staff. Number of GIS users has increased, supported by specialists in the Planning team Basic training is now available on Microsoft programmes for all staff, including attainment of European Computer Driving Licence. Ensure that delivery Yes Improvements in planning, Yes complies with the UK delivery and monitoring have Woodland Assurance been made in keeping with Standard to maintain national corrective action requests certification of sustainable (e.g. thinning). forest management.

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Appendix two: Evaluation of achievements (1999 – 2006) under previous Strategic Plan Maintain an efficient and effective organisation

Target description and Target Comments Should this target be planned achievement date achieved updated and carried (yes/no/ forward to new partial)? district strategic plan? Consult with stakeholders Partial We have had considerable Yes and communities. success in adding value to our work by listening to advice from stakeholders, but there is an element of ‘consultation fatigue’ setting in. We need to work harder to reward stakeholders with evidence of the importance of their input, e.g. we are working with local authorities and Scottish Natural Heritage to consider the value that biosphere reserve status would have for the local economy partly because we hope for greater stakeholder input. We are refocusing our Environment Panel on strategic development issues, rather than simply advising on forest design plans. We are working more closely with local businesses, chiefly in tourism.

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Appendix three: Glossary for forest policy context diagram:

• Business plan: A three year rolling plan which outlines the financial requirements for delivering the work programme in the district. The first year contains a compilation of the costs associated with the relevant work plans. These are then prioritised against the agreed financial targets, which are set at national level and reflect the settlement from the Scottish Government’s spending review. • Forestry Commission policies, guidelines, etc: These are the various internal Forestry Commission policies and guidance on practices across a wide range of activities e.g. operational practice, Health & Safety issues, estate management, etc. • Forest District Strategic Plan: This plan describes how national, regional and corporate strategies will be applied at a local level. The plan identifies Forest Enterprise Scotland policies and priorities in the district and the rationale behind them. • Forest Enterprise Scotland framework document: The plan sets out how Forest Enterprise Scotland will develop and manage the national forest estate in an efficient and environmentally responsible manner to meet government forestry policies, especially the Scottish Forestry Strategy. • Forest plans: These plans relate to individual forests and groups of woodlands. They describe the woodland, place them in context with the surrounding area, and identify issues that are relevant to the woodland or forest. From these objectives are set, long-term felling and re-stocking plans prepared, and opportunities to improve the woodland for nature conservation and recreation are considered. These individual forest plans are subject to formal consultation processes and have to be agreed with the Forestry Commission’s Conservator. The Conservator is independent of Forest Enterprise Scotland and oversees the promotion and regulation of forestry, in both the private as well as public sector, on behalf of the Forestry Commissioners. • Forestry and woodland frameworks: Local forestry frameworks cover more localised areas than indicative forestry strategies and look in more detail at the opportunities for forest expansion. • Indicative forestry strategies: Indicative forestry strategies are prepared by local authorities and identify areas preferred for forestry expansion and areas sensitive to further expansion in respect to a range of issues such as the landscape, natural and cultural heritage, communities and water quality. • Monitoring: This includes a wide range of informal and formal monitoring described more fully in Section 6 and in the strategic plan for the national forest estate. • Regional Forestry Forum: Advises Forestry Commission Scotland on the regional implementation of the Scottish Forestry Strategy and provides a regional perspective on the strategy’s future development.

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Appendix three: Glossary for forest policy context diagram:

• Scottish Forestry Strategy: This is the Scottish Government’s framework for taking forestry forward in Scotland. It sets out a vision that “By the second half of this century, people are benefiting widely from Scotland’s trees, woodlands and forests, actively engaging with and looking after them for the use and enjoyment of generations to come. The forestry resource has become a central part of our culture, economy and environment.” • Strategic plan for the national forest estate: Defines how Forestry Commission Scotland through its operating arm, Forest Enterprise Scotland, will implement the Scottish Forestry Strategy on the national forest estate. The national strategic plan describes the strategic and operational context; monitoring framework and implementation proposals that guide the district strategic plan. The policies and best practice referred to in the strategic plan for the national forest estate will also be delivered as part of the implementation of the forest district strategic plans. It also provides direction for implementing a repositioning policy that will ensure the nature and distribution of the national forest estate better reflects its role and purpose. • Thematic plans: These include statutory plans e.g. management plans for sites of special scientific interest agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage and scheduled ancient monument management plans agreed with Historic Scotland. There are also local plans for detailing how certain aspects of local management will be delivered and prioritised (see Appendix four). • UK Forestry Standard: This outlines the UK Government’s approach to sustainable forestry in the UK with reference to the European and global protocols for sustainable development. • UK Woodland Assurance Standard: UK Woodland Assurance Standard is a certification standard that reflects the UK Forestry Standard, the guidelines adopted by European Forestry Ministers at Helsinki in 1993, and the Forest Stewardship Council Standard for Great Britain. It provides consumers with independently vetted assurance of quality in respect of the environmental and social implications of forest management. • Work plans: These include operational site plans that are prepared in advance of all major forest operations, i.e. felling, thinning, road construction and re-planting. Work plans draw on forest plans and identify site constraints, risk assessment, opportunities, and areas requiring special protection, etc. • Work programme: This is the work carried out in each financial year, which is mainly derived from the list of work plans that have been approved in the business plan. It will also include unforeseen or emergency work that arises in the year.

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Appendix four: List of local thematic plans, management plans and guidance notes

Plan Date Revision Comments produced planned* Arran Moors Special Protection Area 2009 2014 Partnership input Business Continuity Plan 2008 Annual Central / FD responsibility Chemical Minimisation Strategy 2008 2013 FD Community Engagement Policy 2008 2013 FD Local Health & Safety Policy Statement 2008 Annual FD Broadleaf Woodland & Open Space Policy 2008 2013 FD Deadwood Management Policy 2008 2013 FD Deer Management Plan 2008 Annual Deer Management Officer Fencing Policy 2008 2013 FD Feral Goat Policy 2008 2013 Deer Management Officer Production Plan 2009 2014 FD Invasive Species Plan 2008 2013 FD Monitoring Plan 2009 Annual FD Non-timber Forest Products 2008 2013 FD Pollution Control Policy 2009 2014 FD Stump Treatment Policy 2008 2013 FD Timber Procurement Policy 2008 2013 FD Whole Tree Harvesting Policy 2008 2013 FD Education Plan 2008 2013 FD

*Any significant policy change may bring this date forward.

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Appendix four: List of local thematic plans, management plans and guidance notes

Plan Date Revision Comments produced planned* Tree Safety Policy 2008 2012 FD Lone Working Policy 2009 Annual FD Recreation Plan 2008 2013 FD Implementation Plan 2009 2014 FD Forest design plans Various 5 years 63 plans. 10 years for resubmission Management plans for sites of special Various 5 years 16 plans. Scottish scientific interest Natural Heritage input Management plans for scheduled ancient Various 5 years 41 plans. Historic monuments Scotland input. Strategic Plan 2009 2014 FD Volunteering Policy 2009 Annual FD Biodiversity Plan 2010 Annual Pending template

*Any significant policy change may bring this date forward.

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Appendix five: Portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate

Introduction The portfolio analysis of the national forest estate is concerned with the current condition of individual forest design plan units or forest blocks, not our aspirations for them or what we believe their untapped potential might be. Although the scoring system is recognised as being imperfect, it represents a reasonable approximation of the relative strategic importance across our land portfolio. When applying the economic and non-market scoring set out below it is very important that district staff are as objective as possible. The system was developed following piloting work at four forest districts (Cowal & Trossachs, Galloway, Moray, Tay) on the application of the scoring system. This was then tested across all districts in Scotland and then refined or amended in response to feedback. It was further refined following a series of meetings between clusters of neighbouring districts and Forest Enterprise Scotland Management Board members, which also provided a national overview that the array of scores made sense both within and between districts. The final version of the scoring system is set out below. The absolute score achieved by a forest district plan unit is not particularly important, it is the positioning of units relative to each other which is of value in understanding where management time and resources should be best directed for maximum positive effect. Note – we set out to ensure the ratings allow managers to make objective, repeatable assessments based on existing data sets. Inevitably, a few grey areas remain and we flag up that habitat network and landscape ratings will require further definition in due course. (please see appendix one for map to accompany spreadsheet at appendix five)

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Appendix five: Portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate

Economic scoring Score Harvesting surplus (clearfell and thinning) >£5/tonne profit 10 – based on 2006 market conditions <£5/tonne profit 6 (Note: 10 year horizon for harvesting activity, if harvesting Break even 3 is expected in that period then use best estimate of expected <£5/tonne loss 1 profit or loss/tonne. A block with no potential for commercial harvesting should score 0.) >£5/tonne loss 0 Establishment and maintenance costs Lower than the forest district 4 average (Note: Establishment and maintenance to include all expenditure up to year 10 needed to establish crops. Remember to include Forest districtD average 2 whole forest design plan issues such as boundary fencing Higher than the forest district 0 maintenance costs.) average

Capital road cost Fully roaded 10 (new and upgrade over next 10 years) < 2 km to build 7 (A block with no potential for commercial harvesting and, 2 km to < 5 km to build 5 therefore, no plans for capital road investment should score 0.) 5 km to < 10 km to build 2 10 km and over to build 0 Other income generation >£250k pa 10 (Notes - other income to include estates development, recreation, £101-250k pa 6 etc. Development opportunities that have a signed option £51-100k pa 3 agreement can be included in the current economic analysis.) £11-50k pa 2 £1-10k pa 1 <£1k pa 0

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Appendix five: Portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate

Non-market benefits scoring

Score Conservation designations SAC/SSSI >100ha 10 (Note: The presence of the designation is not sufficient to merit a UK HAP > 50% 6 high score. The forest design plan must be positively contributing UK HAP 20-50% 4 to the enhancement of the site condition relative to the notified conservation interest. Area in hectares relates to area in Forest SAC/SSSI 20-100ha 3 Enterprise Scotland management.) SAC/SSSI <20ha or HAP <20% 1 No designations or HAPs 0 SAP Species > 5 species 10 (As highlighted in Forestry Commission Scotland biodiversity 4 - 5 species 8 strategy – red squirrel, capercaillie, black grouse, pearl-bordered 3 species 6 fritillary butterfly, chequered skipper butterfly, juniper, Scottish wood ant, Wilson’s pouchwort, twinflower, small cow wheat.) 2 species 3 1 species 1 None 0 Native tree species 51-100% 10 (Note: Native species – this refers to tree species cover of the 21-50% 6 forested portion of the forest design plan unit. Anticipates drive 11-20% 4 for greater reliance on native species from Scottish Forestry Strategy and Environment Peer Review Group.) 6-10% 2 1-5% 1 <1% 0

Legend HAP = habitat action plan, NSA = national scenic area; SAC = special area of conservation; SAM = scheduled ancient monument; SAP = species action plan, SFS = Scottish Forestry Strategy, SSSI = site of special scientific interest; WIAT = woodlands in and around towns initiative

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Appendix five: Portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate

Non-market benefits scoring (continued)

Score Woodlands in and around towns (WIAT) Large population (>5000)/ 10 well developed facilities (Note – only woodlands falling into the Forestry Commission Scotland WIAT criteria can score any points.) Large population (>5000)/ 8 minimal facilities

Small population (2000- 4 5000)/well developed facilities Small population (2000- 2 5000)/minimal facilities N/A 0 Community engagement Signed agreement 5 (including schools) User group/active 3 participation

Consultation/information 1 No engagement 0 Recreation >250k visits pa 10 (Note – visitor numbers must be verifiable from counters and/or 101-250k visits pa 8 intercept surveys or be based on sound local knowledge.) 51-100k visits pa 5 11-50k visits pa 3 1-10k visits pa 2 <1k visits pa 1 No visits 0

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Appendix five: Portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate

Non-market benefits scoring (continued)

Score Habitat network Significant component 5 (>25%) of an existing core (*Core habitat area defined as regionally significant (>10,000 habitat area* ha), relatively contiguous, contains at least 20% native species in woodland element and/or at least 80% native species in open Component (10-25%) of an 3 land element.) existing core habitat area Contributor to functional 2 connectivity of (or from) the core habitat area or important local habitat network Little or no existing 0 contribution to habitat networks

Landscape National Park – helps create 10 sense of place

National scenic area (NSA) 8 – helps create sense of place Positive backdrop to 5 significant town (>10,000) National Park – positive 3 contributor NSA/Designed landscapes – 2 positive contributor Positive backdrop to town 1 (>2000)/ major tourism route No positive impact in the 0 landscape

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Appendix five: Portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate

Non-market benefits scoring (continued)

Score Thinnable 51-100% 5 (Note: Thinnable area – the area of forest which has been 21-50% 3 thinned or is programmed for thinning in the next 10 years. 5-20% 2 This essentially reflects the amount of flexibility available to apply low impact systems and as a consequence deliver <5% 0 non-market benefits.)

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Appendix five: Portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate

Forest block H+M Est & Roads Oth Total Cons BAP Native WIAT Community Recreation FHN NP/NSA Thin Total Maint income economic designation species tree species NMB score score Laurieston 10 4 10 1 25 0 3 1 0 3 3 2 2 2 16

Glencaird hill 10 4 10 1 25 0 3 2 0 1 1 0 0 3 10

Corriedoo 10 2 10 1 23 0 6 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 11

Kirroughtree 10 2 10 1 23 0 3 4 4 3 8 0 1 5 28

Glenwhan 10 2 10 1 23 0 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 11

Drumjohn 10 2 10 1 23 0 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 8

Bennan 10 4 7 1 22 0 3 1 0 0 3 5 1 3 16

Arecleoch 6 2 7 10 25 0 6 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 10

Girvan Road 10 4 7 1 22 0 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 8

Queensway 10 2 7 1 20 10 3 1 0 1 8 2 1 0 26

Minniwick 10 2 7 1 20 0 3 4 0 5 3 0 1 3 19

Penninghame 10 4 5 1 20 4 1 2 0 1 3 0 0 2 13

Round Fell 10 2 7 1 20 10 6 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 20

Eriff & Bellsbank 10 2 7 1 20 0 3 1 4 5 2 0 1 2 18

Changue 10 2 7 1 20 0 3 1 0 1 3 5 0 2 15

Auchenvey / Garcrogo 10 2 7 1 20 0 3 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 7

Rowantree 10 2 7 1 20 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 5

Kirriedarroch 6 2 10 1 19 0 1 2 0 5 3 3 1 2 17

Finlas 6 2 10 1 19 0 1 1 0 1 1 3 0 3 10

Merton Hall 6 2 10 1 19 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 4

Lamachan 10 2 5 1 18 0 1 1 0 1 2 3 0 2 10

Creetown 6 0 10 1 17 0 3 10 0 5 2 0 0 5 25

Castlemaddy 10 4 2 1 17 10 3 1 0 1 1 3 0 2 21

Fleet Basin 10 4 2 1 17 10 1 1 0 1 2 3 0 0 18

Tairlaw 6 2 7 1 16 0 3 1 0 1 2 2 0 2 11

Auchleand 6 2 7 1 16 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 8

Knockbain etc 6 2 7 1 16 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 0

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Appendix five: Portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate

Forest block H+M Est & Roads Oth Total Cons BAP Native WIAT Community Recreation FHN NP/NSA Thin Total Maint income economic designation species tree species NMB score score Clatteringshaws 10 2 2 1 15 0 6 1 0 0 7 3 1 0 18

Fleet Oak woods 3 0 10 1 14 6 6 10 0 3 3 0 8 5 41

Kilsture 3 0 10 1 14 6 6 10 0 3 3 0 0 5 33

Torrs Warren 6 0 7 1 14 10 6 1 0 3 3 0 0 5 28

Barhill 3 0 10 1 14 0 6 4 4 1 3 0 1 5 24

Carrick 10 2 0 1 13 0 6 1 0 1 2 3 0 2 15

Kilgallioch 3 2 7 1 13 0 3 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 7

Loch Trool 3 0 7 1 11 10 3 2 0 5 5 5 1 0 31

Brigton 6 2 2 1 11 0 3 2 0 5 3 3 0 2 18

Carrick Forest Drive 6 2 0 1 9 10 3 1 0 1 3 5 0 0 23

Shalloch 6 2 0 1 9 10 1 1 0 0 2 5 0 0 19

White Clauchrie 6 2 0 1 9 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3

Knock of Luce 3 2 2 1 8 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4

Auldcraigoch 3 2 2 1 8 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3

Moss of Cree 1 0 5 1 7 3 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7

Gala Lane 3 2 0 1 6 10 3 1 0 0 2 5 0 0 21

Tannylaggie 3 0 2 1 6 4 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 2 11

Back Hill of Bush 3 0 0 1 4 10 6 1 0 0 2 5 0 0 24

Patna 10 4 5 0 19 1 1 1 4 5 3 0 1 2 18

N Kyle 10 4 5 10 29 1 3 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 9

S Kyle 10 4 0 1 15 1 3 1 0 1 2 3 0 2 13

Pencloe 10 4 2 1 17 1 3 0 0 1 1 3 0 2 11

Arran South 6 4 2 0 12 10 1 1 0 5 3 2 1 0 23

Arran Central 6 4 2 0 12 10 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 16

Merkland 6 4 0 0 10 6 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 12

Sannox 6 4 7 0 17 6 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 10

Machrie/Torr Righ 0 2 2 0 4 10 1 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 16

Legend BAP = biodiversity action plan; FHN = forest habitat network; H+M = harvesting and management, , NMB = non- market benefits, NP = national park, NSA = national scenic areas; WIAT = woodlands in and around towns initiative

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Appendix five: Portfolio analysis scoring on the national forest estate

GALLOWAY FOREST DISTRICT - PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS SCORING BY FOREST BLOCK

35

30 North Kyle

Forest Block

25 Laurieston

Glenwhan Kirroughtree Bennan

20 Queensway Patna Lamachan Creetown Tairlaw 15 Fleet Oakwoods Carrick ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Loch Trool 10 White Clauchrie Carrick Forest Drive

Tannylaggie 5 Backhill of Bush

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 NON-MARKET BENEFITS

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Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the forestry directorate of the Scottish Government and is responsible to Scottish Ministers Contact Galloway Forest District Creebridge Newton Stewart DG8 6AJ Tel: 01415 555812 Fax: 01671 403708 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland

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Published by - Forestry Commission Scotland - December 2009 © Crown Copyright 2009

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