Land Management Plan Loch Eck Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 Forestry and Land Scotland Central Region Loch Eck Land Management Plan Approval date: Plan Reference No: Plan Approval Date: Plan Expiry Date: 1 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 2 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 CSM 6 Appendix 1b FOREST AND LAND SCOTLAND - Application for Land Management Plan Approvals in Scotland Forest and Land Scotland - Property Region: Central Woodland or property name: Loch Eck Nearest town, village or locality: Glenbranter OS Grid reference: NS140920 Local Authority district/unitary Authority: LLTNP Areas for approval Conifer Broadleaf Clear felling 207ha Selective felling Restocking 99ha 91ha New planting (complete appendix 4) 1. I apply for Land Management Plan approval for the property described above and in the enclosed Land Management Plan. 2. I apply for an opinion under the terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 for roads, tracks and quarries as detailed in my application. 3. I confirm that the initial scoping of the plan was carried out with FLS staff on 16th January 2018. 4. I confirm that the proposals contained in this plan comply with the UK Forestry Standard. 5. I confirm that the scoping, carried out and documented in the Consultation Record attached, incorporated those stakeholders which SF agreed must be included. 6. I confirm that consultation and scoping has been carried out with all relevant stakeholders over the content of the of the land management plan. Consideration of all of the issues raised by stakeholders has been included in the process of plan preparation and the outcome recorded on the attached consultation record. I confirm that we have informed all stakeholders about the extent to which we have been able to address their concerns and, where it has not been possible to fully address their concerns, we have reminded them of the opportunity to make further comment during the public consultation process. 7. I undertake to obtain any permissions necessary for the implementation of the approved Plan. Signed … Signed…………………………………… Regional Manager Conservator Region Central Conservancy……………………………………Central Scotland 27 November 2019 Date of Approval…………………………………28 July 2020 Date approval ends.…………………………28 July 2030 3 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 4 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 E vi t l p t Screening Opinion Request Form Please complete this form to find out if you need consent from Forestry Commission Scotland, under the Forestry (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017, to carry out your proposed forestry project. Please refer to Schedule 2 Selection Criteria for Screening Forestry Projects under Applying for an opinion. If you are not sure about what information to include on this form please contact your local Conservancy office. Proposed Work Please put a cross in the box to indicate the type of work you are proposing to carry out. Give the area in hectares and where appropriate the percentage of conifers and broadleaves Area in % % Broad- Propose Area in Proposed Work select select hectare Conifer leaves d work hectares s Forest Afforestation 4.9 roads Forest Deforestation quarr y Location of work Loch Eck Land Management Plan Description of Forestry Project and Location Provide details of the forestry project (size, design, use of natural resources such as soil, and the cumulative effect if relevant). Please attach map(s) showing the boundary of the proposed work and other known details. See section 3.0 and maps M14a and M14b Provide details on the existing land use and the environmental sensitivity of the area that is likely to be affected by the forestry project. These are described in appendix II of the plan 5 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 Description of Likely Significant Effects Provide details on any likely significant effects that the project will have on the environment (resulting from the project itself or the use of natural resources) and the extent of the information available to assist you with this assessment. See section 3.0 of the plan Include details of any consultees or stakeholders that you have contacted in order to make this assessment. Please include any relevant correspondence you have received from them. Mitigation of Likely Significant Effects If you believe there are likely significant effects that the project will have on the environment, provide information on the opportunities you have taken to mitigate these effects. See section 3.0 of the plan. Sensitive Areas Please indicate if any of the proposed forestry project is within a sensitive area. Choose the sensitive area from the drop down below and give the area of the proposal within it. Sensitive Area Area National Park (NP) 4.9ha Select... Property Details Property Name: Loch Eck Business Reference Main Location Number: Code: Grid Reference: Nearest town NS140920 Glenbranter (e.g. NH 234 567) or locality: Local Authority: LLTNP 6 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 Owner’s Details Title: Ms Forename: Shirley Surname: Leek Organisation: Forestry and Land Position: Planning Manager Scotland Primary Contact 0131 370 5674 Alternative Contact Number: Number: Email: [email protected] Address: Forestry and Land Scotland Aberfoyle Postcode: FK8 3UX Country: Is this the correspondence address? Yes Agent’s Details Title: Forename: Surname: Organisation: Position: Primary Contact Alternative Contact Number: Number: Email: Address: Postcode: Country: Is this the correspondence address? Select... Office Use Only GLS Ref number: 7 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 8 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 Contents 1.0 Summary 2.0 Legal and Regulatory Requirements 2.1 Summary of planned operations 2.2 Proposed felling in years 2021 - 2030 2.3 Proposed thinning in years 2021 – 2030 2.4 Proposed restocking in years 2021 – 2030 2.5 Access and roading 2021 – 2030 2.6 Departure from UKFS Guidelines 2.7 Tolerance table 3.0 EIA Screening Determination 3.1 Proposed removal of woodland 3.2 Proposed new roads and upgrading of roads 3.3 Proposed quarries 3.4 Proposed woodland creation 4.0 Introduction 4.1 The existing land holding 4.2 Setting and context 5.0 Plan Objectives 4.1 Whole plan management objectives 6.0 Analysis and Concept 7.0 Land Management Plan Proposals 7.1 Issues 7.2 Key challenges 7.3 Felling and continuous cover forestry (CCF) proposals 7.3.1 Clear felling 7.3.2 Thinning 7.3.3 Continuous cover forestry (CCF) 7.4 Future habitats and species 7.5 Management of open ground 7.6 Other proposals 9 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 8.0 Critical Success Factors 9.0 Management Prescriptions 9.1 Forest Management Types 9.2 Thinning 9.3 Future Habitats and Species 9.4 Operational Access 9.5 Deer Management 9.6 Open Ground Management 9.7 Public Access and Core Paths 9.8 Heritage Features 9.9 PAWS Restoration 9.10 New Woodland Creation Appendices Appendix I: Assessment of success of previous plan Appendix II: Background information II/ 1.0 Physical site factors 1.1 Geology Soils and landform 1.2 Climate 1.3 Water II/2.0 Current land management 2.1 The existing forest 2.1.1 Species, age structure and yield class 2.1.2 Access and roading 2.1.3 CCF potential 2.2 Biodiversity and environmental designations 2.2.1 Habitats and species 2.2.2 Riparian habitat 2.2.3 Invasive species 2.2.4 Pests and diseases 2.3 Landscape, landscape designations and visibility 2.3.1 Landscape Character 2.3.2 Visibility and Viewpoints 2.4 Social factors 10 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 2.4.1 Recreation 2.4.2 Community 2.4.3 Heritage 2.5 Statutory requirements and key external policies Appendix III: Consultation record Appendix IV: Supplementary information Appendix V: Deer management plan Appendix VI: Private water supplies Support documents: Maps Map M1: Location and Viewpoints Map M2a and 2b: Existing Habitats and Species (North and South) Map M3a and M3b: Current Age Class (North and South) Map M4a and M4b: Designations (North and South) Map M5: Roads and Timber Transport Map M6: Recreation Map M7: Slope stability and infrastructure Map M8: Landscape Character Type and Landform Analysis Map M9: Opportunities and Constraints Map M10: Design Concept Map M11a and 11b: Management (North and South) Map M12a and M12b: Thinning (North and South) Map M13a and M13b: Future Habitats and Species (North and South) Map M14a and M14b: Screening opinion request (North and South) Map M15a and M15b: Timber haulage access points (North and South) 3D Visualisations 11 | Loch Eck LMP | Ian Thomas | December 2018 Loch Eck Land Management Plan 2020 – 2029 1.0: Summary The Loch Eck Land Management Plan (LMP) area extends to 1912 Ha, and covers both the west and east shores of Loch Eck in the Cowal Peninsula (Text Map 1). The LMP area lies between Dunoon to the south and Strachur to the north and the A815 runs along the eastern shore. While there are variations in forest type, the general character and issues are similar across the plan area. Loch Eck has both a diverse age class structure and species range and has been extensively restructured. Due to the age class of the crop a period of intensive felling activity during the 1990’s and early 2000’s was followed by a period of lower felling activity.