GLEN NEVIS 2015-2025 FC Reference: 030/519/406
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Lochaber Forest District Land Management Plan GLEN NEVIS 2015-2025 FC Reference: 030/519/406 1 | GLEN NEVIS FDP | Ben Lennon | Created on 07/04/2015 09:01:00 GLEN NEVIS: Land Management Plan 2015-2025 7. I undertake to obtain any permissions necessary for the implementation of the approved Plan. Lochaber Forest District GLEN NEVIS Land Management Plan FOREST ENTERPRISE - Application for Land Management Plan Approvals in Scotland Forest Enterprise - Property Signed Signed Forest District: Lochaber Woodland or property name: Glen Nevis Nearest town, village or locality: Fort William OS Grid reference: NN 1193 6838 Local Authority district/unitary Highland Council Conservator Areas for approval (Ha) Forest District Manager Conifer Broadleaf Open space Date Date Clear felling 209.5 Selective felling 5/4/2015 Restocking 59.5 Open space 30 Natural regeneration 60 60 Approval date Approval ends New planting (complete appendix 4) 48 113 1. I apply for Forest Design Plan approval for the property described above and in the enclosed Forest Design Plan. 3. I confirm that the initial scoping of the plan was carried out with FC staff on 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 the FC 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 design 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. 2 | GLEN NEVIS FDP | Ben Lennon | Created on 07/04/2015 09:01:00 GLEN NEVIS: Land Management Plan 2015-2025 5.7 Management of open land 5.8 New Planting Contents 5.9 Deer management Summary of Proposals Support documents: Maps 1.0 Introduction: • Location map 1.1 History of the forest • Survey maps 2.0 Analysis of previous plan • Site Analysis map • Design Concept map 3.0 Background information • Management Map 3.1 Physical site factors (egs of sub headings below) 3.1.1 Geology Soils and landform • Future species map 3.1.2 Water • 3D Visualisations 3.1.3 Climate 3.2 Biodiversity and environmental designations Appendices: 3.3 The existing forest: i) Deer Management Plan 3.3.1 Age structure, species and yield class ii) Tolerance table 3.3.2 Access 3.3.3 Silvicultural systems 3.3.4 Current and potential markets 3.4 Landscape and land use 3.4.1 Landscape character and value Planning 3.4.2 Visibility 3.4.3 Neighbouring land use 3.5 Social factors 3.5.1 Recreation 3.5.2 Community 3.5.3 Heritage 3.6 Statutory requirements 4.0 Analysis and Concept 4.1 Analysis 4.2 Concepts of the plan 5.0 Forest Design Plan Proposals 5.1 Management 5.2 Future habitats and species 5.3 Restructuring 5.4 Species tables 5.5 Age structure 5.6 PAWS restoration 3 | GLEN NEVIS FDP | Ben Lennon | Created on 07/04/2015 09:01:00 GLEN NEVIS: Land Management Plan 2015-2025 Summary of Proposals Felling of 209.5 hectares of commercial conifer timber over the next ten years. No new roads or major upgrades will be required over this period. Emphasis on restocking the lower slopes and better soils with commercial conifer including Norway spruce, Sitka spruce, Douglas fir and Scots pine. Restructure forest margins at Cow Hill and the far end of the glen to improve the integration with the surrounding landscape. Emphasis on creating a better woodland upper margin of upland birch and native pinewood to blend better with the surrounding landscape. Maintenance and enhancement of grazed areas of cattle and sheep to benefit habitats for hen harrier, black grouse, pearl-bordered fritillary and chequered skipper. Retention of Scots pine stands to retain a seed source for natural regeneration and provide habitat for red squirrels. Expand area of new woodland including 143 hectares of new native woodland and 18 of new commercial conifer woodland. 4 | GLEN NEVIS FDP | Ben Lennon | Created on 07/04/2015 09:01:00 GLEN NEVIS: Land Management Plan 2015-2025 1.0 Introduction: The area is shown on Timothy Pont’s maps of Lochaber dating from around 1.1 History of the forest 1600. The area is not shown in detail but some woodland is indicated along the lower reaches of the River Nevis. The Forestry Commission landholding around Roy’s map of the highlands Glen Nevis comprises 2521 hectares of shows virtually no woodland woodland and open hill to the south of Fort beyond the immediate riparian William. The current extent of the landholding zone of the rivers. Some form of has been created over a period of time. The cultivation is shown along the earliest acquisition began 1924 followed by a length of the glen on the lower series of acquisitions and disposals over ground. The Ordnance Survey of subsequent decades. The latest of these has 1885-1900 similarly shows little been the purchase of 1500 Ha of Blar a woodland other than that along Chaorainn to the south in 2013. The area is isolated burns. situated to the south and east of Fort William and faces the principal approach to Ben Nevis. The area comprises around 1000 Ha of commercial forest and 1500 of open hill and mountain. Within this are remnants of native woodland and native Scots pine. Roy’s map of the Highlands 1747-52 Acquisition of Glen Nevis by FC OS 1” 1885-1900 Timothy Pont’s map of Lochaber c. 1600. 5 | GLEN NEVIS FDP | Ben Lennon | Created on 07/04/2015 09:01:00 GLEN NEVIS: Land Management Plan 2015-2025 3.0 Background information 2.0 Analysis of previous plan 3.1 Physical site factors 2.1 Aims of previous plan and achievements Producing wood and marketing timber 3.1.1 Geology Soils and landform Majority of fellings completed. Some outstanding coupes currently in the The underlying geology of Glen Nevis is Dalriadic metamorphic rocks, programme. One has been withdrawn due to access issues but may be varying in nature from acidic white quartzites to schists and base-rich reprogrammed as these are addressed. metamorphic limestone. The Grampian Highlands, to which Glen Nevis Managing or regenerating forests and woodlands. belongs, are the worn down remnants of an ancient mountain range which Previous plan has improved diversification and more diverse forest. have been sculpted and polished by the relatively recent glaciation of the Enhancing the landscape. quaternary period. Glen Nevis itself is a classic broad U-shaped valley with Felling of coupes along the principle road through Glen Nevis has improved truncated crags, steep sided valleys, hanging valleys and corries that are the quality of the landscape for visitors along the glen. It has also typically associated with glacial landscapes. Although there are some area improved views out from the forest road. Some of the felling coupes have of base rich-relatively free draining soils on the upper slopes, much of the been carried out and dropped over a long period of time and this has site is covered by peaty gleys or peats. Soil type, however, changes resulted in poor landscape quality in places for a number of years. rapidly across the site due to the complexity of the landform and Maintaining and creating new wildlife habitat. underlying geology, so there are pockets of much drier well drained soil Some sites programmed for restock have regenerated and this has been surrounded by wetter, less stable areas. In order to assist in the recruited and incorporated into the design. Some of the felling coupes silvicultural potential of this area the Forestry Commission carried out a soil have also been amended in order to retain areas of Scots pine. Grazing on survey across the main Cow Hill has benefited the habitat for chequered skipper. part of the site. Providing public recreation. Facilities have been maintained to a high standard although the West Higland way is showing signs of deterioration due to wear and tear and The landform is complex. increasing pressure. Braveheart car park has also suffered from storm The area is defined by the damage and high usage. Walks around this area remain very popular. catchments of the River Conserving archaeological features. Kiachnish to the west and Known features have been conserved during forest operations. Felling River Nevis to the east. around Dun Deardail has improved the quality of the experience in this The FC land area area. The restock patter has sought to maintain the character of the area. comprises a long north- south ridge dividing these catchments. To the south the ridge sweeps east to 2.2 How previous plan relates to today’s objectives the south of Ben Nevis. Managing recreation, managing and regenerating forest and woodlands and enhancement of the landscape were seen as high priorities in the previous To the east the ridge is plan. These remain high priorities in this sensitive location. defined by steep corries Timber production and creation of new wildlife habitats will remain as and incised burns. To the medium priorities. west the fall into the glen Conservation of archaeological features was previously a low priority. is less severe.