LOCH KATRINE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT October 2007 Revised October 2008 CONTENTS Non-technical summary ...........................................................................................1-22 Acknowledgements..................................................................................................... 22 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 23 1.1 Location of the Site................................................................................ 23 1.2 Background to the Site........................................................................... 23 1.2.2 Integrated Catchment Management.............................................................. 24 1.2.3 Current site management.............................................................................. 25 1.2.4 Past woodland work..................................................................................... 25 1.3 Objectives for the Land.......................................................................... 26 1.4 Works Proposed under this Environmental Statement........................... 27 1.5 The Environmental Statement................................................................ 28 1.6 Scoping Meeting .................................................................................... 29 2. SITE DESCRIPTION........................................................................................ 31 2.1 General Description ............................................................................... 31 2.2 Policy Context, Statutory and Other Designations ................................ 33 2.2.1 Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park (LL&TNP) Policies ... 33 2.2.2 Strategic Forestry and Woodland Policy Context............................ 35 2.2.3 Landscape Designations................................................................... 36 2.2.4 Conservation Designations ............................................................... 36 2.3 Climate ................................................................................................... 37 2.4 Elevation and Aspect ............................................................................. 38 2.5 Geology.................................................................................................. 38 2.6 Soils........................................................................................................ 39 2.7 Geomorphology and Topography .......................................................... 39 2.7.1 Glacial features ................................................................................ 39 2.7.2 Rock Slip Failure (RSF) Complexes................................................ 40 2.7.3 Topography ...................................................................................... 40 2.8 Water Quality and Hydrology................................................................ 41 2.8.1 Water quality.................................................................................... 41 2.8.2 Hydrological Yield........................................................................... 42 2.8.3 Land Use Change Impacts on Water Yield ...................................... 42 2.9 Non-woodland Habitats and Plant Communities................................... 43 2.9.1 Extent of survey information ........................................................... 43 2.9.2 Habitats and communities (non-woodland) ...................................... 44 2.9.3 Bryophytes and Fungi ...................................................................... 46 2.10 Existing trees and woodlands................................................................. 47 2.10.1 Woodland Types and distribution.................................................... 47 2.10.2 Past Management and Regeneration Potential................................ 50 2.11 Birds ....................................................................................................... 51 2.12 Other Fauna............................................................................................ 54 2.12.1 Mammals and Reptiles..................................................................... 54 2.12.2 Invertebrates ..................................................................................... 55 2.13 Historical context and land use .............................................................. 56 2.14 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology ....................................................... 58 i 2.14.1 Historic land Use Assessment (HLUA) ........................................... 58 2.14.2 Survey Information .......................................................................... 58 2.15 Tourism and recreational use of the site ................................................ 60 2.15.1 Tourism and tourist facilities ........................................................... 60 2.15.2 Existing paths and links ................................................................... 61 2.15.3 Links to long distance routes outside the catchment........................ 62 2.16 Landscape Character Assessment .......................................................... 63 3. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSALS ................................................................... 69 3.1 Location ................................................................................................. 69 3.1.1 Bracken Control ............................................................................... 69 3.1.2 Deer Control and Protection ............................................................ 69 3.1.3 New Planting.................................................................................... 69 3.1.4 Natural Regeneration ....................................................................... 70 3.1.5 Woodland Management ................................................................... 70 3.1.6 Removal of Non-native Species....................................................... 70 3.1.7 Conifer Felling and Conifer Retentions........................................... 70 3.1.8 Access Works................................................................................... 71 3.1.9 Grazing............................................................................................. 71 3.2 Area Statement....................................................................................... 71 3.3 Alternative optionsfor the site and choice of current proposals............. 72 3.4 Plan Proposals ........................................................................................ 74 3.4.1 Bracken Control ............................................................................... 75 3.4.2 Deer control and Protection ............................................................. 75 3.4.3 Species Choice ................................................................................. 75 3.4.4 Ground Preparation.......................................................................... 77 3.4.5 Planting ............................................................................................ 77 3.4.6 Fertilizer........................................................................................... 78 3.4.7 Weeding ........................................................................................... 78 3.4.8 Natural Regeneration ....................................................................... 78 3.4.9 Woodland Management ................................................................... 79 3.4.10 Removal of Non-native Species....................................................... 79 3.4.11 Conversion of Conifer Areas to Native Woodland and PAWS Restoration ....................................................................................... 79 3.4.12 Landscape Design ............................................................................ 80 3.4.13 Protection of Archaeological Features............................................. 82 3.4.14 Access Work .................................................................................... 83 3.4.15 Grazing............................................................................................. 86 3.4.16 Monitoring ....................................................................................... 87 3.5 Work Methods and Design .................................................................... 87 3.5.1 Bracken Control ............................................................................... 87 3.5.2 Deer Control and Protection ............................................................ 88 3.5.3 Species Choice and Planting Stock.................................................. 89 3.5.4 Ground Preparation.......................................................................... 89 3.5.5 Planting ............................................................................................ 89 3.5.6 Fertilizer........................................................................................... 90 3.5.7 Weeding ........................................................................................... 90 3.5.8 Natural Regeneration ....................................................................... 91 ii 3.5.9 Woodland Management ................................................................... 91 3.5.10 Removal of Non-native Species....................................................... 91 3.5.11 Treatment of Conifer Areas and PAWS Restoration ......................