Glen Croe, Rest & Be Thankful LMP 2018-2028 Cowal and Trossachs Forest District Glen Croe, Rest & Be Thankful Land Management Plan (LMP) Woodland Creation Project Approval date: *** Plan Reference No: **** Plan Approval Date: ***** Plan Expiry Date: ****** 1 | Glen Croe R & B T LMP | Author name | Draft 1 February 2018 Glen Croe, Rest & Be Thankful LMP 2018-2028 FOREST ENTERPRISE - Application for Land Management Plan Approvals in Scotland Forest Enterprise - Property Forest District: Cowal & Trossachs Woodland or property name: Glen Croe, Rest & be Thankful Nearest town, village or locality: Arrochar OS Grid reference: NN 240 070 Local Authority district/unitary Authority: Argyll & Bute Council / LLTNP Areas for approval Conifer Broadleaf Clear felling Selective felling Restocking New planting (complete appendix 4) 200.83Ha 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 and afforestation as detailed in my application. 3. I confirm that the initial scoping of the plan was carried out with FC staff on 23rd October 2015. 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 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…………………………………… Forest District Manager Conservator District …Cowal & Trossachs FD Conservancy…………………………………… Date Date of Approval…………………………………… Date approval ends ……………………………….. 2 | Glen Croe R & B T LMP | Author name | Draft 1 February 2018 Glen Croe, Rest & Be Thankful LMP 2018-2028 FOREST ENTERPRISE - Application for Approval of New Planting 1. Forest Enterprise – Property Forest District: Cowal & Trossachs Woodland or property name: Glen Croe, Rest & be Thankful Nearest town, village or locality: Arrochar OS Grid reference: NN 240 070 Local Authority district/unitary Argyll & Bute Council / LLTNP 2. Proposed areas to nearest tenth of a hectare New Planting 200.83 Open Ground Existing woodland Total 3. Special areas and protected land Designation Area Name or Number Comments 4. Proposal details of new planting Area Name or Gross P Year Spp Area Open Comments number Area (Ha) Ground (Ha) (Ha) Acquisition Area 161.5 2020 NBL 161.5 0 See Map M6 in the LMP. High density continuous planting required for slope stability. Rock outcrops will be left unplanted. Wider area of open hill land that will be unplanted but may regenerate extends to 562Ha. FES Holding: Glen 39.3 2023 NBL 31.5 7.8 See Map M6 in the LMP. Croe Slope stability is still important but 20% OG 3 | Glen Croe R & B T LMP | Author name | Draft 1 February 2018 Glen Croe, Rest & Be Thankful LMP 2018-2028 Area Name or Gross P Year Spp Area Open Comments number Area (Ha) Ground (Ha) (Ha) will be used to buffer paths, archaeology and features of ecological interest. Area forms part of the open ground on the Glen Croe FES unit. I apply for Authority to plant as above and as shown on the attached map. I undertake to obtain the necessary permissions from the appropriate statutory body before commencing work under any approval which is granted. Signed Signed Forest District Manager Conservator District Cowal & Trossachs FD Date …………………………………....... Date approval ends: ……………………………………… 4 | Glen Croe R & B T LMP | Author name | Draft 1 February 2018 Environmental Impact Assessment 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- Proposed Area in Proposed Work select select hectares Conifer leaves work hectares Forest Afforestation 200.8 100 0.47 roads Forest Deforestation quarry Location of work Glen Croe, Rest & be Thankful. Cowal & Trossachs FD 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. The LMP details the proposed work and issues considered. Map M6 shows the proposed woodland creation area with species and map M7 shows the proposed quad bike tracks required to facilitate the woodland creation. No forest roads are proposed, only quad bike tracks. Provide details on the existing land use and the environmental sensitivity of the area that is likely to be affected by the forestry project. The existing landuse is upland sheep and cattle grazing on the acquisition area and open ungrazed hill within the existing NFE. The area lies within the LLTNP and has a potentially high visual impact. Along the Croe Water recreation and access to the high tops are important, with the wildness character of the area increasing towards the high tops. Slope instability and the associated impacts on key transport infrastructure is perhaps the key environmental consideration. The current land use is contributing to slope instability which the proposal is designed to address. 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 1 Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Opinion Request Form extent of the information available to assist you with this assessment. The LMP provides full details. Slope stabilisation, landscape & recreation are the most significant impacts. The project was fully scoped and the design principles relating to slope stability are supported by two site specific reports undertaken by Forest Research and Transport Scotland. Landscape and recreation have been considered by a landscape appraisal, the use of Prospect visualisation software and consultation with the LLTNP & Moutaineering Scotland to fine tune the detailed location of fences, gates and interpretation. 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. See Consultation record in LMP Appendix 2 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. As detailed in the LMP the design mitigates the negatives and strengthens the positive impacts on the site by using best design practice in relation to landscape and fine tuning of the proposed tracks and fencelines to limit adverse impacts on recreation. The establishment will be achieved without mechanised ground prep, and will consist of appropriate NBL species flat planted or hand screefed. Using NBL and no ground prep greatly reduces the potential for adverse impacts on a wide range of features. Limited areas of archaeology (Shieling Hut groups) have been identified on site and the planting and track formation will apply appropriate buffers to protect these features. 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) 201 Select... Select... Select... Select... Property Details Property Name: Rest & be Thankful 2 Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Opinion Request Form Business Reference Main Location n/a n/a Number: Code: Grid Reference: Nearest town NN 240 070 Arrochar (e.g. NH 234 567) or locality: Local Authority: Argyll & Bute/LLTNP Owner’s Details Title: Mr Forename: J Surname: Hair Organisation: FCS. Cowal & Position: Planning Manager Trossachs District Primary Contact 03000676600 Alternative Contact 07764838735 Number: Number: Email: [email protected] Address: Aberfoyle, Stirling Postcode: FK8 3UX Country: Scotland 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