1 Criffel Land Management Plan 2017 - 2026 1 1 1 Dumfries and Borders Forest District 1 Criffel 1 Land Management Plan 1 1 1 I J J J J Approval date: *** J Plan Reference No: **** J Plan Approval Date: ***** J Plan Expiry Date: ****** J 1 I Criffel Land Management Plan I Alan Gale 2017 - 2026 J Criffel Land Management Plan 2017 - 2026 FORESTENTERPRISE- Application for Forest Design Plan Approvals in Scotland Forest Enterprise - Property Forest District: Dumfries & Borders Forest District Woodland or property name: Criffel Land Management Plan Nearest town, village or locality: New Abbey as Grid reference: NX96316358 Local Authority district/unitary Dumfries and Borders Areas for approval Conifer Broadleaf Felling 27.8ha Restocking 23.9 3.9 1. I apply for Forest Design Plan approval*/amendment approval* for the property described above and in the enclosed Forest Design Plan. 2. * I apply for an opinion under the terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 for afforestation/road building* / quarries* as detailed in my application. 3. I confirm that the initial scoping of the plan was carried out with FC staff in 2016 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 agreement has been reached with all of the stakeholders over the content of the design plan and that there are no outstanding issues to be addressed. Copies of consultee endorsements of the plan are attached. 7. I undertake to obtain any permissions necessary for e implementation of the approved Plan. Signed .~6~ Signed . Forest District Manager onservator District Dumfries & Borders Conservancy South Scotland Date ..(Jlf...!.rr Date .}!ir/(7... Date of Approval Date approval ends: ..~/~~.~~7 2 I Criffel Land Management Plan I Alan Gale 2017 - 2026 1 Criffel Land Management Plan 2017 - 2026 1 UKWAS summary sheet 1 Percentage of Description Location of data 1 Forest block Restock main conifer species SS 24.7 % Forester restock layer Restock other conifers species 29.1% Forester restock layer 1 Open space 21.1% Forester restock layer Native broadleaves 15% Forester restock layer 1 Managed for 25.9ha conservation/biodiversity including Forester management layer NR, MI transition above 1 tree line Long Term Retentions 0% Forester management layer Natural reserve 2.3% Forester management layer We manage Scotland's National Forest Estate to the United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Standard - the standard endorsed in the UK by the international Forest Stewardship Council® and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest ~ Certification. We are independently audited. !J FSC i=)EFC~ www.fsc.org PEFCl16-40-1002 Our land management plans bring together key FS~C011771 PromolingSustamable information, enable us to evaluate options and ForestManagemenl j plan responsibly for the future. We welcome The mark of www.pefc.org comments on these plans at any time. responsible forestry I • J J J J J 3 I Criffel Land Management Plan Alan Gale 2017 - 2026 J Criffel Land Management Plan 2017 - 2026 Contents Summary of Proposals 1.0 Introduction: 1.1 Setting and context 1.2 History of plan 1.3 Planning context 2.0 Analysis of previous plan 3.0 Background information 3.1 Physical site factors 3.1.1 Geology Soils and landform 3.1.2 Water 3.1.3 Climate 3.2 Biodiversity and environmental designations 3.3 The existing forest 3.3.1 Current species 3.3.2 Access 3.3.3 LISS potential 3.3.4 Current and potential markets 3.4 Landscape and landuse 3.4.1 Landscape character and value 3.4.2 Visibility 3.4.3 Neighbouring landuse 3.5 Social factors 3.5.1 Recreation 3.5.2 Community 3.5.3 Heritage 3.6 Deer and Feral Pig 4 I Criffel Land Management Plan I Alan Gale 2017 - 2026 1 Criffel Land Management Plan 2017 - 2026 1 1 4.0 Analysis and Concept 1 4.1 Analysis 4.2 Concept 1 5.0 Forest Design Plan Proposals 5.1 Management Type 1 5.2 Future Habitats and Species 5.3 Restructuring 5.4 Operational Access 1 5.5 Thinning plans 5.6 Deer management and Feral Pigs -1 5.7 Communities and neighbours 5.8 Management of open land 5.9 Public Access and Core paths 1 5.10 Heritage 5.11 PAWS management 5.12 Viewpoints from the Forest I 5.13 Red Squirrels 5.14 Critical success factors Appendices: j I Consultation record II Tolerance table III Background maps j IV Drone photographs V Ecological Site Classification (main species) J J J J 5 I Criffel Land Management Plan Alan Gale 2017 - 2026 J Criffel Land Management Plan 2017 - 2026 Support documents: Maps 1. Location map 2. Design Brief and Analysis and Concept map 3. Management map 4. Future habitats and management 5. Current tree species 6. Core Path maps 7. Landscape Character 8.Scheduled Ancient Monuments 9. Ancient Woodland Inventory 10. Soil map 11. Water Catchments 12. Current Climate data 13.Heritage features 14. Tree Species Suitability maps 15. Thinning Rulesets 16. Designations 17. Flood Risk Map 18. Wind risk map 6 I Criffel Land Management Plan I Alan Gale 2017 - 2026 I 1 Criffel Land Management Plan 2017 - 2026 1 1 Summary of Proposals 1 10 year programme of felling and restocking 1 50+ year plan of coupe type and felling years 50+ year plan of species for the next rotation - given the climate soils and management objectives there is more focus on broadleaves for hardwood and 1 alternative conifers to Sitka Spruce 1 Assigning and committing to nature conservation management via Long Term Retention, Natural Reserve and Minimal Intervention. 1 Focus on Landscape given the designation of NSA. Incorporated is a thinning plan for the current rotation. This thinning plan builds on the previous thinning recently implemented in the conifers but also extends thinning in the broadleaved areas, typically these areas being I managed under CCF management systems. Much of the merchantable size larch is being proposed for felling given that he I forest is sited within the Phytopthora management zone and it is considered that larch will become infected over time and a pre-emptive approach is J appropriate, particularly given the public access throughout the forest. j J J 7 I Criffel Land Management Plan Alan Gale 2017 - 2026 Criffel Land Management Plan 2017 - 2026 1.0 Introd uction: 1.1 Setting and context Criffel is part of the National Forest Estate. The area, which extends to 210 ha, is located on the east side of Criffel with an easterly aspect and predominantly with medium to steep slopes. The woodland shares some of the best climates in Scotland along with excellent soil for growing trees with potential for a wide range of tree species. Criffel forest was originally planted in the 1950's and although large areas of the first rotation are felled, the second rotation is growing well and the whole area is progressing well towards a fully restructured forest. Landscape has been an important aspect of this area for many decades. Given Criffel's high levels of visibility, landscaping is highly sensitive and is an important driver for the woodland design and particularly given that the woodland sits within the Nith estuary NSA (designated by SNH). As outdoor access has grown over the past 50 to 100 years there has been demand for the hill access route.This is now an established path which has Core Path status designated and maintained by Dumfries and Galloway council. The woodland adjoins private sector woodland to the North and South. To the east is fertile agricultural land and loch kinder, to the West is the Criffel massif Surface water quality is important;Loch Kindar is located at the foot of the forest, there is considerable fishing interest. Flooding risk downstream in "Sheep burn" is not considered to be significant, given the latest SEPAflood data. The land is rough given the underlying Granite rock and this roughness has caused timber extraction challenges over the past 50 years. Good forest planning is essential. Tourism development in the area is supported with landscape and public access. First and second rotations have included a high Sitka Spruce component but the next rotation should include more species diversity, given threats of 8 I Criffel Land Management Plan Alan Gale 2017 - 2026 I 1 Criffel Land Management Plan 2017 - 2026 1 climate change and the favourable climate and soils there is opportunity to 1 grow productive broad leaves. Community involvement in the management of the forest is low but involvement is encouraged this will be explored in the development of this 1 land management plan. 1 Ancient woodland sites on the edge of the forest by Loch Kindar have high biodiversity potential. 1 There are historical records of Black Grouse but current populations are unknown. Red squirrels are present in the forest. All operations will be carried out to the internationally recognised forestry standards as set out in the UK Forest Standard (UKFS) and as required under UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This woodland is part of Dumfries and Borders Forest District and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Certified woodlands are subject to regular audit by an independent audit body against the requirements of UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS). UKWAS is the independent J certification standard for verifying sustainable woodland management in the UK. .1 I J J J J J 9 I Criffel Land Management Plan Alan Gale 2017 - 2026 J Criffel Land Management Plan 2017 - 2026 1.2 History of the site There are records of Ancient woodland on the lower slopes near Loch Kindar, some of which remain today (See map) First rotation plantation was established in the 1950's some of which remains today on the lower slopes.