Forestry in Scotland

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Conifer plantations surround Loch Trool in the Galloway Forest Park.

Great War) it was estimated that only 5% of the country's total land area was covered in forest.[3] The Scottish Government's Draft Climate Change Plan has set an aim of increasing coverage to 21% of Scotland by 2032, with the rate of afforestation rising to 15,000 hectares per year by 2024.[4]

Approximately 4,700 km2 of Scotland's forests and woodlands are publicly owned by the Scottish Government via Forestry and Land Scotland, and these are termed the National Forest Estate.[5] As of 2015, forestry contributed almost £1 billion to the Scottish economy, and the industry employed over 25,000 people.[6]

Historical background

Caledonian Forest in Glen Affric

Throughout most of Scottish history, people have most commonly created farmland at the expense of forest. Furthermore, variations in the

Late Glacial
; arriving about 7000 BC. The forest reached its maximum extent about 5000 BC, after which the Scottish climate became wetter and windier. This changed climate reduced the extent of the forest significantly by 2000 BC. From that date, human actions (including the grazing effects of sheep and deer) led to a continued reduction in the amount of forest.

In the 18th century, during the early stages of the

industrial revolution, wood was vital for many industries, in particular the smelting of iron. Oak was especially favoured for this use, being processed into the charcoal used in blast furnaces. To provide the wood required for charcoal, woodlands were managed using a technique known as coppicing, which involved repeatedly harvesting branches from trees, each time cutting them down to ground level and allowing new shoots to grow.[8] The preserved Bonawe Iron Furnace provides a particularly prominent example of an 18th century Highland iron smelting site, whilst the nearby forest at Glen Nant was one of many woods across Argyll that supplied the oak required: now a national nature reserve, Glen Nant provides a good example of woodland managed by coppicing.[9]

The United Kingdom's supply of timber was severely depleted during

Second World War, after which the policy shifted to the building of houses without holdings.[13]

During the Second World War timber was again in great demand, and there was a steep increase in the amount of timber extracted from Scotland's woods. Specialist battalions were recruited to work in the forests, including the Women's Timber Corps, groups of conscientious objectors, and workers from Belize (the British Honduran Forestry Unit). Following the war the Forestry Commission strove to replenish the lost woodland, making increased use of mechanisation to assist in this task.[14]

The

Scottish Gaelic: Coilltearachd na h-Alba), were established to take over the responsibilities of Forestry Commission Scotland, which was dissolved.[17]

Species and biodiversity

Native Scots pine at Glenmuick

Only thirty-one species of deciduous tree and shrub are native to Scotland, including ten willows, four whitebeams and three birch and cherry. The Scots pine and Common Juniper are the only coniferous trees definitely native to Scotland with Yew a possible contender.[18]

The

Catacol Whitebeam (S. pseudomeinichii) had been discovered by researchers on Arran. This tree is a cross between the native Rowan and S. pseudofennica.[21]

In 2002 it was estimated that 81.6% of Scotland's woodland was coniferous, with much of this consisting of plantations of non-native conifers. The most commonly planted tree species was

Norway spruce (3.2%). The native Scots pine covered 11.6% of forest land, and the total amount of native woodland was estimated as being 3,980 km2, with around 4,000 ha of new native woodland being created each year.[22] The Native Woodland Survey of Scotland, completed between late 2006 and late 2012, found that of Scotland's native woodland, 29% could be classified as "upland birchwoods", whilst native pinewoods comprised 28%. Wet woodland comprised 14% of all native woodland, whilst "lowland mixed deciduous woodland" comprised 8%, and upland oakwoods comprised 6%.[23]

twinflower, crested tit, Scottish crossbill, black grouse, capercaillie and red squirrel.[24]

Stewardship and management

New forestry plantation at Dalavich in Argyll and Bute

Two bodies are responsible for forestry in Scotland. Both bodies are executive agencies of the Scottish Government, operating at arm's length from the Scottish Government:[25]

  • Scottish Forestry is responsible for regulation, policy and support to landowners.[17]
  • Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is responsible for the national forest estate, including unforested land within this portfolio, and to produce and supply timber. Within this they are expected to enhance biodiversity, increase public access to the outdoors, encourage tourism and support the rural economy.[26] FLS is regulated by Scottish Forestry.[25]

In addition to regulatory functions in Scotland, Scottish Forestry is also responsible for management of the

Chief Forester for Scotland, who acts as the Head of Profession for forestry staff across the public sector. As of November 2020 the current Chief Forester for Scotland is Helen McKay.[28][29]

Much of the National Forest Estate is managed to encourage tourism and recreation, with facilities such as car park, picnic areas, paths and mountain bike trails.[30] Examples include the six forest parks,[31] and the mountain biking venues of the 7stanes.[32]

In February 2019 the Scottish Government published a forestry strategy that identified six key priorities for the period 2019-29:[33]

  • Ensuring forests and woodlands are sustainably managed
  • Expanding the area of forests and woodlands, recognising wider land-use objectives
  • Improving efficiency and productivity, and developing markets
  • Increasing the adaptability and resilience of forests and woodlands
  • Enhancing the environmental benefits provided by forests and woodlands
  • Engaging more people, communities and businesses in the creation, management and use of forests and woodlands

The strategy aims to increasing forest coverage to 21% of the total area of Scotland by 2032, with the target rate of afforestation rising from 10,000 hectares per year in 2018 to 15,000 hectares per year by 2024. Within this, the government is seeking to establish 3000–5000 hectares per year of new native woodland.[34]

Notable individual trees

Dughall Mhòr in Reelig Glen was formerly thought to be the tallest tree in the UK.

Non-native conifers are the tallest trees now found in Scotland. At 64.3 metres (211 ft), a

Hermitage Douglas Fir near Dunkeld came next in height, standing at 61.31 metres (201 ft).[37][38]

The Fortingall Yew in Glen Lyon is generally thought to be the Scotland's oldest tree, with an estimated age of between 3000 and 5000 years.[39]

The

European Beech hedge, which is 530 metres (0.33 mi) in length, reaches 30 metres (98 ft) in height and is noted in the Guinness World Records as the tallest and longest hedge on Earth. It is usually trimmed once every ten years, although the most recent trim, which took place in late 2019, was the first in almost 20 years.[40][41]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Hart 1994, p. 68.
  2. ^ Fitter 2002, p. 10.
  3. ^ Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019–2029. p. 7.
  4. ^ "Woodland expansion across Scotland". NatureScot. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  5. ^ Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019–2029. p. 13.
  6. ^ Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019–2029. p. 9.
  7. ^ a b Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019–2029. p. 5.
  8. ^ "Woodland use and industrialisation". Forestry and Land Scotland. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Forestry Commission Changes". The Glasgow Herald. 1 January 1927. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  11. ^ Ryle, George, Forest Service, 1969, p. 188
  12. ^ Ryle, op. cit.
  13. ^ Annual Reports of the Forestry Commission, HMSO, 1920 onwards, for all figures of tenancies
  14. ^ "100 Years of Forestry in Scotland: 1939-1945". Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  15. ^ "Records created or inherited by the Forestry Commission, and of related bodies". The National Archives. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  16. ^ "FORESTRY AGENCY BRANCHES OUT". Forestry Commission. 31 March 2003. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Forestry Commission Scotland and Forest Enterprise no longer exist". Scottish Government. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  18. ^ Smout et al. 2007, p. 2.
  19. ISBN 0-904853-03-9
    .
  20. ^ Eric Bignal (1980). "The endemic whitebeams of North Arran". The Glasgow Naturalist. 20 (1): 60–64.
  21. ^ "Catacol whitebeam" BBC. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  22. ^ "The Scottish Government's Rationale for Woodland Expansion" (PDF). Forestry Commission Scotland. 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Native Woodland Survey of Scotland". Scottish Forestry. Forestry Commission Scotland. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  24. ^ Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019–2029. p. 11.
  25. ^ a b c "Report setting out the administrative arrangements that the Scottish Ministers intend to make for the carrying out of their functions under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018". March 2019. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  26. ^ "About Us". Forestry and Land Scotland. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  27. ^ "Forestry devolution: resource list". Scottish Government. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  28. ^ "Chief Forester for Scotland". Scottish Forestry. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  29. ^ "New voice for the forestry profession". Scottish Forestry. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Visit". Forestry and Land Scotland. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  31. ^ "Forest Parks". Forestry and Land Scotland. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  32. ^ "7stanes - mountain biking heaven". Forestry and Land Scotland. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  33. ^ Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019–2029. p. 29.
  34. ^ Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019–2029. p. 2.
  35. ^ Copping, Jasper (4 June 2011) "Britain's record-breaking trees identified" London. The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 July 2011. This source quotes Johnson, Owen (2011) Champion Trees of Britain and Ireland: The Tree Register Handbook. London. Kew Publishing but does not refer to the next tallest trees.
  36. ^ "Four of Britain's tallest trees in glen near Inverness". BBC News. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  37. ^ "Scotland remains home to Britain's tallest tree as Dughall Mor reaches new heights" Archived 3 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Forestry Commission. Retrieved 26 April 2008
  38. ^ "Scots fir is 'tallest tree in UK'". BBC News. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  39. ^ Arthur Vundla; Lizzie Roberts (28 May 2019). "Threat to ancient Scots yew, UK's oldest tree, as tourists rip off branches for souvenirs". The Scotsman. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  40. ^ "World's tallest hedge gets trim for first time in 20 years". STV. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  41. ^ "Meikleour Beech Hedge". VisitScotland. Retrieved 16 November 2020.

Bibliography

External links

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