Contents
List of Maps
List of Appendices
Summary
1 Introduction
The purpose of the Local Forestry Framework
Development of the Local Forestry Framework
Future Development of the Woodlands Forest Estate
Open Spaces
2 The Loch Lomond Forest Estate
Forest and Woodland Cover
Forest Enterprise Forestry
Private Commercial Forestry
Physical Potential for further expansion of commercial planting
Broad-leaved Woodland
Caledonian Pine Woodland
3 The Balance of Forest and Open Space in the Landscape
a) Landscape Issues
b) Recreation and Tourism Issues
c) Wildlife Issues
d) Water Supply Issues
e) Agricultural Issues
f) Heritage Issues
4 The Local Forestry Framework
5 The Way Forward
Summary
1 Introduction
The complexity and intensity of conservation issues (relating to the Nationally important landscape, extensive semi natural habitats, the recreational potential of the regional Park, manmade heritage and water resources) in the Loch Lomond area have led to it being designated as "Sensitive" in both the Strathclyde and Central Indicative Forestry Strategies. This designation carries a recommendation that a more detailed study be carried out in consultation with both conservation and forestry interests. The requirement for a "Forestry Plan" whose positive recommendations can be implemented through the Loch Lomond Regional Park Management Plan, is also embodied in the Loch Lomond Local (Subject) Plan.
The Plan includes the following points of general guidance
1 In general, new planting should contribute to the landscape, nature conservation and recreational objectives of the PLAN by virtue of its location, scale, shape and species composition;
2 Proposals should, where appropriate, contribute to sustaining and extending the semi- natural broad-leaved woodlands and designed landscapes of the PLAN area;
3 Opportunities should be taken to remedy the adverse impact of historic plantations by early felling and restructuring. Care should be taken however, particularly where plantations are visible from public roads, to avoid the adverse visual impacts of clear felling; and
4 Where possible, forestry schemes should be integrate with farming or complement recreational development.
These principles underly the main objectives of the Local Forestry Framework.
During 1994 and 1995 a forum convened by the interested local authorities and including the Forestry Commission, Scottish Office Agriculture Environment and Fisheries Department, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Loch Lomond Park Authority amongst other worked towards producing the Local Forestry Framework.
2 The Purpose of the Framework
The Local Forestry Framework is intended to be primarily a local authority policy document to be used when determining responses to forestry consultation. It could also be valuable however in guiding future research and policy formulation and as an aid to landowners and forestry investors in indicating the scale and location of potential constraints and opportunities thereby making the most productive use of the time and resources dedicated to forest design.
3 Key Issues Emerging from the Framework
The assessment of the current forest resource and conservation issues can be briefly summarised as follows:
a) Although the historic oak dominated woodlands are a significant element of the Loch Lomond landscape occupying 15% of the land are), the most significant recent landuse change has been the introduction of almost 5,000 hectare (% of the land area) of conifer woodland. Significant tracks (3,300 hectares) are owned by the Forestry Commission, in large plantations, which are nearing their optimum felling age.
b) The potential to extend the forest resource onto open ground in the Loch Lomond area is limited by both physical (terrain, altitude and exposure) and economic (competing landuses) factors. The land with the best physical capability, around the southern shores of the loch is also the most desirable for agriculture. The least expensive land, forming the summits and high plateaux, tends to have very limited potential for silvicultural development.
The most likely areas to come forward for extensive new planting are probably the hillsides adjoining the Loch and the slopes of their valleys. There is also significant potential to bring the extensive currently neglected broad-leaved woodlands into silvicultural management.
c) The landscape of the Loch Lomond area is of Nationally recognised quality and can be presented as consisting of a series of character areas which range from highlands to lowlands and have different woodland/open space relationships. A detailed analysis of the landscape has identified eighteen fairly distinct "character areas" within the Park. The Local Forestry Framework includes an appendix which gives detailed guidance on the type, location and scale of forestry and woodland potential that is considered appropriate for the landscape of each of these landscapes character areas.
d) The Loch Lomond area is widely used for recreation by the residents of the Clyde Valley conurbation and is internationally valued for tourism. Woodlands and forests have an enormous potential to absorb a wide range recreational activities if properly managed and suitable provision will be considered appropriate where woodlands adjoin visitor facilities. Similarly it is appropriate to ensure forest development and management does not unnecessarily impede recreational access to pen hill land.
e) There is very great concentration of sensitive ecological resources around Loch Lomond. Designated sites are relatively easily protected but the often larger scale resources (including semi natural and unimproved grasslands, extensive semi natural woodlands, mines and heaths or the ranges of protected bird species) can often be at risk from piecemeal erosion. The Local Forestry Framework identifies key area of ecological significance and indicates more extensive tracks (particularly in the north) where conservation interests would be best served by retaining the current open character.
f) Attention is drawn to the potential sensitivity of the Loch Lomond to run-off acidification and guidance is given concerning the mechanisms which are in place to minimise this. The area also contains a number of public water supply catchments and an indication of the relative sensitivity of each is included.
g) The current position of agricultural economics suggests that hill farms may be under the greatest pressure to convert to an alternative landuse and that the better land, mainly to the south of the Loch is generally unlikely to generate significant opportunities for further woodland planting. Farm woodlands proposals, which diversity agricultural business would, however, be welcomed subject to landscape and other conservation requirements.
i) Although not renowned for its man-made heritage, the ancient monuments and other historic buidings of the Loch Lomond area contribute to its rich landscape and they and their settings require to be protected and enhanced. Of greater landscape significance are the historic gardens and woodland belts surrounding many of the larger houses. These are major contributors to the landscape to the south and south west of the Loch and require not only to be protected, but actively managed, and, in places, reinstated.
4 The Format of the Framework
Through a consideration of the extent and condition of the existing forest resource in the Loch Lomond area and of the relationship between these forests and woodlands and the open land in terms of the conservation requirements of landscape, wildlife, recreation, heritage and water supplies, an indication of a potential future form and extent of the Loch Lomond forest estate has been developed.
This framework is expressed as a textual commentary on each of the above topics supported by a series of topic maps and a "framework map" which indicates how these issues inter-relate. The latter is also summaries in schematic form to indicated the general thrust of the framework in broad zones intimating:
a a zone of new forestry potential;
b a zone where the appropriate main theme is managing and restructuring existing forests and woodlands;
c a zone of historic designed landscapes; and
d a zone of minimum new forestry potential.
In applying the Forestry Framework, the text should be read in conjunction with the "detailed framework map".