One of the largest woodland creation schemes in the north of Scotland is set to take place on the south side of Loch Ness – thanks to the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).
The Ardochy New Woodland, near Whitebridge, will create 243ha of new native woodland and 78ha of productive conifer woodland – a combined area equal to about 323 international rugby pitches.
The new woodland will see around 450,000 trees planted, which as well as producing timber for woodfuel and for use in the construction industry, will soak up around 130,000 tonnes of CO2 over a period of 50 years.
Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the creation of new woodland across the country and a recent increase in grant rates has resulted in a surge in applications to establish new native woodlands in the north of Scotland.
“This is great news and an excellent example of how the Scotland Rural Development Programme is working to deliver environmental, social and economic benefits across the country.
“Every new woodland will capture more carbon and help to tackle the impact of climate change, while at the same time increasing the rate of timber and biomass fuel production. And let’s not forget the contribution that these projects – and the new woodlands - will make to sustaining the forestry and timber sectors across the region.”
The project was supported by a £1M grant awarded through the Rural Development Contract (RDC) – Rural Priorities element of SRDP, which is administered by Forestry Commission Scotland.
The owner, Jeremy Finnis, commented:
"We are pleased that our proposal for a new woodland at Ardochy has been supported under the Scotland Rural Development Programme. It will enhance the attractiveness of this already beautiful area with the proposed mosaic of native tree planting and areas for Black Grouse and other wildlife to thrive. It will also provide both short- and long-term job opportunities for this part of the Highlands."
Adam Ritchie, whose firm Ritchie Forestry prepared the plans added: "It is good news that we have captured so many benefits with this woodland creation scheme whilst also managing a very high level of carbon lock-up through planting commercial conifer crops on the best quality soils and using improved stock. This will allow a broader range of options for future management.''
Land owners across the Highlands are at the forefront of native woodland creation. Rural Development Contracts have helped establish around 3300ha of new woodland - an area twice the size of Inverness - in Highland region since April 2008.
Some of the other projects include Altnaharra Estate (110ha of native woodland), Tomcrasky (171ha native woodland), Inverwick biodiversity enhancement (73ha of native woodland) and Caplich Woods (101ha of Native Birchwood Woodland).
Visit www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/SRDP for more information on SRDP and Rural Development Contracts.
For advice on any aspect of the application process, call Forestry Commission Scotland’s Highlands & Islands Conservancy office in Dingwall on 01349 862144.
Notes
1) Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Government’s forestry directorate and manages the 665,000 hectare national forest estate. The Scottish Government’s purpose is to increase sustainable economic growth. Forestry has an important role to play, contributing £669m per year and supporting over 31,000 jobs across a range of areas including: the timber and processing sector; forest tourism and recreation; woodland creation and management; woodfuel; and developments in our national forests. www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland
2) The creation of the new woodlands at Ardochy will deliver additional economic benefits and create employment for 25 man years. This only accounts for the direct employment of those carrying out the labour for the establishment. It does not include Indirect impacts (businesses supplying forestry businesses with goods and services such as planting stock, fencing and fuel) or Induced impacts (from spending by those who earn their incomes either directly or indirectly from the forestry sector). These figures are also limited to the establishment phase and do not include the jobs/GVA of thinning/harvesting, timber transport and processing.
3) For more information on the Ardochy forest creation scheme, contact the applicant's agent Adam Ritchie, on 01738 634992 or at adam@ritchieforestry.co.uk
4) Media enquiries to Paul Munro, Forestry Commission Scotland press office, 0131 314 6507