Planning refused for windfarm
The Woodland Trust Scotland is delighted that the application to construct a windfarm within the woodland at Montreathmont Moor in Angus has been refused.
The Woodland Trust Scotland objected strongly to the application for 11 windturbines as the site proposed for development is listed on Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) Ancient Woodland Inventory.
Evidence shows the woodland at Montreathmont Moor has been managed for forestry for over 150 years, having developed from the natural woodland/moorland landscape present prior to this. Sympathetic management has preserved the native feel of the wood, making it a haven for local wildlife and a wonderful amenity for local walkers. As with ancient woodland, long-established woodland sites can be rich in biodiversity due to their long history of woodland cover, the lack of habitat disturbance and their cultural and historic interest. We simply cannot afford to lose them, and new planting can in no way compensate for their loss.
The Woodland Trust believes that climate change is the biggest threat to the UK’s native woodland. Society’s response to climate change must include measures to mitigate the factors causing it, most particularly emission of greenhouse gases.
The use of renewable energy sources such as windfarms play an important part in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, helping us to move towards a carbon-neutral society; but we do not believe that this should be done to the detriment of our precious biodiversity. We can only support energy generation projects which do not destroy or damage ancient and long-established woodland, impact on sensitive landscapes or otherwise significantly reduce the quality of human life. The valuable woodland habitats we have need to be protected and enhanced rather than destroyed, to ensure that the wildlife within has a chance to adapt to the climate changes that are already happening.
Christina Byrne of the Woodland Trust said “The proposed windfarm would have damaged this site, from both an ecological view and from an amenity view. The issues that surround renewable energy generation are never simple, but we believe that the correct decision has been made here. The woodland flora and fauna of Montreathmont will now be here for the people of Angus to appreciate for many more years"
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
Jacqui Morris on 01355 578777 or mobile 07979 706675 alternatively call The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail
media@woodlandtrust.org.ukThe Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.
In 1984, the Trust acquired its first wood in Scotland. In the last 25 years the Trust has increased its holdings in Scotland it now owns 80 sites across Scotland covering 8,500 hectares. Further news can be accessed via this website.