An environmental statement that has more holes than Swiss cheese and misrepresentation of environmental concerns are the meal of the day on the Dall Estate.
South Rannoch woodland adjacent to the Black Wood of Rannoch is a designated ancient woodland site according to the Ancient Woodland Inventory for Scotland. Ancient woodland is home to more species than any other habitat in the UK, fact. It is irreplaceable, having been woodland for at least 260 years, and should be protected by a number of Scottish Government policies and pieces of legislation. 160 hectares of this ancient woodland will be destroyed as part of these development plans.
The Black Wood of Rannoch is a Special Area of Conservation and the most southerly remnant of Caledonian forest in Scotland. Formed at the end of the last Ice Age it is considered to be one of the last remaining wildernesses in the British Isles. Any development of the size proposed at the Dall Estate will affect the neighbouring woodland.
Andrew Fairburn of the Woodland Trust said:
“Not only will these woods be directly affected by the proposal, but the subsequent indirect impacts of hydrology change, input of fertilisers, and noise and light pollution will have long term impacts on the South Rannoch woodland and adjacent Black Wood, which will then find itself isolated along its eastern edge. Cutting a gash between the two woods and fragmenting them will have significant impacts on the movement of wildlife and their long term ability to prosper. These woods are irreplaceable and must be treated with as much care as we afford our greatest national monuments.”
380 hectares of woodland within the development are currently owned by the Forestry Commission Scotland – over a third of which is ancient woodland. They are managed for forestry on a responsible and environmentally sound basis. This has preserved the unique ecology of the Caledonian Pinewood, preserving the enormous conservation value of the site. Some areas have been restored in a gradual plan to allow native regeneration of the wood to a more natural state. These may currently appear as cleared areas to the untrained eye, but they are there for a reason.
Ancient woodland is the UK’s equivalent of rainforest - its loss cannot be mitigated for. The creation of the alien, manicured landscapes of a golf course will clear trees, destroy ground flora, significantly change the hydrology of the area and displace the species such as red squirrel and crested tit that call this woodland home.
In addition, development of this site as it is proposed would be contrary to the Scottish Government’s stated ‘Control of Woodland Removal’ policy, as the letter of response to Perth and Kinross Council from the Forestry Commission Scotland states.
Andrew Fairburn continued: "Forestry Commission land is public land, it belongs to the people of Scotland. The development is hugely environmentally damaging and will remove public access and enjoyment to these valuable woods. Therefore public benefit and overwhelming public support for this development would have to be demonstrated to justify its sale. The number of objections to the proposals – from the local community, individuals from across Scotland and conservation organisations like the Woodland Trust Scotland, John Muir Trust, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Buglife Scotland, and RSPB Scotland – suggests that this is not the case.
"We therefore again call on Perth and Kinross council, to uphold its duty to protect the environment and to throw out this application without further delay."
ENDS
Scottish Natural Heritage’s Inventory of Ancient and Long-Established Woodland Sites
Approximately 160 ha of the woodland within the development site boundary is present on Scottish Natural Heritage’s Inventory of Ancient and Long-Established Woodland Sites (this is often referred to as the Ancient Woodland Inventory). SNH is a Government body, acting as advisor to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament, on maters affecting natural heritage, helping people to enjoy and value it, and encouraging people to use it sustainably.
More information about the management of Ancient Woods and Trees can be found in the publications section of our website: http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/publications
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.