Issued on behalf of the Scottish Forest Alliance
One of the most significant native woodland regeneration projects to take place in the UK in a generation was officially inaugurated by Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham today (Friday 2 October).
The Great Trossachs Forest covers approximately 166.5 square kilometres at the heart of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and incorporates a wide range of restored, regenerated and new habitats.
The legacy project of the innovative Scottish Forest Alliance, the new forest will provide visitors and local people with leisure and recreational opportunities and will bring landscape, social and economic benefits to local communities.
Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, said:
“Maintaining, enhancing and expanding Scotland’s native woodland cover is hugely important for the health of our communities, our biodiversity, our environment and our economy. It can also play and important role in helping to meet the Scottish Government’s targets for tackling the impact of climate change.
“The Alliance’s unique approach to woodland management has let each of the landowners to pursue their own objectives while also working together to achieve common aims. It is a model for the future and one that I hope will be adopted elsewhere, hopefully with equally successful results.
“The Great Trossachs Forest is a remarkable achievement – a stunning resource that offers a host of opportunities. Each of the partners should be proud of their involvement in creating this legacy – a new forest that I am confident will be enjoyed for generations to come."
The Scottish Forest Alliance (SFA) is a unique woodland creation project uniting BP, Forestry Commission Scotland, the Woodland Trust Scotland, and RSPB Scotland. Formed in 2000, the Alliance benefited from £10m in funding from BP - Scotland's biggest ever corporate commitment to the environment.
As well as helping to plant almost 3.5 million trees at sites across Scotland over the past nine years, this financial backing has leveraged £1m of Heritage Lottery funding for The Great Trossachs Forest.
Tim Smith, External Affairs Director for BP in Scotland said:
"The Great Trossachs Forest combines three Scottish Forest Alliance sites at Inversnaid, Glen Finglas and Loch Katrine and is a fantastic example of how the public, private and voluntary sector can work together to create something truly remarkable.
"This landscape scale forest, which we believe to be the first of its kind in the UK, will offer enormous benefits in terms of shared research and collaboration which will be of benefit to the partners and Scotland as a whole."
Designed to span a remarkable two centuries, The Great Trossachs Forest is set to become a demonstration for land owners and managers across the country. The project will include the enhancement of over 10,000ha of specific habitat types (including moorland, wetland and grassland habitats), the creation of 4400ha of new woodland and the removal of non-native pine from 1250ha.
More information about The Great Trossachs Forest and all the SFA projects can be found at: www.scottishforestalliance.org.uk
Additional Quotes:
Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said:
“Scotland has a remarkable natural landscape which is home to a fascinating array of plants, animals and birds. That is our heritage and it gives a huge amount of enjoyment to communities and tourist alike.
"We are delighted to help support this unique project which conserves that heritage bringing with it many biodiversity benefits and congratulate the Scottish Forest Alliance on their achievement.”
Notes to Editors
1) The Image at top of page shows (left to right), Tim Smith (External Affairs Director for BP in Scotland), Roseanna Cunningham (Environment Minister) and Andrew Fairbarirn (Spokesperson for the Scottish Forest Alliance).
2) The Scottish Forest Alliance (SFA) woodland creation project is a unique collaboration uniting Forestry Commission Scotland, the Woodland Trust Scotland and RSPB Scotland and BP, whose £10 million pledge over ten years is the biggest ever corporate commitment to the environment in Scotland. The SFA is regenerating Scotland's fragmented native woodlands at fourteen sites throughout Scotland. The ultimate aim is to create new native woodland, promote biodiversity, encourage community involvement, and further the aims of carbon sequestration.
3) Since its inception in 2000, SFA projects have resulted in 2,469 hectares of new planted trees, and 828 hectares created through natural regeneration – a total of 3,478,592 new trees.
4) The Scottish Forest Alliance has carried out work at 14 sites across Scotland. These are : RSPB Abernethy, Barclye (Galloway), Corrimony (Loch Ness), Inversnaid (Loch Lomond) - FCS Darroch Wids (Huntly), Drumbow & Crossrigg (Falkirk), Glenmore Forest Park, Kinloch Hills (Skye), Loch Katrine – WTS Geordie’s Wood, Glen Quey and Glen Sherup (all in the Ochils), Glen Finglas (Trossachs)
5) Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. To date it has invested over £500million in Scotland’s heritage.