The Woodland Trust Scotland is disappointed by today’s decision by the Scottish Government to allow the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. After months of deliberating the Government have finally given the project the green light. The construction of the new road will mean further losses of Scotland’s irreplaceable ancient woodland.
The routing of the bypass will affect 24 woodlands, 15 of which are on the ancient woodland inventory.
In 2008, the Trust gave evidence at the public inquiry which demonstrated that these woods were undervalued by the environmental statement and would be effectively destroyed and others would be seriously damaged by the construction of the road.
Ancient woodland is the UK’s equivalent of the rainforest, it is land that has been continuously wooded for many hundreds of years. As places of inordinate beauty, reservoirs of evidence for environmental change, archaeology and economic history, they are home to more rare and threatened species than any other UK habitat. Ancient woodland cannot be re-created, new planting can in no way compensate for the loss of the biodiversity provided by our few remaining tracts of this valuable habitat we simply cannot afford to lose it.
The Scottish Government’s woodland policy should in theory, protect ancient woodlands from development. However, loopholes in the system allow this protection to be overridden if a developer can provide an economic need. This is not sustainable development and the Woodland Trust Scotland believe that the Scottish Government is deeply wrong in taking this decision.
Andrew Fairbairn Policy and Communications Manager said. “Very little ancient woodland remains - Scotland has already lost half of the ancient woodland which existed in the1930s and we simply cannot afford to lose any more. With this decision, the Scottish Government has ignored its own policies which states that trees and areas of woodland that have high natural heritage value should not be removed.
The Scottish Government claim that they are world leaders in tackling climate change – however, their commitment must be questioned in light of this decision. Instead of leaving a green legacy they it will be remembered for destroying Scotland’s natural heritage.”
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.