A number of organisations with an interest in maintaining people’s current access to the countryside, including one based in Perth and Kinross, are calling for greater transparency around emerging proposals to create new woodlands across Scotland.
The Perth and Kinross Outdoor Access Forum (PKOAF) is just one group making the call amid concern organisations like themselves, as well as the general public, are often unaware of new proposals until it is too late to make a meaningful contribution to their development.
The group point to a proposed woodland creation scheme at Kinfauns currently being considered by forestry chiefs as an example of how plans can slip under their radar as it only became aware of the scheme after a local resident got in touch.
Members are particularly concerned about proposals passing without resistance under which planting will take place close to established paths and tracks, and the new trees will severely restrict people’s views of the surrounding landscape when they fully grow.
They are also concerned proposals could slip through unchecked and unnoticed under which landowners choose to surround new woodlands with deer fencing and leave very few, if any, access points for people out for a stroll.
They say many of the schemes coming forward nowadays involve the growing of conifers which they believe do not provide any kind of environmental benefit.
Scottish Forestry’s website shows the agency is currently considering approving applications for grants for the creation of at least 250 hectares of new woodland in Perth and Kinross - an area equivalent to around 250 rugby fields.
It also shows the agency has already approved grants for the creation of at least 1110 hectares of new woodland across the region in the last two years with around 700 hectares expected to be covered with conifers.
A spokesperson for the PKOAF explained: “The main problem that we face is the difficulty of discovering where and when forest creation schemes are being put forward and at an early enough stage for ourselves, voluntary organisations and members of the public to be able to have a look at the draft proposals and influence their development in any significant way.
“Some forestry agents do advertise proposed schemes on their respective websites, but not all, and this will be known to very few people in any case.
“If a requirement to place notices at proposed scheme locations could be introduced, that would be a positive move.
“Some of the consequences of the current focus on mass planting schemes are that they are surrounded by miles of deer fencing and create dense plantations that provide very limited access opportunities and a diminished recreational experience. Unfortunately there is increasing evidence that this type of planting also does very little for biodiversity.
“We recognise the need for more trees to contribute to climate change targets and would like to see lots more mixed woodlands created by natural regeneration, as well as by planting, where appropriate.
“The enjoyment of being in this kind of genuinely natural environment contrasts dramatically with that of being channelled through dark corridors of closely packed conifers, where scarcely any other living thing can be found.
“It is evident that the current planning and funding mechanisms do not work in favour of regeneration and we would like to see this change, alongside more transparency and better engagement with stakeholders and local communities.”
Helen Todd, campaigns and policy manager for Ramblers Scotland, told the Perthshire Advertiser her organisation shared PKOAF’s concerns.
She said: “Ramblers Scotland understands the importance of forestry to Scotland’s economy and rural communities and strongly supports the regeneration of our native woodlands.
“However, we share the concerns of our fellow environmental, recreation and community groups about the current forestry planning system which remains opaque and lacking in accountability.
“It fails to fully take into account the true value of wider interests, such as biodiversity, public access and outdoor recreation.
“In future, we want local communities and representative organisations to be able to more easily engage in a better, fairer forestry planning system.
“This will result in forests which benefit nature and people, as well as contributing to Scotland’s climate change targets.”
And Helene Mauchlen, The British Horse Society’s national manager for Scotland, similarly told the Perthshire Advertiser : “While The British Horse Society understands the importance of forestry in Scotland’s economy and supports the regeneration of woodlands, we do have concerns about the current forestry planning system.
“We would call for a more transparent system which allows for environmental, recreation and community groups to have more of a say in the planning process.
“This would allow organisations, like The British Horse Society, to advocate for access for all users to these newly created forestry areas.”
Responding to the concerns Scottish Forestry insisted it requires all applicants for forestry grants for new woodland creation schemes to consult all stakeholders “including special interest groups” at an early stage of development.
A spokesperson told the Perthshire Advertiser : “Stakeholder engagement is a key aspect of the due diligence process that all woodland creation proposals go through. This process is set out in comprehensive guidance which is available on our website.
“We require the applicant or his forestry agent to contact all the relevant stakeholders including local communities and special interest groups at an early stage in the process to seek their comments on the proposal.
“In the past in Perth and Kinross we asked applicants to contact the local authority access officer for advice and comments on access and recreation but, particularly for proposals which could impact on recreational use, we now advise them to go directly to the local access forum for comment.
“Comments and information from all the stakeholders along with the key information from the site based surveys undertaken are also captured in an ‘issues log’, which along with the design map, provides a good summary of the proposal and also shows how the agent has addressed the issues flagged up by stakeholders. The ‘issues log’ is freely available from the applicant.”
The spokesperson went on: “New woodland creation proposals can take quite a while to work up and more often than not, the final proposal is very different from the initial concept.
“To that end, it is not normally appropriate to publicise proposals at an early stage as they can change so much as a result of consultation with the local community and statutory consultees which include NatureScot, SEPA, HES, local authorities and Scottish Government Agriculture Division.
“It is also often not possible to publicise survey data as this can include sensitive information about protected species and habitats.
“Scottish Forestry is looking to improve the quality of information available through improved IT systems – this will help during the consultation period right through to applicants receiving forestry grants.”
