Tom More Forest Scoping
This is a scoping consultation for the long term forestry development.
Below is a cut and paste of the Scoping Document. I could not find a link on a web site. The Concept Map will be on the village notice board fro Tuesday 28th June. All comments to be received by Nicholson Forestry By 21 July 2022
1. Purpose
TOM MOR LONG TERM FOREST PLAN REF 18FGS32158 SCOPING DOCUMENT
21/06/22
Nicholson Forest Management Ltd are preparing the Long Term Forest Plan for Tom Mor Woodland. The plan will have a ten year approval and detail all felling, thinning and restocking works for the next twenty years. As a stakeholder we would welcome comments and feedback that will help inform and develop the forest plan.
Map 1 – Location map ( Contains OS data © Crown copyright [1:250 000 Scale Colour RasterTM 2022 )
2. Summary
Tom Mor forest covers some 150.7ha and is located within the Cairngorm National Park, approximately one mile north of Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. The forest holds access right onto the A938. The forest is mainly comprised of plantation origin Scots pine, with a reasonable proportion of lodgepole pine and small pockets of Norway spruce and native broadleaves. The forest was established in two main plantings in 1958 and 1974 with a significant felling undertaken in 2013 to clear windblow. The forest has been thinned in the past and the stands are growing at a low yield class, reflective of the poor soil fertility. The forest forms part of Baddengorm Core Pinewood Buffer Zone and are recorded as native woodland.
The forest has a high conservation value and holds some of Scotland’s most iconic species such capercaillie, red squirrel, crested tit and wood ants. Roe deer, red deer and hares are present in the woodland and there are signs of sheep ingress.
3. Management Aims
- To provide an optimal financial return to the owner through sustainable timber production and sound silvicultural practice.
- To protect and conserve wildlife within the forest.
- To favour native tree species through silvicultural intervention and expand broadleaf
coverage.
- To improve the resilience of the forest to pests, diseases and wind damage.
- To manage the forest in accordance with the United Kingdom Forestry Standard
4. Indicative Proposal
To actively manage the forest in a manner that favours pinewood fauna, whilst generating timber income and improving the quality of final crop trees. This will primarily be achieved in the plan period by thinning, to be commenced when the threshold basal area is reached. Longer term, small to medium scale felling will be undertaken. Felling and restocking will be used to gradually remove the lodgepole pine and increase the area of native broadleaves, timing will be determined by the maximum mean annual increment, crop stability and or tree health. Infrastructure will be reviewed, and consideration given to access improvement where required and economically viable. Deer control will be assessed and increased as necessary to reduce browsing impacts in the forest. The fallow land will be re-established with a solution that is practical, cost effective and does not undermine the primary management aims.
5. Key issues
Issue
Dothistroma Needle Blight
The disease presents a risk to the core pinewood remnants which is potentially exacerbated by the presence of Lodge pole pine. Restrictions don’t readily allow the replanting of Scots pine within the buffer zone. Scots pine is the most ecologically and silviculturally appropriate species choice.
Protected species
Capercaillie are sensitive to disturbance and a nationally threatened species. Forest management should look to improve conditions for the birds and liaison with stakeholders will be vital when planning forest operations.
Browsing Animals
Deer are present within the wood and browsing regeneration on the clearfell sites. Deer fences are the most effective way of protecting young trees but are detrimental to Capercaillie. Large scale expansion of broadleaves as a restocking alternative to Scots pine would be extremely vulnerable to browsing and reduce the timber value of the forest. Deer control will be vital to future forest management.
Access
Shared access onto the public road will require understanding and dialogue with all forest owners.
Species diversificatio | The forest does not have an appropriate coverage of native broadleaves and this should be addressed within the forest plan. Scope for conifer diversification is limited due to the acidic, nutrient poor soils and upland climate. |
Aviemore to Carrbridge NMU
Transport Scotland has Issued the outcome of the preferred route for the NMU and the information on the next stage of the process. www.transport.gov.uk/projects/