CCDT has received funding to commission the development of a Woodland Management Plan that will lay out a long term 25-year vision for the woodland. We will also create a shorter and more detailed 5 year work plan. This ensures that activities and actions in the woods are carried out in a logical way. The Draft Plan is being developed by an independent adviser, Jon Hollingdale of the Community Woodlands Association, supported by Amos Higgins, our Community Forest/Woodland Manager. This means that our plan is being developed by people who have both the knowledge and experience of woodland management to benefit both biodiversity and in using the woodland as a resource to benefit the community.

The Draft Plan includes plans for improving access, improving biodiversity, looking after the history and heritage in the woods, and also plans for removing trees and replanting them.

When the initial draft of the plan is completed, it will then be open for consultation. We expect that the initial draft of the plan will include all potential options for developing the woods. CCDT will be asking various stakeholders, especially community members, for their views on it before a final version is agreed. This ensures that everyone has the opportunity to have their say in what happens in our woodland.

We want to explain a bit more about the proposals that will be in the Draft Plan and outline some of the pros and cons of doing or not doing them, to help everyone to take an informed view in responding to the consultation.

Once accepted and submitted the Woodland Management Plan will allow us access to grants to support the activities detailed in the plan.

What’s going to be in the draft plan?

The Draft Woodland Management Plan lists the following forestry proposals for the area of Gillies Hill owned by the community – 64 Hectares (ha) in total. We’ve included all possible activities for consideration as we can remove activities following consultation, but we can’t add anything in. This represents all options on the table and will be presented in the Draft Woodland Management Plan for consultation so anyone can tell us their views on the proposals.

Signage, waymarking and interpretation boards
General footpath maintenance and enhancement
Upgrades to about 1.2km of footpaths to increase accessibility
Rhododendron control
Coppicing of 0.5ha per year
Thinning of Larch over an area of 17ha and replanting
Clear felling of the ‘Dark Wids’ (2.2ha) and replanting

We’ll be providing more information on the proposals to explain why they’ve been suggested and outline some of the pros and cons of doing them or not doing them.

Why would you want to manage the woods? Why not just leave the woods to be ‘wild’?	There is almost nowhere in Scotland that is truly ‘wild’ – nearly all our landscapes are the way they are because of thousands of years of human activity working alongside nature. Much of our native wildlife has evolved in woodlands that have been managed by humans – for example cutting woodlands for resources or clearing areas to attract prey – and active sustainable management of woodlands maintains a mix of habitats, from dense undergrowth to open glades. According to Forest Research, a number of studies have shown that in the UK managed woodlands increase in biodiversity value. The Wildlife Trusts has some useful information on managing woodlands for wildlife here: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-advice/how-manage-woodland-wildlife Gillies Hill woodland has been managed as a working woodland in the past. The Murray family managed the woodland mainly for ornamental value. Subsequently the woodland was thinned and planted with the conifers that we see today (mostly Larch, Douglas Fir and Spruce). The sawmill, owned and run by the Brownlie family, extracted and processed the timber, which included oak, and planting was also carried out. The Larch was thinned in the 70’s but woodland management has been absent up until the CCDT came into ownership for the community in 2019. Up to now out woodland management has been light touch – mainly felling dangerous trees and starting to clear Rhododendron.
What are the proposals for signs and footpaths?	A survey was carried out in summer 2020 asked the community’s views on developing the paths in the woods. It showed that a majority enjoyed the ‘wild’ and unmanaged nature of much of the paths in the woods, with support for minor works to stop erosion, creating an all-ability path to improve accessibility for more of the community, as well as for limited signage/waymarking. A more recent survey asked for views on a proposed route for an all-ability path from the primary school to the walled garden and 90% supported this. Creating an all-ability path will create some disruption in the short term along the proposed route whilst it is constructed and depending on the route taken may require the removal of some trees, though this will be minimised as much as possible. Not creating the path would mean that those in our community who are less mobile will not be able to enjoy the benefits of enjoying our beautiful woodland.
What are your plans for managing Rhododendron?	Rhododendron ponticum is an invasive, non-native plant. There are some fine examples of ornamental rhododendron around the castle, but Rhododendron ponticum (common rhododendron) has spread all over the hill. It is a smothering plant that prevents many other native plants as well as trees from getting established, covering the ground and blocking sunlight. Removing the rhododendron is an important as a first step towards getting the woods in better ecological condition, as well any potential further management. It does provide some nesting habitat for birds and it does also provide a nectar source for bees. However, these can be catered for with native flowering shrubs such as elder, hawthorn, rowan etc. that would be able to grow if the rhododendron is controlled. Holly and yew would provide good nesting habitat but are currently in short supply. Removing the rhododendron will be carried out mostly by volunteers and using hand tools over the winter to avoid disturbing nesting birds. If left unmanaged the rhododendron will continue to spread throughout the woodland creating a very uniform habitat that is poor for biodiversity.
What are your plans for producing wood fuel?	In developing a local woodfuel supply we expect that the majority of wood will come from trees we have to fell anyway (e.g. for safety reasons, or to clear the walled garden). Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots if cut down. Tree stems are cut down to near ground level, and it grows back with many stems. Over a number of years (e.g. 3-20 years) these new stems can be harvested again. Coppicing is carried out in rotation on with a small area felled each year. The harvested wood is easy to handle and process as the stems are straight and not too thick – it’s a particularly sustainable method of providing fuel wood. Carrying out coppicing creates a variety of habitats – areas of mature trees, freshly cut areas open areas where flowers can grow (good for butterflies), and all stages in between, so it is good for biodiversity as long as it is managed. A recent survey on developing a woodfuel supply from the woods answered by 121 people showed 103 (85%) would be interested in purchasing and collecting firewood from Gillies Hill Community Woodland and a further 18 would be interested if a delivery service was available.
Why are there proposals for thinning larch trees?	The larch we have was planted many years ago and has been thinned before. It is an excellent timber resource. Harvesting some of it on a small scale would allow access to this resource to build things in the woods- this has already been done using larch trees that have fallen down/been chopped down before we came to own the woods – for example building the benches in the tennis courts. It would also help to open up the canopy to allow light in for tree regeneration. Another concern is that there is a disease affecting larch trees mostly in the west of Scotland (Phytophthora ramorum). This disease has been detected on the hill (though not on the land owned by CCDT) and that resulted in the Forestry Commission imposing a Plant Health Notice on the landowners ordering them to remove every larch tree within 100m of the affected tree. Thinning the larch trees will help to reduce transmission of the disease (social distancing for trees). The mature larch we have do provide a food and nesting resource for red squirrels. The harvesting intensity proposed is around 350 trees over a 5 year period. Thinning the larch would be done on a small scale and using appropriate machinery that minimises ground damage in the surrounding woodland.
What is being proposed for the ‘Dark Wids’?	The ‘Dark Wids’ is a stand of sitka spruce (a very common tree in commercial forestry plantations), was planted in the late 60s and has now reached maturity. Some people in the village will remember a time before the Dark Wids were there. The trees planted have never been thinned so it has thinned itself, resulting in many dead stems as the more dominant trees suppressed the others. Sitka spruce plantations planted like this are not a good habitat for wildlife, but the trees do provide food for birds such as finches and goldcrests, as well as red squirrels. Typically stands of sitka spruce like this would be removed by ‘clear felling’ (removing all trees at once) at around this age. IF this was done the area would be replanted with species such as oak, douglas fir and other trees that would be more beneficial to wildlife. Thinning the trees, rather than clear felling, risks the remaining trees being blown over as they are so closely packed at the moment and have not been exposed to wind. If it is left as it is, it would probably result in further ‘self thinning’ (i.e. trees blowing over). The Dark Wids do represent a good commercial timber resource and therefore financial resource. If they were to be felled the Trust would likely sell the trees as they are ‘standing’ to a forestry contractor who would then remove them. The area would then be replanted with a mix of trees with a focus on benefitting wildlife. In the short term it would be a big change to an area of the woods, and forestry operations would restrict access at certain times, but in the longer-term replanting would benefit the biodiversity of the woods. The money received from the sale of the timber would be used by the Trust to benefit the woods (e.g. maintaining paths, funding educational activities for all ages and improving access to this natural environment.) As noted above however, the proposal to fell the Dark Wids is not primarily to raise revenue, there are good management and environmental reasons too.
What will happen to any money made from selling timber?	As landowner the CCDT has several ongoing costs (such as insurance, fuel for any tool use, subcontractor costs for any work our Community Forest Manager cannot do) and it is important to consider ways that we can provide a sustainable income to meet these costs and ensure we keep the woodlands as a place for the community to enjoy for years to come. All money made from selling timber would be available for the Trust to use to achieve its charitable goals. CCDT is a democratic organisation which anyone can join also anyone can propose project ideas whether or not they are a member. The charitable goals of the Trust are: · To advance environmental protection or improvement including preservation, sustainable development and conservation of the natural environment, the maintenance, improvement or provision of environmental amenities for the Community and/or the preservation of buildings or sites of architectural, historic or other importance to the Community; · To provide or assist in providing facilities for recreation and other leisure time activity, which will be available to members of the Community and public at large with the object of improving the conditions of life of the Community; · To advance the education of the Community about its environment, culture, heritage and/or history; · To manage community land and facilities for the benefit of the Community and the public in general; · To advance community development within the Community.
How will I be able to give my views?	We welcome everyone to give their views directly to us. If you wish to put your views in writing you can either send to woodland@ccdt.org.uk or via post to CCDT, c/o 58 Gillies Hill, Cambusbarron. Woodland Forum Dates – Wednesday 21^st and Saturday 24^th July There will be two information days held within the woodland where we would welcome any interested members of the community to come along to discuss the plans and equally to ensure any ideas or opinions they have are recorded. This is also an excellent opportunity to see how you could take a more proactive role in our plans for developing the woodland. We are only a small team of volunteers and a part-time Community Forest Manager so any additional support would be welcomed.