CCFG visit to Achray Forest Aberfoyle managed by Forestry and Land Scotland

CCF opportunities and challenges for amenity, conservation and production

The Achray Face above Aberfoyle is an extremely popular area for forest recreation with walking and cycling trails, a visitor centre and Go-Ape attraction and has long been identified as potential for management under CCF. It is also one of the trial areas of the pan-European SUPERB project. However, the Region is now facing significant challenges to this plan in particular a high proportion of larch and windblow along with the high visitor numbers and access.

The forest also supports mature oak woodland which has been managed in the past and there is potential for future intervention both for timber and to encourage natural regeneration.

Away from the main recreation area circa 60ha have been as identified as potential for management under CCF. This area offers an opportunity to realise the benefits of CCF for softwood sawlog production in the future.

The visit will be a chance to enjoy the forest, explore these challenges and discuss options with the local forest team. After an introduction in the Lodge we will undertake two walking tours through Achray forest. The first is in the mature conifer and oak forest of the high recreation area above the Lodge and the second a quieter area of conifer forest at Braeval at the east of the forest.

The visit details

We will gather at the Lodge (9:30am for 10:00am) and have a half hour introduction to the area from the local team and Forest Research who are leading on the SUPERB project

Minibuses will be used for transport to and within the forest. They will leave from the Lodge at 10.30am

Two walks (2.4 miles and 1.2 miles) on forest roads and paths with some downhill and uphill sections. Expect to walk into some of the stands for the discussion. Lunch will be taken in the forest.

This year’s Scottish CCFG visit is to Trees for Life’s Dundreggan Rewilding Centre to look at the ideas and practices behind the work the organisation’s rewilding project. The 4,000ha estate comprises a mix of remnant Caledonian pine woodland and other native woodland including a significant amount of juniper, a new native woodland and open hill land. Trees for Life also have a native woodland nursery specialising in growing higher altitude species.

The visitor services team have arranged a day visit for us which will look at the nursery and the existing woodland. The challenges of establishing successful native species regeneration with deer pressures and competing vegetation will be a theme common to all foresters. We will be able to see over the native woodland planting but there will not be time to go into it. We will also have a chance to find out more about the approach of Trees for Life, discuss their approach to public engagement and awareness and not forgetting the lessons from the cultural landscape round about.

Trees for Life do make a charge for tours. CCFG will meet part of the cost for members.

To make a booking please use this link 

Arrangements

Timings

10.00am – 4.00pm

Please be ready to start at 10am. We will finish by 4pm at the latest.

If you need to be away before 4pm please let Polly know so that you can be on the nursery tour in the afternoon as this is close to the car park.

Meeting point is in the foyer inside the Centre

Charge

There will be a change for this visit which CCFG will partially cover leaving a charge of £15 for members (£5 for students) to be paid in advance. Non-members will be asked to pay the full per head cost of £27. 

Site conditions

The walk through the woodland is on a narrow, rough hill path rising to c300m, wet in places. Please wear suitable footwear and clothing. There are alternative lower level surface paths around the Centre if you are unable to do the hill walk which would be self guided.

Biosecurity

As usual please ensure footwear is clean before coming on the visit. This is particularly important because of the nursery element.

Facilities

There is plenty of parking at the Centre

There are also toilets at the centre

Lunch

There is a café at the centre but bringing your own lunch is advised as the café is unlikely to be able to cope with a large demand at lunch time within the time we have allocated. However, it is open between 9.30 and 4.30 so if you arrive early or can stay on then coffee and cake can be purchased.

Booking arrangements

The numbers will be strictly capped to 40 as the tours can only accommodate a maximum of 20 people. We will split into 2 groups for 2 half day tours swapping over at lunch time. One tour looking at the Centre and the Nursery and the other walking in the woods. Places should be booked in advance and are allocated on a first come first serve basis.

If you book and are then unable to come please let Polly (administrator@ccfg.org.uk) know so that the place can be reallocated.

Date:	Thursday 6th October 2022
Location:	Glentress Forest, Tweed Valley, Scottish Borders
Meeting Time:	09:30am
Description:	“A return to the Scottish Borders to see the CCF managed areas of the Tweed valley and consider the impacts of storm damage, here from Storm Arwen and P ramorum on future plans.” Meeting Point – Glentress Café The café will be open from 9am for the purchase of food and drinks. Parking – car park location tbc (subject to on-going civils works). Usual parking charges will be wavered for the CCFG visit. Event details: The morning will be spent taking a walk through part of the former University of Edinburgh transformation trial area set up in 1952. We hope this will generate much discussion about its history of the area, the current management opportunities and challenges and its future. A picnic lunch, bring your own, will be at a view point overlooking the Tweed valley unless the weather is really inclement. In the afternoon we will head lower down into Glentress forest. Here the forest is dominated by Sitka Spruce and the Region is in the process of revision the 10 year land management plan for Glentress, Cardrona and Cademuir forests. We will break into smaller groups to discuss options to manage this area to deliver the objectives using CCF in the light of the lessons learnt from the trial area and the current pressures and demands on forest managers. Other information: The morning walk will be c2hrs including discussion time on tracks and rides in the forest. The afternoon will can be done by observing from the forest road but with the option to walk into stands for a better look at the condition of the forest. There are toilets at Glentress Peel but none in the forest. We are intending to car share to drive up into the forest. The roads are suitable for ordinary cars but they are water bound roads and the drivers will need to make their own judgement. To bring: We advise you to bring a packed lunch, water and clothing to suit any weather we may encounter including good boots and waterproofs. Biosecurity Please make sure your boots and gear are clean before you arrive. There are suspect P ramorum cases in the Tweed Valley and there is vulnerable larch within Glentress. Spaces are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Contact:	If you have any questions please contact: administrator@ccfg.org.uk.