In 2001 the Woodland Trust planted the northern slopes of Glen Quey with native woodland species. In 2002 they acquired most of the ground of Wester Glensherup farm, comprising the northern slopes of Glen Sherup over Ben Shee and down to the Frandy Burn. Work began there in the autumn of 2002.
Also in the autumn of 2002 the Woodland Trust indicated that it was in negotiations regarding an area between Glen Quey and Muckhart to be known as Geordie's Wood. The land had become available due to the continuing phased retirement of Geordie Allan, from whom the Woodland Trust had purchased Glen Quey. Meanwhile, in Glen Sherup, the surrounding stock fence has been made sheep-proof, with stiles, and a "deflection" deer fence erected near the Glensherup Burn between the Forest Enterprise coniferous plantation and the Woodland Trust ground. There are gates in this. The vehicle access track from the farm up past the shoulder of Ben Shee has been upgraded to allow safe movement of materials. Care has been taken to avoid visible scars and erosion, including relaying turfs and rerouting the track in the vicinity of Ben Shee. The Phase 1 planting area (the western half of the property) has been prepared with raised soil mounds, into which 280,000 trees will be planted between March and June this year.
Also last autumn - a busy time - FotO chairman Dave Hewitt and I had met with the Woodland Trust and their contractors to walk the site around Cairnmorris Hill. By then most of the higher ground had been mounded or marked and the proposed shape of the planting was clear on the ground. We were happy that the areas marked out were those agreed at the site visit with the Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission in summer 2002 (as reported in Newsletter 21). At only one point did we feel there was a danger of the Skythorn-Tarmangie path seeming to feel hemmed in. There was a pincer - imaginary trees to the left of us, imaginary trees to the right of us. A quick bit of running around with a marker pole solved this, while we suggested an area where a few more trees could be gained to keep the overall balance.
In Glen Quey there is only routine maintenance to be carried out. A visitor count and survey will take place over the next 12 months - this will include information about parking, walking routes and what improvements people would like to see.
In Glen Sherup work will start on Phase 2 (the eastern half of the property) in autumn 2003 and planting will be completed by summer 2004. From next summer paths will be mown to help to define them now that sheep grazing has stopped.
The proposals for Geordie's Wood are being worked up. The site is being surveyed for an environmental statement which will go out for formal consultation later this year. The Woodland Trust is liaising closely with Muckhart Community Council on the plans, especially those for the vicinity of the village. Friends of the Ochils has had an input already and will be involved in the formal consultation later this year.
In FotO's initial informal response we were broadly supportive, as the plan moves the woodland "down the hill" rather than over the tops. We regretted that the various different sites along Glen Devon had been developed piecemeal rather than as part of a unified plan (which could usefully also have included the coniferous plantations on Commonedge Hill and the south side of Glen Sherup), though we appreciated that the Woodland Trust was simply reacting to opportunities as they arose. On the whole, the proposals would improve access, increase biodiversity and, subject to the detail of the planting line at the upper edge on Seamab Hill, not be detrimental to the landscape. There is potential for car parking to provide easier access to Glen Quey.
We understand that Geordie's Wood is the last scheme in this area that the Woodland Trust anticipates. As the woodland develops over the coming decades, this corner of Glen Devon will change substantially. Time is now needed to assess the public reaction, the conservation benefits and any downsides. Given the current difficult economics of farming, however, it is possible that conservation woodland or commercial forestry schemes might be proposed for any part of the Ochils at any time. FotO has, we hope, established a good reputation for constructively arguing a reasonable case and for sticking to its guns in defence of landscape and access when these are threatened.