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Knockderry New Woodland Creation Scheme

Stakeholder consultation

Prepared by Tilhill West Highland District

On behalf of

Rosneath woodlands

08/01/2020

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The information set out below has been identified as being important for the development of the new woodland. Consultees are requested to respond in writing with any comments deemed important to consider during the production of the forest design and woodland creation plan. A concept map outlining the key management considerations is appended as is a list of all interested parties included within this scoping process.

1. Introduction

The proposed planting area at Knockderry is currently agricultural grazing land situated on the Rosneath peninsula (OS Grid ref:- NS 243 824) the property is positioned between the villages of Rosneath and Cove with Kilcreggan to the south and Clach Mackenny hill to the north. The property is adjacent to the existing Rosneath woodlands which is under the same ownership. The total area of the property is 160ha of which there is only a few hectares of existing native woodland, mainly along the eastern edge of the site. There is Sitka spruce regenerating naturally over most of the area, and there is Rhododendron ponticum and Rhododendron pentanthera regenerating in the southern half. Objectives for forest management of Knockderry include:-

• Obtaining the maximum possible financial return from the new productive crop by the practice of sound silviculture.

• To maintain and enhance the amenity and conservation value of the forest and preserve features of social and archaeological interest.

• To safeguard the quality of water flowing in natural watercourses within the forest.

• To manage the forest in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard and the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme.

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2. Designations

This site has been given a local nature conservation site (LNCS) designation by Argyll and Bute council. This particular LNCS noted was identified in the Dumbarton District Wide Local Plan in 1999 and has been carried forward through various reviews of the Development Plan into the current Local Development Plan. The information regarding this site is now very dated, coming from the Lower Clyde Habitat Survey in 1992 and is as follows:- “A large expanse of wet heathland on a plateau which reaches a height of 202 metres at Clach MacKenny. The heathland supports a predominantly Heather/Harestail Cotton-grass community. Other dominant plants are Purple Moor-grass, Cross-leaved Heath, Blaeberry, Deer-grass and, locally, Bog Myrtle and Bog Asphodel. Pockets of acid grassland contain Tormentil, Heath Bedstraw, Heath Wood-rush, Heath Rush, Sweet Vernal Grass, Yorkshire Fog, Mat Grass and Wavy Hair-grass. Areas of marshy grassland and flushes host Marsh Thistle, Sharp-flowered Rush, Jointed Rush, Star Sedge, Common Cotton-grass, Common Sedge, Marsh Voilet, Marsh Lousewort, Common Lousewort, Common Butterwort, Heath Spotted Orchids and a local abundance of Whorled Caraway. Local areas of wet heathland merge to bog conditions with Sphagnum. Rhododendron was recorded by the Habitat Survey (1992) at NS 247820 colonising an area of heathland and bog. Fauna recorded includes Black Grouse, Common Snipe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Common Fog, Common Blue Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Small Heath Butterfly and Common Lizard.”

3. Ecology

The woodland creation area has been surveyed for deep peat and these areas have been discounted from the potential planting areas. Further surveys for vegetation, breeding birds, raptor prey, and other protected mammals will take place the summer of 2020. Full results of the surveys will be made available as appropriate.

4. Historical and Cultural Interests A desk-based survey and a site walkover has been performed by Tilhill personnel, no features were identified on Canmore or on WOSAS. During site surveys several features have been noted and a full archaeological walkover survey will be conducted this summer by a professional archaeologist and their advice will be used to influence the forest design. Features already noted are in the table below.

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5. Landscape Interests The Knockderry woodland creation proposal sits in between the existing Rosneath woodlands which is in an advanced stage of restructuring, and Garelochead forest which is partially felled. It is thought that a well-designed woodland creation on this site will have a limited visual impact on the surrounding area, the site itself is not visible from any of the nearby surrounding villages (Cove, Kilcreggan or Rosneath). It is likely that a part of the northern edge of the forest visible from Strone point, Blairmore and Hunters quay. This visible edge will be taken into account during the design phase and will likely address the current landscape issue relating to the gap between the Garelochhead forest and the Clach MacKenny hill. The southern tip of the forest will likely be visible from Tower hill and Lyle hill in Gourock.

6. Access Currently there is vehicle access to the northern edge of the woodland creation from the adjacent Rosneath woodlands, this internal forest road meets Peaton road to the north of the property. This allow access and egress for machinery and supplies for establishment and for future timber extraction from the forest to the A815 without passing through any villages. A short road extension will be required from the internal forest road, this will allow access to the site for delivery of materials and machinery for woodland establishment.

Easting Northing Site type Character Map ID number

223880 683238 Field boundary

Stone built wall, overgrown and in a poor state of preservation. Appears on modern 1:25k os maps however not present on 1st edition OS map (XVI) surveyed in 1860, or the 1899 revision (XVI.NE)

1

224397 682197 Reservoir dam

In the centre of the southern half of the site there is the remains of a small reservoir, the dam has been constructed with an earth bank with a concrete wall reinforcing it. To the southern end of the dam there is the outflow which runs east then south to help fill the Camsail mill pond at NS 2498 8151. At present it is unknown what year this reservoir was constructed however it does feature on the 1st edition OS map no (XVI) which was surveyed in 1860, also identified on this map was a second dam to the south of the reservoir (no longer visible on the ground) it looks as though this was a temporary construction as it was not denoted on the revision in 1899. The dam itself has burst and is nearly entirely drained, from the vegetation growth it looks as though there has been two separate breaches, one a number of decades ago and the latter within the last few years.

3,4 & 5

224391 683104 Stone

(no visible markings)

At the highest point of the site there is a large stone that does not look to be a natural feature, there are no visible markings noted on the stone and there is no obvious explanation for its placement. Further investigation will be carried out by a trained archaeologist and their recommendations followed.

2

224361 681650 Unknown

circular feature

At the top of hill to the south western corner of the site (159m) there is a raised circular formation approx.. 5m in diameter with a hollow in the centre. The origin of this feature is unknown and advice will be sought following the full archaeological survey.

6

Historic footpath

There are two historic footpaths that were noted in the 1865, 1899 and 1914 OS maps, these are no longer visible on the ground.

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7. Water and soils

There are two burns that originate on the site, the Clachan burn and an unnamed tributary of the Camsail burn. All drainage and cultivation will be carried out in accordance with Forest & Water guidelines 5th edition and current best practice. There are currently no comprehensive soil maps of the area , however initial surveys show that the northern slopes are made up of Loams and some surface water Gleys and the eastern edge is made up of Clayey and Sandy loams. There are substantial areas of deep peat in the centre and to the west of the site which have been excluded from the potential planting area.

8. Species The Initial proposals are for a coniferous woodland on the slopes to the north of the powerline, comprising primarily Sitka spruce with smaller areas of Norway spruce, Lodgepole pine and Scots pine where appropriate. There will also be concentrations of native broadleaves buffering existing Ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNW) to the eastern edge, and the top of the Clachan burn. In suitable areas around, and to the south of the powerline could be used for broadleaves suitable for timber production.

9. Recreation

Providing there are no protected species that would be affected by the increase in human traffic we plan to create a walking path through the middle of the woodland creating a circular walking route for the local community (see map). Stakeholder list First Name Organisation or Company Name Regional Stakeholders

Ruari Dunsmuir Scottish Natural Heritage

Argyll and Bute Council

Scott Shanks RSPB Scotland

Barry Blackwood Scottish Forestry

Historic Environment Scotland

Martin O'Hare WOSAS

Scottish Water

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

Local stakeholders

Tom O’Brien Rosneath and Clynder community council

Kim Cleminson Cove and Kilcreggan community council

David Jardine Argyll Raptor study group

10. Concept Map, See Attached.

Helicopter landing zone

Grid ref :- NN 1266 0082

Lat 56.163167, Long -5.0185274

MAIN GATE

PA27 8DW

NN 1290 0219

(Code 1492)

Succoth farm

water supply intake

Powerline

New road

Opertunityto enhanceASNW

This edge is visiblefrom outlying areas.

Mill resevoir,now drained

Rhododendron spreadingthrough land south of thepowerline.

Old access track could be used forsite access / circular walking route

Rosneath Forest Bdy

Powerline

Historic footpath

Archaeology (linear)

Archaeology (points)

Unplantable land

ASNW

Legend

42 Glencruitten RoadObanArgyllPA34 4DWTel: 01631 562906Fax: 01631 566751

This map is georeferanced and can be usedwith Avenza maps.

To download, search Avenza in the AppleApp Store or Google Play store.

Rosneath WoodlandsKnockderry

Constraints & Opertunities

Helicopter landing zone

Grid ref :- NN 1266 0082

Lat 56.163167, Long -5.0185274

MAIN GATE

PA27 8DW

NN 1290 0219

(Code 1492)

Succoth farm

water supply intake

Rosneath Forest Bdy

Forest road

ATV track / New Path

Deer Fence

Potential planting area

Unplantable land

ASNW

Legend

42 Glencruitten RoadObanArgyllPA34 4DWTel: 01631 562906Fax: 01631 566751

This map is georeferanced and can be usedwith Avenza maps.

To download, search Avenza in the AppleApp Store or Google Play store.

Rosneath WoodlandsKnockderry

Planting opertunities