Key Actions
Bearing in mind the limitations of staff and volunteer time and resources and finance:
• Continued management of planted woodland areas and targeted regeneration areas.
• Initiate and pursue an advocacy programme regarding Dùn Coillich using publications and events.
• Clarify leadership of Heart of Scotland Forest Partnership (HoSFP) and establish clear purpose and agenda.
• Continue working with Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh in identifying rare plants and planting in the inbye land eg wych elm, wild apple trees (see section 6 below).
• Maintain annual deer management contract.
• Apply to Scottish Forestry (SF) for a Sustainable Forest Management Grant for Deer Management.
• Commission a National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey which can inform state of key habitats, such as calcareous grasslands, mires and flushes (see section 6 below), examining the desirability and practicality of managing calcareous grasslands.
• Contract arboriculturist for tree inspection at Wee Birks Field regarding health & safety considerations.
• Contract peatland surveyor and depending on the results of a survey apply for peatland restoration funds.
• Maintain and expand areas of open water and evaluate potential for further ‘wetting up’ of areas of bog and mire.
• Institute a series of site visits for trustees, staff and others to learn about other approaches to and experiences of upland ecological restoration, including to Denmarkfield, Taras Valley, Lynebeck Croft and SRUC Hill and Mountain Research Centre.
• Operations sub-committee to examine future land management policy, including future forestry and deer policy, reporting to Board.
• Create a Woodland Management Plan and a Deer Management Plan (successful outcome could be grant payment from SF of £25 per hectare per annum for 5 years) – Sustainable Management of Forests – Native Woodland (ruralpayments.org) .
• If the Operation sub-committee and Board support broadening HPCLT’s land management, studies might be commissioned to examine the feasibility and practicalities of livestock introduction and management, fodder production, upland food production, etc. (as considered appropriate at the time).