Drimnatorran Land Management Plan

Some of the key local landmarks are identified in relation to Drimnatorran Forest. The map also identifies the names for local sections of the forest which are referenced throughout this StoryMap.

Drimnatorran Forest occupies 1,071ha spread over three distinct areas: The main block to the north and east of Strontian village, with Phemies’ Wood and Longrigg to the West.

The main block is dissected by the Strontian river. To the north west of the river lies the Ariundle section of the Sunart SSSI and SAC designations. FLS ownership almost envelopes the NatureScot Ariundle Oakwood National Nature Reserve (NNR). This is the most environmentally sensitive part of the Forest. The rest of Drimnatorran is dominated by commercial conifer crops: Sitka spruce, Lodgepole pine and Larches which were planted in the 1970’s (Ariundle plateau and Longrigg) and 1990’s (Eggadale). Areas of semi-natural woodland as well as the Coille Dhubh ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW), can be found in Eggadale.

Phemies’ Wood is a Policy Wood lying within an area described as “Long established woodland." It is host to an impressive deadwood habitat, large Silver firs and mature Oak ladened with ferns and lichens.

Drimnatorran Forest sits at the eastern extent of the Sunart Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)/Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designations. Much of the designated area consists of Scottish Rainforest habitats which is internationally rare. These habitats are found in public and private ownership in this location. The Ariundle Oakwood National Nature Reserve (NNR) is almost enveloped by Drimnatorran Forest. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) work closely with NatureScot to manage this section of the Sunart designations.

Drimnatorran Forest lies in close proximity to settlements such as Strontian village and the adjacent crofting townships. These are all interlinked by an extensive path network which includes enabling access to the NNR. The old right of way through Ariundle allows access to the Fee Donald lead mine and Sgurr Dhomhnuill which lie to the north east.

Open land which neighbours the northern and eastern boundaries of the main forest block hold large amounts of red deer. This puts pressure on the deer fences, especially during winter months as the deer seek refuge in woodlands, which is their natural habitat. High deer numbers can cause immense damage to young trees and native habitats.

There is a strong history of industrial native woodland management in this location from Viking era through to present day. The Vikings prized the Oak for ship repairs so much so that they named the glen “Eggadale" which translates as “Glen of the Oaks”. This name was still being used when the Roy maps were compiled. The Ariundle Oakwood is dominated with industrially managed Oaks which show evidence of previous coppicing.

Through the centuries woodlands in this locality supported the local lead mining industry with pit props, the charcoal industry supplying fuel to the Bonawe furnace – as evidenced with the remains of charcoal platforms and bloomeries, farming in clearings and woodland pasture, and homes evidenced with farm structures, townships and shielings, a source of fuelwood and bark for tanning.

The Ancient Woodland remnants in the designated areas of Ariundle and in the Coille Dhubh ASNW contain features such as veteran trees, rich woodland flora and fauna, and important Bryophyte and lichen communities. These woodlands form an important component of the Scottish Rainforest habitat which is of global significance. Long established woodlands such as the FLS Phemies’ Wood – a Policy Woodland - and the local Community woodland on the east side of Strontian also contain important habitats, in particular deadwood in Phemies’ Wood.

Recent industrial woodland management has been dominated by commercial conifer production which was initiated by the policies driven by previous Governments.

Cultural heritage is dominated by language in this location. The iconic landmark on the western slopes of Carnoch hill is called Tom an t-Sithein, which roughly translates as the fairies’ knoll. The village of Strontian was named after this landmark, Sron an t-Sithein – nose of the fairies. The village of Strontian lent its name to the element Strontium when it was first discovered in the local lead mines.

The Gaelic language beautifully describes the visual aspects of a given location:

Drimnatorran – bridge at the small hill. Sron a t-Sithein (Strontian) – nose of the fairies. Airigh Fhionndail (Ariundle) – shieling of the white meadow A’ Charnaich (Carnoch) – stony place, or place of cairns. Coille Dhubh – black forest. An Torra Ban – white mound. Eggadale – Norse for glen of the oaks.

A Special Area of Conservation (SAC) protects one or more special habitats and species, terrestrial or marine as listed in the Habitats Directive. The Habitats Directive is an EU Council Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna. Click  here  to learn more about SAC designations. 

Sunart Special Area of Conservation (SAC) covers an area totalling 10,246.65ha which is split into two distinct locations. The largest area covers the area around the shores of Loch Sunart with a smaller area 164.16ha in size located at Ariundle. The Ariundle section is under three separate ownerships: FLS, NatureScot – the Ariundle Oakwood National Nature Reserve, and private ownership in the north eastern section.

The qualifying interests for this designation are: Dry heaths; Otter; Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath; Western acidic oak woodland; Reefs and Mixed woodland on base-rich soils associated with rocky slopes.

The qualifying interests relating to Drimnatorran Forest are the Western acidic oak woodland and otter. “The old Sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles” habitat which is associated with the Ariundle area of Drimnatorran contains the richest complex of Atlantic bryophyte-rich old Sessile oak woods in the UK. The habitat also supports a rich fern flora, lichen communities, some of which are rare, and a good population of Chequered skipper butterflies.

The previous Drimnatorran Forest Design Plan oversaw much of the removal of non-native conifer species from the FLS section of the designation.

NatureScot describe Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as areas selected to protect one or more rare, threatened or vulnerable bird species listed in Annex 1 of the Birds Directive, or certain regularly occurring migratory species. These areas are of European importance.

Drimnatorran Forest is affected by the Moidart and Ardgour SPA which envelopes the northern and north eastern sections of the main block and includes much of the open sections of Carnoch hill as well as the poorly performing commercial crop on peat soils.

This SPA area covers 41,426.37ha of mountain and moorland, with Drimnatorran Forest at the southern extent. The qualifying feature is Golden eagle. Find out more about SPA's  here .

 SSSI  are designated by NatureScot and identify sites where plants, animals, rocks and rockforms are of particular interest in reflecting natural heritage.

The notified natural features relating to the Drimnatorran Forest section of the Sunart SSSI designation includes: Upland Oak woodland; Bryophyte assemblage, Lichen assemblage, Otter, Dragonfly assemblage and Chequered skipper butterfly.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), works closely with NatureScot regarding the provision and management of the public access to the National Nature Reserves (NNR). FLS provides parking and the formal Ariundle trails link with those within the NNR. Find out more about Ariundle Oakwood NNR  here . You can also read 'The Story of Ariundle Oakwood National Nature Reserve'  here .

NatureScot describe Wild Land Areas (WLAs) as the most extensive areas of high wildness. They are identified as nationally important in Scottish Planning Policy but are not a statutory designation.

The Moidart – Ardgour WLA which extends across much of central and northern Ardgour reaching as far as Roshven, clips parts of the eastern edge of the main Drimnatorran block. The main features of this WLA are:        

• A complex range of irregular, high, steep, rugged and rocky mountains with a strong sense of naturalness

• Deep, long glens that penetrate the remote interior and contain a strong sense of seclusion and sanctuary

• The spectacular linear trench of Loch Shiel that cuts through the mountains, appearing awe inspiring to its form

Within the second feature mentioned above there is a mention that conifer plantations have a strong influence within certain glens. Some are located outside the WLA, but their effects extend inside such as Ariundle, indicating contemporary land use diminishing naturalness.

Click  here  for more information on this WLA.

NatureScot has produced a national map-based  Landscape Character Assessment for Scotland . Landscape Character Types (LCT) descriptions provide a list of key characteristics, and typically include sections on physical, cultural and aesthetic elements of landscape.

Plateau Moorland - Lochaber = A high plateau of acidic moor and peatland which has an expansive scale and open character. Click  here  for more information.

Broad Forested Strath = A gently undulating landscape with a broad mosaic of coniferous and deciduous woodland and open pasture. Click  here  for more information.

Click on each arrow to reveal the viewpoint image. Double click on each photo to enlarge it.

Drimnatorran Forest is viewed from localised areas. The topography in this vicinity is highly variable which makes it difficult to gain an overall view of the Forest. The views from Morvern in the south and from the lead mines in the north provide the most widespread views over the forest.

The views from Morvern look onto moderately steep, freely draining, fertile slopes where commercial conifers are most productive and accessible. The views from the north look onto relatively wet, poor and often peaty soils where commercial conifer crops grow at variable rates on the Ariundle plateau and Carnoch summit. The more discreet views within Ariundle and Eggadale juxtaposes designated Oakwood on the north and west side of the Strontian river with commercial conifer crops on the south and east side of the river.

Non-designated native woodland is mostly located in Ariundle and Eggadale. The Coille Dhubh Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) is dominated by Birchwood habitat, but is threatened by non-native species which have been planted within the perimeter of this zone. Elsewhere Birch dominated semi-natural woodland covers a sizeable part of the southern Eggadale linking in with riparian woodland around the Strontian river. There are some scattered Oaks through the Birch on the lower slopes. These would benefit from halo thinning to maintain their crowns. Localised areas of Birch woodland and wet woodland priority habitat can be found around the NNR in Ariundle and in South Carnoch. Click  here  to learn more about the Scottish Ancient Woodland Inventory.

Strontian and the surrounding Crofting Townships are well served with networks of paths both within FLS ground. Many of these paths have been designated as core paths by Highland Council. They provide safe and beautiful places for locals and visitors to enjoy, linking Strontian village with the Ariundle Oakwood National Nature Reserve (NNR) and the Strontian River.

Forestry and Land Scotland work closely with NatureScot to support access to the NNR by providing parking facilities at Ariundle and paths which link with those in the NNR. The clearfelling of commercial conifer species in recent years in Ariundle has provided the opportunity to restore peatland and restock with some native trees. This has opened up a wonderful vista across much of the Strontian floodplain to the backdrop of Sgùrr Dhòmhnuill which lies farther up the glen.

Phemies’ Wood is a Policy woodland lying on ground which is described as long established woodland. This mirrors the Community Woodland on the east side of Strontian village. Phemies’ Wood consists of a wide variety of trees species, some of which are impressively large most notably the European Silver fir and Oak ladened with ferns, mosses and lichen. Deadwood habitat is equally impressive in this woodland and is easily accessible from the paths.

The Strontian Community are under negotiation with FLS regarding the purchase of the Longrigg block under the Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS). The Drimnatorran LMP has incorporated proposals for Longrigg which will meet FLS objectives, which are flexible enough to be easily adapted to suit the local Community’s objectives.

The soils within Drimnatorran Forest are highly variable forming a complex mosaic of soil types. Peats dominate the flatter areas found on the Strontian river floodplain, the plateau areas of Ariundle and Longrigg and Carnoch hill. Elsewhere, the slopes are dominated by a mix of surface water gleys, peaty surface water gleys, ironpans, rankers and brown earths. These variable soils impact on crop consistency, suitable tree species, growth rates of trees and habitat types.

The water habitats that affect Drimnatorran Forest are particularly sensitive. They include public and private water supplies, salmonid habitat and are used by otter.

Forestry operations comply with the UK Forestry Standard which places particular emphasis on water protection. The forest plan aims to improve water habitats and make them resilient to a changing climate, through peatland restoration and, where clearfelling provides the opportunity, the creation of native riparian woodland. In the long term these improvements will help to regulate water flow, improve water quality, create water holding areas in the Strontian river floodplain and Carnoch summit, and provide dappled shade around woodland streams.

Plant health is becoming an increasing problem in UK forests, as a result of a changing climate and trade. Sections of Drimnatorran Forest are impacted by various plant health issues.

Dothistroma Lodgepole pine dominated windblown areas affect Ariundle plateau and Longrigg. The pine as in poor condition and have reached economic potential. These areas will be removed in the new plan to remove the suspected Dothistroma affected crop and to salvage an economic return. These pines are associated with peaty or ranker soils.

Phytophthora ramorum Larch trees are highly susceptible to  Phytophthora ramorum  disease. They act as a super host to this pathogen but also succumb to death in a very short space of time. The Larch in Ariundle plateau and Longrigg have reached their economic potential and as such will be removed during the new plan period. Unfortunately Phytophthora ramorum has been identified in some trees in the heart of Ariundle plateau which has resulted in the issuing of a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) to fell Larch trees in the vicinity of the diseased trees.

The new plan will also propose the removal of the non-native species in the isolated blocks on West Carnoch. A planned forwarder track will enable the access of harvesting machines from the Carnoch forest road. Low level thinning will slowly remove Larch in Phemies’ Wood and Ariundle SSSI/SAC area.

Elsewhere in Carnoch the Larch will be allowed to mature for a while longer. The existing forest road network will allow the rapid premature felling of the Larch if they become infected. A planned road stretching from Carnoch summit into Eggadale will be constructed in three phases during the new plan. This will reach the most inaccessible areas of maturing Larch and will prepare for the rapid felling of these crops in the event of an outbreak of Phytophthora ramorum.

Chalara This disease which affects Ash trees, is spreading rapidly through Scotland. There is no plan to remove affected Ash unless it poses a threat to health and safety. This approach will ensure resistant trees can survive and be able to set seed to produce a future resilient woodland.

Click  here  for more information on pests and diseases.

Long term:

• Plan for resilience in a changing climate for woodland and open habitats, commercial forestry, soils, water and biodiversity.
• Maintain and expand the features of the SSSI/SAC Designated woodland into sections of Ariundle plateau and the western edge of Eggadale.
• Improve biodiversity connectivity by reinstating riparian woodland habitat which will connect lowlying woodland and open priority habitat with upland open, peatland edge and open crown woodland habitat.
• Work with NatureScot to resolve the issues affecting the management of the NNR non-native seeding threat affecting the FLS owned section of the SSSI/SAC.
• Assess soils and predicted climate to determine the most suited tree species to a given soil type.
• Improve water quality for water supplies, salmonid and otter habitat through the creation of riparian woodland habitat, expansion of native woodland and peatland restoration.
• Gain access into Eggadale to enable future harvesting and to respond to plant health issues and SPHNs.
• Improve external and internal landscaping through the sympathetic use of open space, peatland restoration on the Strontian river floodplain and the use of native woodland species to connect designated woodland with planted woodland.
• Maintain formal recreational facilities to ensure the local community and visitors to the area can continue to enjoy the special habitats and views.

10 year Plan:

• Economic and plant health clearfelling of commercial conifer species in Ariundle Plateau and Longrigg.
• Removal of non-native species from the Designated woodland area in Ariundle which is annexed by the NNR and Strontian river.
• Manage non-native regeneration within the main section of the Designated woodland.
• Removal of non-native conifer species, including Larch, from the difficult to access isolated blocks on West Carnoch.
• Removal of poorly performing Sitka spruce crops from the deep peat soils in Carnoch summit and the Strontian river floodplain area in Eggadale.
• Restore afforested deep peatlands in Carnoch summit, Strontian river floodplain in Eggadale, in localised areas of Ariundle plateau and the central and northern portion of Longrigg.
• Replant the current felled areas in Carnoch with Sitka spruce.
• Restock Ariundle plateau with native broadleaf and Scots pine species in the northern section and within 200m of the SSSI/SAC designations. Allow natural regeneration to establish where seed sources allow. Plant commercial Norway spruce and Scots pine in the better soils in the southern section of this plateau.
• Establish native woodland habitat outwith the restored peat areas in the northern section of Longrigg with commercial forestry confined to the more fertile south eastern slopes. Create native woodland habitat/ woodland edge habitat near the houses along the south east boundary.
• Secure the sale of the Longrigg block to the local community.
• Maintain the existing formal recreational facilities.

Move the swipe bar from left to right in order to see the woodlands at the south of the site, as viewed from Morvern, transition from 2023 until 2073.

The main issues facing the management of Drimnatorran Forest are:

• Protecting the features of the Sunart SAC/SSSI in Ariundle.       
• Removal of non-native species from the designated woodland.
• How to manage non-native species seeding in from the Ariundle Oakwood National Nature Reserve.
• Priority felling to remove commercial crops which have either reached economic maturity or are suffering from plant health issues in Drimnatorran and Longrigg.
• Currently no access into these fell areas.
• Vulnerable minor public roads affecting the haulage routes.
• How to manage Longrigg whilst its sale is under negotiation with the local community.
• Poorly performing Sitka spruce crops on areas of deep peat.
• Commercial conifer crops within some riparian areas.
• The watershed of most of the Drimnatorran main block lies within the Scottish Water public drinking water catchment.
• Private water supply catchment in south west Carnoch.
• Inaccessible areas of Larch which need to be managed according to the FLS Larch Strategy.
• Replacing decaying pedestrian bridges which cross the Strontian river.
• Managing deer to sustainable levels.
• Manage invasive non-native species within FLS land and managing rhododendron spreading in from adjacent land such as the Community Woodland.

Forestry and Land Scotland is the Scottish Government agency responsible for managing Scotland’s national forests and land. Our mission is to look after Scotland’s forests and land, for the benefit of all, now and for the future.

We manage the national forests and land in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry, conserves and enhances the environment and delivers benefits for people and nature.

All of our land management is carried out to the standards and requirements of the  UK Forestry Standard  – the UK’s reference standard for managing forests sustainably. It is carried out under Land Management Plans (see below) approved by  Scottish Forestry , the Scottish Government’s agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulations.

In addition, all of our forests are independently certified as being responsibly managed against the  United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Standard  – a standard for sustainability which is endorsed by the  Forest Stewardship Council  (FSC) and the  Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification  (PEFC). This means that all the timber we sell can be badged with these internationally-recognised marks of sustainability.

A wide range of strategies, policies, guidance and decision support systems guide preparation and delivery of Land Management Plans. You can find out more  here .