There is currently a consultation open on the forestry in the South of Arran, with a date set for a meeting at Whiting Bay Hall on 24th March. The area includes Carn Ban, Glenashdale Falls, Giants Graves and the Glenashdale Iron Age fort, as well as the Garbad and Aucheleffan forest blocks.
The main objectives of the work are to: 1, Maintain sustainable timber production. 2, Manage priority species through increasing areas of low-density forest edge habitat and enhance habitat connectivity. 3, Address issues around forest stability and to improve the resilience in light of the changing climate and increasing storm risk.
Below is more information from the Forestry and Land Scotland website:
Southend Land Management Plan
The Southend Land Management unit is located on the south of the island of Arran between Whiting Bay and Kilmory. This includes the Glenashdale, Garbad and Aucheleffan forest blocks. Covering an area of 3324 ha, the area comprises of a mix of commercial coniferous plantations, native broadleaved woodland, and open ground.
It is part of Scotland’s national forests and land, owned by Scottish Ministers on behalf of the people of Scotland, and managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS).
Forestry and Land Scotland is currently revising this land management plan that will define the management prescription for the ten year period between (2026 to 2036), and presents a long term vision for the area. It is an opportunity for us to review the management objectives, and to set out our operations for the next 10 years.
This page will be regularly updated with information, documents and maps as the plan takes shape. Draft versions of the plan will be published here and we invite comments and feedback on all of our proposals.
Community consultation
Consultation with stakeholders (including the local community) is a requirement of the land management planning process, but it is also a valuable opportunity for us to engage with the public, talk about our work, and discover what’s important to you.
A public consultation drop-in event will be held in Whiting Bay on:
- Tuesday 24 March 2026
- 3pm – 6.15pm
- Whiting Bay Village Hall
Everyone is welcome to come along to learn more about our ideas for managing this area, and to share their thoughts with our staff.
Alternatively, there is an online survey available here:
https://forms.gle/jyphjicVQHXuZ1BB8
For more information and to view maps and other documents regarding the proposals, please visit the FLS website
Featured image credit: West Coast Today