This is a proposed amendment to the approved Ardgartan Land Management Plan. The purpose of this amendment is to update our intentions for future tree species on the western side of the peninsula on the east side of Loch Goil, south of the village of Lochgoilhead. We wish to remove the remaining exotic conifer areas on the west and transition towards more native, predominantly broadleaved, species. This change will enhance the objectives of the approved land management plan by way of increasing the amount of native woodland habitat and connectivity as well as improving soil stability and benefiting various fauna (see original and amended future habitat and species maps).

To achieve this we will need to improve the running surface of the forest road and alter the phasing of the felling accordingly (see original and amended management maps). We propose resurfacing the forest road as well as forming the necessary infrastructure to facilitate harvesting operations e.g. turning areas, winch bays and stacking areas all of which will be subject to an environmental impact assessment screening opinion request by Scottish Forestry. The current footprint of the forest road will, for the most part, remain as it is other than for limited areas of widening for turning and timber stacking. The visual impact of the proposed phase changes can be viewed comparing the original land management plan's visualisations taken from Lochgoilhead and Carrick Castle against our updated visualisations.

Receptors we are aware have the potential to be impacted include; neighbouring properties, private water supplies, public water supply, a core path, Loch Goil Marine Protected Area, watercourses, non-scheduled heritage features, various fauna e.g. raptors and the landscape of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

Location

Plan objectives:

• Fell all exotic conifers on the western side of the peninsula.
• Re-time the felling of all conifers into the next ten years.
• Improve the forest road and install all infrastructure necessary to carry out the felling work.
• Protect all known features and receptors in the course of this work.

Consultation

Before we submit our proposal to Scottish Forestry we would like get your feedback to make sure we consider all the likely significant impacts it may have and therefore mitigate against them. We would therefore ask that you please provide your response by Friday 2 May 2025 using the contact details below.

Timeline

• Friday 4 April 2025 to Friday 2 May 2025 - consultation on proposals
• Early May 2025 - submission to Scottish Forestry for approval
• June 2025 - proposals formally approved

Documents and Maps

• Map 1: Management (current plan)
• Map 2: Management (proposed)
• Map 3: Future Habitats (current)
• Map 4: Future Habitats (proposed)
• Map 5: Felling Phase Changes (proposed)
• Visualisation VP3: Lochgoilhead
• Visualisation VP4: Carrick
• The current approved land management plan can be seen here