New trees to stabilise hillside above the Rest
A new woodland above the Rest and be Thankful will be the size of 50 football pitches and take five years to plant.
The planting project aims to provide long-term protection to the A83 by helping to prevent landslips on the notoriously unstable south western flanks of Ben Luibhean, Glen Croe. In total around 176,000 trees will be planted.
Led by Forestry and Land Scotland, the initial stages of planting are taking place on land managed by Transport Scotland, which is also funding the work in a bid to improve the resilience of the vital route.
Speaking at the start of the Rest and be Thankful Woodland Creation Project, minister for transport Jenny Gilruth MSP said: ‘With the climate emergency likely to increasingly impact on Scotland’s landscape in the years ahead, protecting our infrastructure is a top priority.
‘Using nature-based solutions like woodland creation is a win-win solution. It will help protect this important trunk road that is a vital lifeline for many people, will help capture more carbon and help increase the habitat in which wildlife can flourish.’
Forestry and Land Scotland has been working in partnership with Transport Scotland for several years to develop the plan, which will complement a range of hard engineering works that have already been put in place in response to previous incidents.
Forestry and Land Scotland teams are planting a mix of native woodland species at the western end of the hillside and will, over the course of the next two years, work their way steadily eastwards.
The species being planted – locally sourced, to be already adapted to the local environment – include 20,000 downy birch, 22,000 aspen, 44,000 oak, 42,000 blackthorn, 42,000 hawthorn and 6,000 alder. These species are also most likely to be resilient to future climate changes.
As soon as they are in the ground their root systems will begin to grow and develop, binding the hillside over time and reducing the likelihood of landslips.