Urgent larch felling will change Argyll landscapes

A disease attacking larch trees has been identified at 20 new sites across the west of Scotland including Loch Fyne, Loch Awe, Lochaline, Kintyre and Mull.

Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) West Region team is drawing up long-term emergency plans to deal with its spread but has warned it will involve ‘substantial changes to some well-loved landscapes over the next four years but it’s urgent work’.

Steps to halt Phytophthora ramorum are being taken but it will mean more tree felling, new forest roads, as well as existing roads being upgraded and harvesting facilities constructed.

FLS is also working on replanting plans to reduce the visual impact. Of the 20 sites identified, 12 have to be felled by the middle of February next year with the remaining nine sites being felled before the end of March 2021.

Andy Hunt, FLS West Region manager, said: ‘It’s a real blow to have so many sites to deal with.

‘It’s going to substantially tax our resources and challenge our planning and delivery teams.

‘As well as dealing with these sites of infection, we’re also getting our normal operations back on track after the Covid-19 lockdown. It’s going to be a long haul that will see substantial changes to some well-loved landscapes over the next four years but it’s urgent work that we have to do if we are to slow the spread of the disease to other sites.

‘As we get this work started, we will have to close some sites for public safety but we will make people aware of the closures before we start work. We appreciate that this might cause some inconvenience for local people and visitors but we would urge everyone to observe the on-site safety signs.’

The team will work on the removal of infected larch trees following requirements of Statutory Plant Health Notices served by regulator Scottish Forestry.

The intention is to fell additional larch over the next four years to reduce further infection.

Mr Hunt is also asking for the public’s help to control the disease spread by following Keep It Clean advice: ‘Spores that cause this disease can be carried to unaffected sites in mud and forest debris so please take a few minutes to brush or wipe off boots, bike wheels, tent pegs and even your dog’s paws before and after a visit to any woodland in the area.’