Flying start for tree planting at the Rest
Tree planting at the landslide-prone Rest and be Thankful is about to begin as the latest phase of a long-term slope stabilisation project.
Before planting on the slopes begins in October this year, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) teams will remove old deer fencing and install new fencing along the 9km (5.6 mile) perimeter of the site.
Because of the nature of the site, fencing materials will have to be lifted in by helicopter later this month, meaning the A83 will be closed for short periods of eight to 10 minutes for safety reasons.
Although the flight path will mostly be within the site, there will be occasions where the helicopter will have to fly close to the road. FLS says there will be traffic management on the A83 at Glen Croe, planned for Thursday February 25 and Friday February 26, with flying time between 7.30am and 4.30pm.
The project is a partnership between FLS, Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland to help reduce the risk of road-closing landslips. James Hand, operations forester with FLS, said: ‘We’ll be starting with the ‘uphill’ sections, so the helicopter will be able to safely fly within the site boundary.’
He said the closures would ‘only be as and when required’ and be kept to a minimum.
‘We apologise in advance for any inconvenience that this might cause,’ he added.
The fencing at the northern end of the site is the first of three stages. Stages two and three – fencing the bealach between Beinn Luibhean and Beinn Ime, and the downhill stretch from the southern end of the bealach to roadside – will begin in May.
Chartered forester James added: ‘The fencing at Glen Croe will give the trees that will be planted in October – downy birch, aspen, oak, blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, juniper and Scots pine – their best chance of reaching maturity and giving the roots time to establish and begin to bind the slope – an effect that will increase, year on year.’