Blueprint for future of wood
Five-year protection plan drawn up
Roseanne Keith
Plans have been unveiled to protect Moncreiffe Hill in Perth over the next five years while attracting even more people to the wood.
Woodland Trust Scotland is now consulting on a five-year management plan for the hill, with the draft plan available to download from the trust’s website.
Issues covered include revision of way-marked routes and interpretation boards, dealing with ash dieback, tree thinning and control of invasive Himalayan balsam and rhododendron ponticum.
There will be a focus on encouraging responsible dog walking and protecting the two sites of archeological interest on the hill.
The Woodland Trust will also further promote the hill as a visitor site, especially for families.
According to the document, opportunities open on the hill include buying land on the Earn side of the road to increase the car park, and redesigning the way-marked routes, and corresponding interpretation board, to follow the better quality tracks.
A dog awareness day could be held before 2022 to help alleviate issues with dog fouling while new signage could be erected targeting irresponsible pet owners.
The draft plan states: “Moncreiffe Hill is a very popular place for dog walking, and many people are responsible dog owners.
“However, in some cases the lack of dog control and dog fouling is causing an issue. Dogs running up to or jumping up on people can cause alarm, especially if they are afraid of dogs.
“There have also been some incidents of dogs behaving badly around a horse and rider, causing distress. Dogs have been seen chasing deer in the wood, or have got into neighbouring fields to chase sheep.
“Dog fouling is a health hazard and is unsightly, especially when poo is picked up but left on site in bags where it will not decompose for years.”
The document also says deer
Hill in Perth