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Forestry & Archaeology

While historically forestry has had a poor relationship with the archaeological community leading to the ploughing and planting of many significant sites and historic landscapes, current practice is much better and encourages archaeological concerns to be part of any forest plan.

The Forestry Commission website has access to a variety of sources relevant to procedures dealing with forestry, archaeology and historic landscapes issues. The following are the sections particularly relevant to the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS).

The New Planting Register lists proposals for both forestry felling and planting and their current status (whether received/approved or refused).

The Environmental Impact Assessment Register lists the FCS procedures for considering EIA and whether this has been required for individual applications.

The Land Information Search facility allows access to a wide range of databases, including archaeology, relevant to each application.

The Scottish Forestry Strategy guides current policy on Forestry in Scotland. It will shortly be subject to review

New Planting

Procedures have been developed under the new Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) where the onus is on the applicant to supply environmental and landscape data before an application is submitted. This may well require a rapid walk-over survey to identify and report on the condition of archaeological and historic landscape features within the proposed plantation. This is now eligible for grant aid from the FCS, varying from 65-90% depending on the land being selected for new planting. Contact your Local Council Archaeology service and Forest Conservancy office for more information.

Felling & Restocking

When woodland is planned for felling and restocking, there may be surviving archaeological remains worth preserving. The processes of felling and harvesting may damage the surviving remains. Local Council archaeology services may ask for walk-over surveys prior to felling. Percentage grants to cover the cost of this work are not currently available under the SFGS.

Existing woodland

Many woodlands were established over existing archaeological sites and areas and/or may contain information on woodland history. Archaeological survey may reveal significant information requiring mitigation work to protect these features. This may be a requirement from local council archaeology services for specific woodlands but is not funded under the SFGS.

Woodland history

There is increasing recognition that woodlands themselves may be of historic interest. The Scottish Woodland History Forum meets annually at Battleby near Perth.

Wood pasture has been recognised as a habitat worth preserving and a management programme has been drawn up by Scottish Natural Heritage. This has been published as Ancient Wood Pasture in Scotland: Classification and management principles

A published guide on Wood Pasture is available as a downloadable pdf file An illustrated guide to ancient wood pasture in Scotland

The management of wood pasture is only available as an option under the Rural Stewardship Scheme, though very specific grazing for conservation reasons may be permissible in certain areas under the SFGS. This is likely to be tightly monitored especially where land has been removed from agricultural production under the Farmland Premium (formerly the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme). See also Agri-environment schemes and Archaeology.

Veteran Trees are increasingly being recognised as being of significant value for both cultural and biodiversity reasons. Please view the Ancient Tree Forum for further details. Together with archaeologists and other environmental groups in England they have produced the Ancient Tree Guide 1: Trees & Farming.

Review of Land Managed by Forestry Commission Scotland 2004

This review specifically mentions 'cultural heritage' in the FCS vision statement for the first time as an objective in the management of the national forest. It is anticipated this will feed into the new Scottish Forestry Strategy.

Scotland's national forests will benefit everyone in Scotland, promoting vibrant and healthy communities; enriching natural environments and our cultural heritage; and creating wide-ranging opportunities for economic development.