applecross & torridon afforestation

APPLECROSS AND TORRIDONLandscape PlanningRural Study

Landscape Character AssesmentLandscape Sensitivity

Landscape CapacityAfforestation Strategy

Ahmad Maghrabi, Jana Hyskova, Christina Gonzales, Jiajia Liu, Miguel Bernat Mussons

Legend

0 5km1 2 3 4

Scale 1: 50,000 @ A1

8 Sheildaig Coastal Settlement

10 Moorland

13 Sheildaig Forest Valley

12 Loch Lundie Forest Valley

11 Croic Sheinn Mountain

19 Applecross River Basin

27 Applecross Coastal Plateau

30 Loch Kishorn Coastal Forest

Landscape Planning Rural Study

APPLECROSS AND TORRIDON

1 Diabaig Coastal Corries

2 Ben Alligin Mountains 3 Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobmil Valley4 Torridon Mountains with Forest5 River Torridon Valley Basin6 Coulin Forest Estate7 Loch Torridon Coastal Forest with Crofting

Landscape Character Assessment

16 Applecross Coastal

31 Kishorn Midlands

18 Applecross Estate Estuary

23 Upper Kishorn Corries

9 Upper Torridon Coastal Settlement

14 Loch Damh Valley Basin

17 Applecross Lowlands Fringe Moorland

20 Applecross Valley

21 Applecross Mountains

15 Ben Damh Mountains with Forest

22 Kishorn Valley

24 River Carron Valley

25 Loch Dughaill Valley Basin26 Applecross Coastal Settlement

28 Kishorn Coastal Settlement29 River Kishorn Estuary

32 Loch Carron Coastal Settlement

9

7

10

2019

21

27

18

26

1711

22

29

5

32

30

12

16

1

2

3

4

4

13

15

14

23

31

28

25

24

6 8

3

2

2

• Altitude

• Exposition(visualandwind)

• Steepnessoftheslopesandstabilityofthesurface

• Proximityofwatercoursesandwaterbodies

• Soilandgroundsurfacetypes(growingmedium)

• Valuablehabitatareas

• Historicalandnaturalpreservedareas

• Valuablescenicareas,scenicviewpoints

GENERALDESIGNGUIDANCEFORVALLEYS

• Protectandextendexistingnaturalwoods• Connectexistingwoodlandpatchessothathabitatsarelinkedtobecohe-

siveunits• Natural,organicshapeofwoodlandsrespectingnaturalformoftheland-

scape• Valleyfloorsremainwithoutforest,strengthenedwithclumpsoflowgrowing

vegetationalongthewatercoursetoreinforceripariancorridorsandmain-tainaestheticvalue

GENERALDESIGNGUIDANCEFORSETTLEMENTAREAS

• MoredensesettlementsaroundLochssurroundedbyclustersofwoodsforshelter

• Scatteredsettlementsalongthecoaststaymoreexposedwithplantingofsmallclustersoftreesinrelationtothemtomaintainthedistinctcharacterofthelandscape

GENERALDESIGNGUIDANCEFORPLATEAU,MOORLAND

• Opencharacterofthatlandscapeshouldstaypreservedtomaintainthedis-tinctiveintegrityofthelandscape

• Anyplantingisundesirable,tokeepthecurrentaestheticquality

GENERALDESIGNGUIDANCEFORMOUNTAINLOCHSANDVALLEYS

• Strengthenexistingnaturalvegetationandwoodlandswithlimitedplantinginclusters

GENERALDESIGNGUIDANCEFOREXPOSEDCOASTALZONES

• Strengthenexistingnaturalvegetationwithlimitedplantinginclusters

GENERALDESIGNGUIDANCEFORSHIELDEDCOASTALLOCHSZONES

• Plantingshouldfollownaturallandformsuchasthecoastallinewhichex-tendsinlandthroughthevalleys

• Extendexistingwoodlandsandvegetationaroundsettlements,incorporatinghabitatintoaconnectedframework

MAINOBJECTIVE

• Strengthenexistingwoodlandhabitattocreateafunctionalwoodlandcor-ridornetworkefficientlyconnectedwiththewoodlandhabitatnetworkinthewidercontext

GENERALDESIGNGUIDANCEFORMOUNTAINAREAS/SLOPES

• Newplantingconsideredatthebottom1/3oftheslopetofollowthenaturallandscapeofwatercourses,gullies,andvalleys

• Emphasizetheprominentlandforms,suchasvalleys,gullies,ridges,watercourses

• Managedwoodlandpotentialinthebottomthirdofthemountainsandslopes• Semi-naturalbroadleafwoodlandpotentialonupperpartstogrownaturally

upintothevalleys,ridges,gullies• Topofthemountainpeaksleftbarren,treelesswithspreadclustersofgrass-

landandheather

Factorstoconsiderforafforestation GeneralDesignGuidance

GeneralDesignGuidance

APPLECROSS AND TORRIDONLandscapePlanningRuralStudy

LandscapeCharacterAssesment

Technical Capacity

Landscape sensitivity

Legend

High

Medium

Low

KEY CRITERIA

- Visual / Sensitivity (Local / wider/ impact/ exposure and sheltered).

- Valuable habitats.

- National Scenic Value and Historical Value

Units Landscape Sensitivity

123456789101112131415

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

M

M

M

M

M

16

• Dense corries, search area for Wild Land Scottish Natural Heritage, National Scenic Value

• Search area for Wild Land Scottish Natural Heritage, National Scenic Value



• National Scenic Value


• Most exposed coastal landscape which is visually unique to the type of landscape, potential to expand the existing crofting forest

• Potential to expand existing broad leaved mixed woodland, existing settlements, National Scenic Value

• Potential to expand forest around existing settlements, National Scenic Value

• Valuable existing moorland and blanket bog habitats, aesthetically unique, expanding the forest along the perimeter of the unit

• Visuallysignificantlandmarkduetodistincthighpeaksurroundedbyrelativelylowrollinglandscape,NationalScenicValue

• Significantwaterbodyandmountainvalley,NationalScenicValue,shelteredwithpotentialtoextendexistinggeneralwoodlandforest

• Notexposedwithpotentialtomassexistingbroadleavedwoodlandforestation,nosignificantwaterbodies,searchareaforWildLandScottish

• Significantwaterbodyvalleybasin,existingbroadleavedmixedwoodland,searchareaforWildLandScottishNaturalHeritage,NationalScenicValue

• Distinct landform and montane habitat, mountain peaks have zero capacity to grow forests and treeless, search area for Wild Land Scottish Natural Heritage, National Scenic Value

• Open, exposed landscape, scattered settlements, search area for Wild Land Scottish Natural Heritage, National Scenic Value


Landscape CharacterAssesmentLandscape Character Sensitivity

Units Landscape Sensitivity

17181920

21

22

232425

26

27

2829

30

31

32

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

M

M

M

L

L

• Low, rolling landscape which has distinct grassland and heather habitats, zero capacity to grow forests

• Existing forest in relation to the historic estate

• Existing forest and aesthetically valuable river basin

• Dominant grassland habitat which is inland with some potential to grow forests in relation to the water course

• Distinct landform corries and montane habitat, sheltered inland, mountain peaks have zero capacity to grow forests and treeless, National Scenic Value, main road cutting through the mountains

• Sheltered valley surrounding settlements, with medium potential for expanded forest, search area for Wild Land Scottish Natural Heritage, National Scenic Value

• Distinct corries and montane habitat, mountain peaks have zero capacity to grow forests and treeless, search area for Wild Land Scottish Natural Heritage, National Scenic Value

• Existing broad leaved mixed woodland forests to potentially expand, edge of National Scenic Value, bordering Loch Carron Settlement

• Good potential for riparian forest in addition to existing broad leaved woodland forest• Historic settlement value in relation to Applecross Estate, potential to expand on existing coniferous woodland forests, partial area of Great Land-

scape Value

• Exposed, wild, unique loch dominant landscape, Low, rolling landscape which has distinct grassland and heather habitats, zero capacity to grow forests

• Partial area of Great Landscape Value, sheltered coast which runs along prominent Loch Kishorn, scattered settlement

• Existing salt marsh habitat aesthetically valuable estuary basin, with zero capacity for forestationNatural Heritage, National Scenic Value

• Dominant existing conifer woodlands reinforcing the perimeter of the unit with great potential to increase forestation, connection with settlement along Loch Kishorn

• Distinct corries, prominent grassland and montane habitat, treeless

• One of the larger settlement communities with potential to extend the coniferous and broad leaved mixed woodland forests


Landscape CharacterAssesmentLandscape Character Sensitivity

Landscape Capacity

Legend

High+

High

Medium

Low

Low+

Landscape Sensitivity

Landscape Sensitivity

TechnicalCapacity

TechnicalCapacity

Unit namesUnit names Unit Numbers

Unit Numbers

LandscapeCapacity

LandscapeCapacity

171 Applecross LowlandsFringe Moorland

Diabaig Coastal Corries

Applecross EstateBen Alligin Mountains

Applecross EstuaryAbhainn Coire MhicNobmil Valley

Applecross ValleyTorridon Mountainswith Forest

Applecross MountainsRiver Torridon ValleyBasin

Kishorn ValleyCoulin Forest Estate

Upper Kishorn CorriesLoch Torridon CoastalForest with Crofting

River Carron ValleySheildaig CoastalSettlement

Applecross CoastalSettlement

Moorland

Applecross CoastalPlateau

Croic Sheinn Mountain

Kishorn CoastalSettlement

Loch Lundie ForestValley

River Kishorn EstuarySheildaig Basin

Loch Kishorn CoastalForest

Loch Damh ValleyBasin

Kishorn MidlandsBen Damh Mountainswith Forest

Loch Carron CoastalSettlement

Applecross Coastal

Loch Dughaill ValleyBasin

Upper Torridon Coastal

182193204

2152262372482592610271128122913301431153216

HH L

L

L

L

L

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M M

H

H

H

H

H

HH

H

H

HH

H

HH

HH

H

H LL

L

LL

L

L

L

L+

L+

L+

L

MM

M

M

M

MM

M

M

HH H

H

HH

HH

H

H

H

H

H+

H

HH

H

HH

H

H

HH

HH

H

H

H

HH

H

MM

M

M

M

M

M

M

L

L


Landscape CharacterAssesmentLandscape Character Sensitivity & Capacity

Landscape Character

Design Guidance for Afforestation

Existing Character

Location

6 Coulin Forest Estate


Landscape CharacterAssesmentM Bernat Mussons

• Inland, low “U” shaped valley with gently rolling slope sheltered by high peak mountains

• Big loch areas connected by rivers with wide extended coniferous woodlands among them and higher concentration in the loch’s proximities

• Grassland and heather moorland all over

• Settlement areas among the bigger lochs are connected by local roads in lower part of the valley, by the river

• The higher lands of the valley habitat are mainly grassland and heather with some sandstone clears

• The peaks of the high mountains around the area create a route of lower areas going by different big lochs

• Valuable natural preserved areas around the lochs with a particular pine woodland habitat

• Sheltered low lands, provided of fresh water from all the high mountain ranges around it and the Lochs

• The river conections between lochs may think of the possibility of having a forest network among the water source

• Into a bigger context it could be extended to connect thw two main forested valleys

• At higher lands, there are some sand stone clears that avoid thinking of possibly forested areas

• LandformmoderatelydroppingtoLochShieldaig

• Coastalzonepartlyforestedintheshieldedbaywithnaturalandsemi-naturalforestincludingnaturalAncientpinewoodandAtlanticOakwoodpatch

• ScenerydominatedbyprominentcoastaledgeofLochShieldaigandframedbymountainrangerisingonbothbanksoftheLoch.Overallappearanceimpactedbysettlementsspreadaroundthecoast

LocalEcology:

• WoodlandhabitatincludingnaturalAncientpinewood,withremnantsofAtlanticOakwood

• Sandfringeshabitatalongtheshoreline

• Desirabletoprotectandextendexistingnaturalandseminaturalwoodlands

• Incorporatepatchesofexistingwoodlandstocreatemorerobustframework

• Inupperpartsoftheslopewoodlandshouldfollownaturallandformsuchasgulliesandridges

• Thespeciesselectionshouldrespectspeciesnaturallyoccurringintheareainordertocreatenaturalmixedwoods(ScotsPine,Oak,Rowan,Birch)

LandscapeCharacter

DesignGuidanceforAfforestation

ExistingCharacter

Location

8 Shieldaig Coastal Settlement


LandscapeCharacterAssesmentJ.Hyskova

• Thebasiniscomposedbyahugeflatfloorwhichisshapedbygentleslopes.Theflatfloorformsahorizontalskylineandtheviewisformedbymountains.

• Mountainsaremainlycoveredbymoorlandandbarerocksontop.Smoothingslopesononesideandrelativesteepslopeonanotherside.

• Somelargewaterbodiesaresurroundedbymountains.

• Landscapehasdistintive,rough,barrencharacter.

LocalEcology:

• Treelessarea

• Heatherlandandgrasslandestablishedonthetheflooroftheglens

• Thefocusedviewalongthevalleybottomisframedbygentleslopemountainshasveryhighvisualsentivitivy.Barepeaksofthemountainshavedistinctiveopenlandform.Thishighscenicqualityandbarrencharacterisvisuallyverysensitivity.

• Extendexistingsmallpatchsofwoodswhichfollowthelandformandwatercoursestocreatefunctionalecologicalcorridor.

• Valleyfloorsshouldstayunforested,strengthenedwithriparianhabitatalongthewatercourse.Theopenspacewhichiscoveredbymoorlandandheatherlandshouldstayasopen.

• Maintainitsrough,barrenandexposedcharacteronthemountain.

LandscapeCharacter


ExistingCharacter

Location

14 Loch Damh Valley Basin


LandscapeCharacterAssesmentJ.Liu

Landscape Character


Existing Character

Location

15 Ben Damh Mountains with Forest


Landscape CharacterAssesmentC.Gonzalez

• Distinctive mountains surrounded by interconnected lochs and rivers which further highlight the landforms from the landscape

• Numerous corrie and montane elements which form a mass of ‘U’ shaped valleys

• Superficial deposits of diamicton, sand and gravel

• Minimal dense forest woodland cover along the Loch coast

• Heather and grassland dominate mountain and corrie slopes with sandstone and mudstone soils consistent throughout the prominent shaped valleys

Local Ecology:

• Heather moorland dominates the landscape with dispersed grassland and montane habitats

• Prominent salt marsh habitat at edge of loch coast

• Recommended to plant trees to be managed on the bottom of third of the mountain so that may follow the natural landform of prominent water courses, valleys, and gullies

• Native mixed broadleaved woodlands should transition from the managed woodlands thru into midslope, reinforcing the forest and a natural flow with the mountain peaks left barren, treeless due to zero capability

• Desirable to enhance mountain peaks with dispersed clusters of heather and grassland to give more variation in texture and a natural gradient into more dense forest below

• Potential for planting regeneration and nature conservation as well as minor crofting forestry

.

Landscape Character


Existing Character

Location

16 Applecross Coastal


Landscape CharacterAssesmentC. Gonzalez

• Exposed coastline transitioning into a smooth undulated heather moorland

• Sandstone and mudstone bedrock with sparse superficial deposits of diamiction, sand and gravel

• Numerous waterfalls and rivers flow throughout the low, barren land feeding into the Inner Sound

• Main road running along the entire coast serving few scattered settlements

Local Ecology:

• Treeless landscape which highlights expanses of inland water

• Sand dunes and machair dominate the coastline edge

• Strengthen the existing heather moorland and wood land with planting clusters of vegetation, which will not take away from the distinct open landscape

• Not desirable to plant trees in order to maintain the exposed, windy character and valued visual appearance

• Potential for crofting forestry as well as conifers and natural woodlands, but would significantly affect the notable aesthetic of this coastal character

• Exposed,flat,openuplandplateauwithnumerouswaterbodies.

• Landformformedbyflatbedrockmassivewithigneousrock,withnodramaticchanges.Highvegetationabsent,beingmoresovegetatedbyheathermoorlandandgrassland

• Settlementfreeandtreelesssceneryendorsefeelingofexposed,barren,´wildland´

• Striking360°openpanoramicviewtosurroundinglandform/islandsraisingfromthesea

LocalEcology:

• Moorlandandgrasslandhabitatwithnumerouswaterbodies

• Heathermoorlandandgrasslandisveryvaluableanduniquehabitatandworthprotecting

• Therearenoprominentchangesinlandform,suchasdeepvalleys,gulliesorridgesthatcouldbeusedasnaturalframeworkfornewwoodlandseveninscatteredform.Suchopensceneryisvisuallyverysensitive.

• Anywoodlandplanting,eveninlimitedscope,wouldhavedramaticeffectonvisualcharacter.

LandscapeCharacter


ExistingCharacter

Location

27Applecross Coastal Plateau


LandscapeCharacterAssesmentJ.Hyskova

LEGEND

Good possibility to incorporate with Afforestation Strategy

Partial opportunities to incorporate with Afforestation Strategy

Conflicting with Afforestation Strategy

Integration of Tourism and Renewables Strategies to Afforestation part 1


Integration of Strategies

LEGEND

Good possibility to incorporate with Afforestation Strategy

Partial opportunities to incorporate with Afforestation Strategy

Conflicting with Afforestation Strategy

Integration of Tourism and Renewables Strategies to Afforestation part 2



Final Conclusions

TOURISM

• Overall, the Tourism Strategy can be easily incorporated with the proposed Afforestation Strategy.

• The proposed Tourism Strategy has minor impact on the proposed additional forestry, but the forestry can sig-nificantly contribute to the tourist experience.

RENEWABLES

• Wind has fair potential on the most exposed areas of the landscape.

• Biomass has good potential throughout the majority of the landscape, especially surrounding the settlement areas. However, the suggested amount of biomass conflicts with many of the proposed natural woodlands.

• Micro-hydro has low impact on the Afforestation Strategy and has many opportunities along prominent water bodies and courses.

• Solar has minor potential, but the proposed amount could be accomodated with the Afforestation Strategy.

• Ground Source Heat Pump has good potential to be incorporated in all settlement areas.



applecross & torridon afforestation

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