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Maryculter Woodlands Trust

Business Plan for

Kirkton of Maryculter Wood

2014-2020

Prepared June 2013

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Acknowledgements

Technical input to this report has been gratefully received from:

Nigel Astell, Eastland Foresters and Astell Associates

Dr David Burslem, School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen University

Dr Tony Hawkins, Loughine Marine Research

Colin Shepherd, Scottish Heritage

Maryculter Community

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Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 4

1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 5

The Community ............................................................................................................................. 5

The History of the Wood ............................................................................................................ 6

Reasons for Acquisition .............................................................................................................. 7

2. Organisation and Management .............................................................................................. 7

3. Community Stakeholders ......................................................................................................... 8

4. Community Capacity ................................................................................................................. 9

5. Woodland Management Plan ................................................................................................ 10

Conservation Areas.................................................................................................................... 11

Conservation Area A: Crynoch Burn (7Ha) .................................................................. 11

Conservation Area B: Caledonian Pinewood (2Ha) ................................................... 12

Conservation Area C: Wetland (5Ha) ............................................................................. 13

Mature Plantation (Spruce and Western Hemlock) (6Ha). ........................................ 13

Clear-Felled Area (12Ha). ....................................................................................................... 13

Immature Spruce and Larch (29Ha). ................................................................................. 14

Existing Broad-leaved Areas (6Ha). .................................................................................... 14

6. Access ............................................................................................................................................ 15

Entrances ....................................................................................................................................... 15

Paths ............................................................................................................................................... 15

7. Educational Potential ............................................................................................................... 15

Ecological Interest ..................................................................................................................... 15

Historical Interest. ..................................................................................................................... 16

Archaeological Interest ............................................................................................................ 16

Geological Interest ..................................................................................................................... 16

8. Financial Assessment .............................................................................................................. 17

9. Risks and Opportunities ......................................................................................................... 18

Risks ................................................................................................................................................ 18

Opportunities (additional to the plan) ................................................................................ 19

Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 20

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Executive Summary This Business Plan outlines the activities planned by the local community group,

the Maryculter Woodlands Trust (MWT), in the event of a successful acquisition of the Kirkton of Maryculter Wood in Maryculter, Aberdeenshire.

The wood has a tremendous range of habitat and diversity for its size (67 hectares). It is very popular with the local community including Redwing Riding

School, Maryculter Scouts and Cub Scouts, Maryculter Driving for the Disabled and walkers. Support for the community acquisition is very widespread within

the community (98% in favour in the community ballot). There is also widespread support from local schools, clubs, businesses, councillors, MSPs, MPs and the Community Council.

The MWT has been successfully managing the wood, in partnership with FCS,

since 2007. The activity of the MWT has involved replanting native broad-leaved trees, creating new ‘desire line’ paths, maintaining existing paths and drainage and thinning spruce in areas where they crowd native trees (planted and self-

sown).

The wood is now largely cleared of mature commercial trees with most of the area either open ground or taken up with self-sown spruce/ birch. Income-generating activities in this plan are expected to meet the base running costs of

the MWT over the planning period but are not expected to be sufficient to cover large projects (which will rely on grants and/or charitable donation).

The plan calls for ~20% of the area to be managed for conservation only. This includes the valley of the Crynoch Burn (part of the River Dee Special Area of Conservation), a small area of degraded Caledonian pinewood (which can be

restored) and a wetland area. The mature plantation area will be thinned (~300t) in the business plan period, but this is not expected to generate any

significant income (average <£500/yr). This area will also be in-filled with Scot’s Pine to encourage red squirrels into the wood. The area clear-felled in 2009/11 (11Ha) will be restocked in 2015/16 with Scot’s Pine and a fringe of native

broad-leaved trees. The area of immature spruce and larch (29Ha) will be gradually thinned and stock removed by 2035. This area will also be restocked

with native species. The existing areas of broad-leaved trees will be restocked with additional native broad-leaved species for long-term economic benefit

(2060+). Heather moor will be preserved by controlling invasive spruce, gorse and broom.

Access points will be improved, with new gates at each entrance. We have recently arranged with Storybook Glen that school parties visiting the wood will

be able use their (large) car park. There is a great deal of educational potential in the wood, including ecological,

historical, archaeological and geological interest. There are many opportunities for greater community involvement in the wood through projects aimed at

improving biodiversity and ensuring sustainability of community ownership.

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1. Introduction

The Community Our Community is situated in rural Aberdeenshire, 8miles southwest of

Aberdeen. The Community is defined by electoral ward SW1701 (Maryculter), which closely matches the Parish of Maryculter (see Figure 1). The Community falls within the area served by the North Kincardine Rural Community Council.

The area is typified by small scattered rural settlements set amongst extensive

farmland. The largest settlement is Kirkton of Maryculter which contains 32 properties. The rolling landscape is bounded to the north by the River Dee and most of the residents in the Community live within the valley.

Figure 1.The geographical area of the Community (Ward SW1701 -Maryculter).

The route selected for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) and the planned new town at Elsick are also shown.

The area has a rich past extending as far back as the Bronze Age settlement on Oldman Hill (adjacent to the Wood). In the 13th Century the Templar Knights

built the first parish church in Maryculter. There are 3 large country estates (Kincausie, Blairs and Auchlunies). The Kincausie estate, which has been owned by the Irvine family since 1535, extends up to the northeastern boundary of the

wood. This estate contains ancient woodland which supports red squirrel, pine marten, badgers, foxes, roe deer, five species of bat, some rare raptors (osprey,

merlin and peregrine falcons) and nationally important populations of the rare woodland herbs Twinflower and Herb Paris.

Maryculter Parish lies within the tourist destination of Royal Deeside and contains hotels (Maryculter House Hotel, Ardoe House Hotel, Old Mill Inn) and

the Deeside Holiday Park. The theme park ‘Storybook Glen’ lies immediately

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north of the Wood. The Crynoch Burn runs through both the wood and the grounds of Storybook Glen before joining the River Dee.

The suburbs of Aberdeen (Peterculter & Milltimber) are situated to the north of the Community on the other side of the River Dee. The rural communities of

Durris and Netherley lie to the west and south respectively. In the future, 280 houses will be built at Blairs (in the eastern part of Maryculter Parish) and

4,000-8,000 new houses will be built to the south of the parish at Chapelton of Elsick.

The building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will result in the loss of woodland on the Kincausie Estate. Given the continued development pressure on

Deeside the importance of the remaining woodland to the Community is likely to grow.

The History of the Wood

The Kirkton of Maryculter Wood comprises some 67 hectares of woodland adjacent to Kirkton of Maryculter (Figure 2). Early Ordnance Survey maps from 1854 indicate the presence of woodland on Oldman Hill, though the area now

forming the FCS wood is shown as moorland with some evidence of fields in the southern part of the wood and small enclosures next to the Kirkton. The main

forestry track running towards Polston Farm, to the south of the wood, is already shown on the 1854 map. The map of 1868 is the first to show the large E-W

drainage ditches in the southern half of the wood. The map of 1904 shows

moorland across the entire area indicating that any fields had fallen out of use. FCS acquired the land in 1940

and planted the area with Norway Spruce, Sitka Spruce, Lodgepole Pine

and Western Hemlock.

The Wood has been clear-felled in

batches over the last 20 years with no significant restocking. A few mature

trees remain, mostly on the steep slopes near the Crynoch Burn. The rest of the area is now mostly either

open ground or is covered in self-sown spruce & birch. Whilst this has reduced

the economic value of the Wood it has helped create a diverse habitat, with considerable potential for further

improvement.

Figure 2. Map of the Wood

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In April 2007, the community created the Maryculter Woodlands Trust (MWT) with the aim to increase the amenity of the wood for local residents and

organisations. Since 2007 the MWT has undertaken many activities in the wood, in partnership with FCS (see Appendix 1 and 2).

In January 2013 FCS announced its intention to sell the Kirkton of Maryculter Wood. In a meeting of the community in February 2013 the MWT received

support to register an interest to acquire the wood, on behalf of the community, using the National Forest Land Scheme (NFLS).

Reasons for Acquisition The purposes of the MWT are:

1) To restore and maintain native habitat in the Kirkton of Maryculter Wood

(the ‘Wood’) for the benefit of the local community, the public in general and wildlife. Activities will include maintaining paths and drainage, restocking with native trees and improving access. It is planned to

transition the tree population to be 90% native species by 2035. 2) To advance the education of the wider Community (including those

attending local schools, universities, local clubs and organisations) about the natural history, environment, archaeological and cultural heritage of the wood.

3) To manage the land in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the Community and wildlife. Activities will include thinning of existing spruce

and larch over the next 30 years and thereafter relying largely on the management of native trees to support the activities of our organisation.

2. Organisation and Management

The MWT was established as an unincorporated organisation but has recently submitted an application to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) to become a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). The MWT

constitution is compliant with the guidance provided under the NFLS as well as the Charities and Director Investment (Scotland) Act (2005).

MWT has 3 elected directors. The directors, along with 3 other ordinary members, together have formed the Steering Group to create this business plan

and pursue the community acquisition of the wood.

The Steering Group are listed below: Chairman: Ed Thorogood, D.Phil (Oxon), FGS. Ed is the founding chairman of

MWT. He runs his own company advising large oil & gas companies on Field Development and leadership.

Deputy Chairman: David Brainwood MSc. David moved from a research post in Molecular Biology to work in IT. He now manages enterprise systems for a major

company in the oil & gas sector. David also owns and manages a small wood.

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Secretary: Trevor Hastings, BA(Mod), PhD. Trevor is retired. He was formerly Director of the Scottish Government Freshwater Laboratory at Pitlochry and prior

to that was Science Director for Aquaculture and Aquatic Animal Health at the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen. He is a member of the Forvie National Nature

Reserve Advisory Panel. Publicity: Inga Milne. Inga is a teacher and has a lot of experience of fund

raising. Her family run a Christmas tree business.

Treasurer: Sue Dunlop. Office administrator. Website: Krishnan Nambiar. Krishan is a company director and has run his own

restaurant business. He is currently studying for a Masters degree.

Co-opted director: Nigel Astell. Nigel has run his own business (Astell

Associates) since 1975 (www.astellassociates.co.uk). He is a highly experienced

environmental, arboricultural and landscape consultant, specializing in red

squirrels, bats and otters. He is a licensed barn owl surveyor. He also owns

Eastland Foresters, specialising in tree surgery.

3. Community Stakeholders The local community are kept informed via:

Annual General Meetings and General Meetings of the MWT e.g. an EGM was held in February 2013 to determine the support for a community buyout of the Kirkton of Maryculter Wood. The last AGM was held in May

2013 and was attended by 36 people. An article was written for the South Deeside View (a local magazine,

distributed to all households in the Community). Information leaflets were delivered to some 350 homes to raise awareness

of the proposed community acquisition.

The Community ballot was held 4-31st May 2013 as required by NFLS. A website (www.maryculterwoods.com) was established to provide

information and a point of contact for those interested in the woodlands and the proposed acquisition.

Local organisations and groups include: The local Scout group, comprising Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. They have

their meeting hut in the Kirkton of Maryculter and make extensive use of the wood. They have also provided volunteers over the last few years for some of the activities undertaken in the wood by the MWT.

The Redwing Riding School is also situated adjacent to the wood and use the wood as their main site for lessons (several times a week).

The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) use the wood to allow disabled members an opportunity to enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides in the pleasant and varied surroundings of the wood. They also use the wood

to train both horses and able-bodied carriage drivers. Local schools -there are 3 large primary schools within 4km of the wood

(Lairhillock, Milltimber, Culter) and 2 secondary schools within 9km (Cults Academy, International School of Aberdeen).

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Aberdeen University. Storybook Glen (an outdoor theme park next to the wood).

Local businesses (Maryculter House Hotel, Ardoe House Hotel, Old Mill Inn, Lairhillock Inn, Deeside Holiday Park).

Kincardine & Mearns Area Partnership North Kincardine Rural Community Council Culter Community Council

Local councillors Maryculter Parish Church

Regional and National organisations include:

Forestry Commission Scotland

Community Woodlands Association River Dee Trust

Scottish Natural Heritage Historic Scotland Royal Society for Protection of Birds

North East Scotland Biological Records Centre The Conservation Volunteers Community Network

MSPs, MEPs, MPs

4. Community Capacity

A critical success factor for the project will be whether the community in and around Maryculter has the capacity to undertake and deliver what will be a long

term project. An encouraging start has been made by the steering group which is highly motivated and well organised.

A broad range of knowledge and skills exists within the steering group and the community, with experience in woodland management, business, administration,

fund-raising, information technology, communication, outdoor recreation, education, conservation and financial management.

However, it is not realistic to expect that the present steering group alone will be sufficient to deliver this project in its entirety. Whilst the woodland management

plan is not over-ambitious, the workload could be demanding and it is inevitable that committee members will leave over time for various reasons. Therefore it is important to establish a succession plan for the committee and to establish what

other support is available locally. Here the indications are promising. Firstly, there is a broad base of institutional support from schools and other

organisations. Secondly, the attendance and enthusiasm which has been evident at local meetings suggests that there are many local people with relevant skills and experience which can be drawn upon in future years.

Should the project go ahead, it may be appropriate to draw up a formal skills

audit to ascertain what training and skills development is likely to be needed for ongoing woodland management, for example path building, chainsaw operation, species surveys, as well as administrative and creative expertise in areas such

as fund-raising and education.

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It is not anticipated that paid administrative or management services will be required during the period of this business plan, though it may be necessary to

pay contractors and/or hire equipment, for example to clear obstructions or assist in creating ponds.

5. Woodland Management Plan

The wood is divided into zones for the business plan (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Zones within the Wood

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Conservation Areas

These areas have no economic value now and MWT has no ambition to use these areas for any significant economic purposes in the future.

Conservation Area A: Crynoch Burn (7Ha)

This area contains the Crynoch Burn and its floodplain (Figures 4 & 5) and is part of the River Dee Special Area of Conservation. The SAC was created to support the internationally important freshwater pearl mussel, Atlantic salmon and otter

populations. The Crynoch Burn has a resident population of salmonid fish and also provides limited access to migratory fish. Otters and heron are regularly

seen along the burn.

Figures 4 & 5. Views of the Crynoch Burn, looking N & S respectively.

There are a few planted broad-leaved trees within the valley. There are also planted trees (mostly oak and ash) on the steep slopes on the western edge of

the valley. Regeneration

of spruce in this area has been controlled by

FCS & more recently by MWT. Floral diversity is slowly recovering,

including wood sorrel, bluebell, spotted orchid

and primula (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Primula in the Valley of the Crynoch Burn

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Our plans for this part of the wood include controlling the bracken and some planting of alder and herbs close to the burn to increase the diversity of the

riparian habitat. We will also liaise with Scottish Natural Heritage and the River Dee Trust to help us identify opportunities to improve habitat and remove

obstructions for migratory fish (including salmon, sea trout and brown trout) and encourage otters and water voles. Plans may need to include control of mink (trapping) in the vicinity of Crynoch Burn to protect fish and water vole

populations.

We intend to create a circular walk in this area by constructing a bridge over the burn.

Conservation Area B: Caledonian Pinewood (2Ha)

Scot’s Pine in the SW part of the wood are heavily crowded by spruce (Figure 7), which has also killed off most of the ground cover (blaeberry survives only in

small patches). The age of the Scot’s Pine is unknown, but they pre-date the spruce

(planted 1940s). The spruce in the area has never been thinned or harvested. Most spruce still only have a trunk diameter of

<15cm so little of it will ever be commercial given the poor growing

conditions in this part of the wood. Our plan is to restore this degraded

Caledonian pinewood. We will put 600m of deer fencing (or rely on deer control) in

this area to help natural regeneration and gradually thin out the spruce from around the Scot’s Pine. We will restock with Scot’s

Pine if required.

Figure 7. Old Scot’s Pine

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Conservation Area C: Wetland (5Ha)

This area is very clearly unproductive for forestry, despite the drainage created in the 19th Century.

Figure 8 shows the typical flora of this area.

We plan the creation of at least one pond in the wetland conservation area to widen further the

habitat for birds and bats as well as frogs, toads, newts and invertebrates. We will consult with

Scottish Natural Heritage and other interested parties to finalise the proposals.

Figure 8. Ragged Robin growing in wetland area

Mature Plantation (Spruce and Western Hemlock) (6Ha).

This area will be slightly thinned (~300t) and in-filled with Scot’s Pine to encourage red squirrels into the wood. Some felling of the spruce along the

roadside may be required. The local forestry company (Eastland Foresters) have a portable sawmill and it would be possible to locate it in the Wood during felling

operations (with either Eastland Foresters as the felling contractor or another firm). This would reduce costs and road transport emissions. The sawdust can be sold direct to the Redwing Riding School next door.

We will seek advice from the Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB)

regarding siting and construction of nesting boxes to encourage a greater diversity of wild birds.

Clear-Felled Area (12Ha). This area was clear-felled in 2009-2011, but the stumps (& brash) remain. The

area is drained naturally and there is no need for additional drainage. There are archaeological features in this area (see Appendix 3), which will create some restriction on planting.

The plan for this area is to replant in 2015/16 with Scot’s Pine and a fringe of

native broad-leaved trees. The broad-leaved trees could include rowan, ash, willow, aspen, hazel, alder and berry-bearing shrubs such as hawthorn and holly to provide suitable habitat and feeding for red squirrels and other native species.

We estimate 1800m of deer fencing will be required. It may be possible to reduce planting density and rely more on natural succession (as practised

successfully in Glen Tanar).

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We anticipate the need for a stump-grinder to remove the existing tree-stumps, but we do not plan for other landscaping or new top soil. Wide rides and glades

will be left for floral diversity.

We plan to dedicate a small fenced area (~1 Ha) to stock with just Scot’s Pine. This will serve two purposes:

Create a crop of Scot’s Pine Christmas trees. The intent will be to keep

this activity small-scale with customers largely within the local community. This could generate £500/yr within 6-8 years of planting

and could help the MWT with running costs (excluding large projects) until the existing spruce/larch can be harvested (2030+).

Creation of our own stock of Scot’s Pine for planting elsewhere (this

will include those specimens not suitable for Christmas trees, but otherwise perfectly healthy).

The aim would be to leave a few older Scot’s Pine unharvested to allow this area to be managed with the rest of the clear fell area (after 20+ years).

Immature Spruce and Larch (29Ha).

These areas are a mix of planted trees (spruce and larch) and self-sown trees (spruce and birch). There has been no thinning to date.

The plan for these areas is to progressively thin out the spruce and larch,

potentially using the felled trees for firewood or woodchip mulch, leading to final

harvest by 2035. The area will restocked with native species.

Existing Broad-leaved Areas (6Ha).

These areas contain a mix of habitat ranging from dense birch woodland (Figure 9), open grassland (with alder, hazel, oak and gean) and heather moor (Figure

10). Birch woodland is a well-

characterised and stable vegetation type with its own assemblage of native

plants and invertebrates. Elsewhere in Aberdeenshire, conservation agencies are working hard to protect it (e.g. the

Dinnet National Nature Reserve).

Figure 9. Birch Woodland

Figure 10. Heather moor

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The plan for the birch woodland is to thin it in places to allow space for other broad-leaved trees, but still retain a large proportion of birch. It should be

possible to realise an economic benefit from the planted trees in 2060+.

The plan for the heather moor is to preserve what is there by controlling the

gorse and broom.

6. Access

Entrances

We plan to improve further the access to the wood as this has been a barrier in the past to users from the wider community, particularly schools and university groups. New access points to the wood will limit the attraction of parking on

Polston Road(Figure 3). It may also be possible to re-site the gate at the end of Polston Road such that cars can park further into the wood.

We have recently arranged with Storybook Glen that school parties visiting the wood will be able use their (large) car park. We will create a new path within the

grounds of Storybook Glen from the car park to the entrance to the wood.

New gates with new padlocks will prevent unauthorised vehicle access to the wood (e.g. quad bikes). The gate near Redwing Riding School can be modified to

prevent vehicles driving around the gate!

Paths

There are no plans for new paths, but work will be required to maintain the

existing paths. We have not had any request to upgrade any paths, but this could happen in the future.

7. Educational Potential

Ecological Interest

The wood already contains a diverse habitat with much potential for further

improvement. It would be useful to establish baseline information on flora and fauna in the woodland in order to measure the effectiveness of measures which we take to maintain and improve biodiversity. We will take advice from Scottish

Natural Heritage, Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB), Universities, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Government Freshwater Laboratory,

North East Scotland Biological Records Centre (NESBReC) and other relevant organisations on the feasibility and design of species surveys to determine presence or absence, distribution and/or numbers of

Native flora

Lepidoptera

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Amphibians Reptiles

Birds Fish and shellfish

Mammals

Historical Interest.

The area has an interesting history. The rock shown in Figure 9 is known as the

‘Pulpit Rock’, thought to be the site of clandestine catholic church services in the 18th Century. There is also an outcrop on the western boundary of the wood known locally as the ‘Covenanters Rock’. We are actively trying to find written

evidence to support the local tales attached to these sites.

There is one well in the wood, which used to serve the Manse in the Kirkton and there are local memories of others (not yet found). There is evidence of quarrying for gravel and stone which might be from the 19th Century.

Archaeological Interest

The wood is still only partly surveyed archaeologically, but it is already a very

interesting piece of landscape. On Oldman Hill (109m) there are clearance cairns, field systems and even a possible round house that are all thought to date back as far as the Bronze Age (see Appendix 3 for more detail).

Geological Interest

The outcrops in the wood are Caledonian migmatites and granites which formed

470 million years ago. The migmatites in particular are some of the best outcrop examples in the NE, though they are now mostly covered (but also preserved)

with moss/ needle litter.

The area was fully

buried under ice during the Ice Age

(10,000years ago) and you can still see plenty of evidence of this in

the wood. There are rock outcrops worn

smooth by ice (Figure 11), glacial erratics (Figure 9) and glacial

boulder clay in the valley of the Crynoch

Burn. Figure 11. Glacier-Worn Outcrop (with scratch marks?)

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8. Financial Assessment

The wood is now largely cleared of mature commercial trees with most of the

area either open ground or taken up with self-sown spruce/ birch. Substantial income from timber sales is not expected before 2035.

The expenses of the MWT have historically been very low (£300/year, including insurance). Insurance, memberships, replacement of hand tools, website,

accountancy and legal services (‘base running costs’) are expected to increase to £1600/year from 2014.

Projects identified include re-stocking the clear-felled area (£63,000), other re-stocking (£1,000/year), fencing (£13,200), creation of pond (£15,000),

construction of bridge over the Crynoch Burn (£20,000, using FCS bridge specification), new gates (£500), new access point from Storybook Glen

(£4,000), bank strengthening for the Crynoch Burn (£10,000), potential road/track improvements (or further access improvement) (£10,000). The phasing of these expenditures is shown in Table 1.

Income-generating activities in this plan are expected to meet the base running

costs of the MWT over the period but are not expected to be sufficient to cover large projects. Income can be expected from wood sales (£500/year rising to £1000/year by 2020 and £1500/year by 2021), local donation and fundraising is

assumed to continue (£500+£300 was raised in 2013). The large projects mentioned above therefore need to be funded via major grants and/or charitable

donation). Two such sources of funding are highlighted below.

SRDP. The Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) for 2014-2020

is currently out to consultation. If the management objectives of MWT are consistent with the priorities of SRDP then we may apply for funding

under this Programme. One of the proposals for SRDP 2014-2020 is to encourage collaboration between groups of land managers or interested parties. We will be exploring the potential for collaboration with others to

improve biodiversity where there is interaction between the woodland and adjacent land or neighbouring interests.

Meikle Carewe. The largest source of local funding will be the Meikle

Carewe Community Fund. This fund has a value of £20,400/yr for the next 25 years, all allocated for community projects within Kincardine and Mearns Area in proximity to the new Meikle Carewe Wind Farm. The Wood

falls within this area. Applications for this fund will be possible from later this summer (fund administered by Kincardine and Mearns Area

Partnership).

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Table 1. Planned Expenditure and Income 2015- 2020. Income (excluding grants and any new private donation) is only expected to cover base running costs. Transfer of ownership assumed 1.7.14. Any sales of Christmas trees

(2021-2035) fall outside the planning period.

9. Risks and Opportunities

Risks

Personal injury to community members during tree thinning and other

activities. Mitigation: Qualified chain saw users only (required for insurance in any case), continue practice of risk assessments prior to all community activity.

Delay in grants delays projects until such time as the grant funding is available. Mitigation: Accept - there is little activity in the wood which

cannot be phased to coincide with funding. Potential parking congestion in the Kirkton, particularly on Polston Road

which is currently the main access point to the wood. Mitigate by improving other access points and improving signage.

Wider knowledge of the wood could attract off-road motorcycles and quad

bikes. Mitigate by replacing gates and locks and improved signage. Land contamination. There is no reason to suspect land contamination,

though no survey has been undertaken to confirm this. A survey will be required and mitigation plans made accordingly.

EXPENDITURE 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Base Running Costs £800 £1,600 £1,600 £1,600 £1,600 £1,600 £1,600

NFLS £6,000 £215,000

Re-stock clear-fell area £31,500 £31,500

Other re-stock £1,000 £1,000 £1,000 £1,000

Fencing £13,200

Pond £15,000

Bridge £20,000

Gates £500

Path for Storybook Glen £4,000

Bank strengthening £10,000

Road / path upgrades £10,000

TOTAL £6,000 £220,300 £46,300 £33,100 £22,600 £17,600 £12,600 £12,600

INCOME 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Firewood/ wood mulch £250 £500 £500 £500 £500 £500

Timber sales £250 £500 £500 £500 £500 £500

Private Donation £300 £300 £300 £300 £300 £300 £300 £300

NKRCC £350 TBA

Local Fundraising £500 £500 £500 £500 £500 £500 £500 £500

Meikle Carewe TBA

SRDP TBA

SNH TBA

TOTAL £1,150 £800 £1,300 £1,800 £1,800 £1,800 £1,800 £1,800

All figures exclusive of VAT, Real Terms 1.6.2013

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Tree disease. For example there are a number of ash trees in the wood which might be vulnerable to disease. Mitigation: observe good bio-

security practices including only sourcing new stock from reliable suppliers.

Unforeseen repairs to the boundaries of the wood. Accept risk. Further wind blow damage to maturing trees. Accept risk. Further slope instability due to erosion by the Crynoch Burn. The erosion

could escalate to impact the water treatment plant and road bridge. Mitigation seek early engineering advice & implement any

recommendations to reduce the impact of this risk.

Opportunities (additional to the plan)

Outdoor church services at the ‘pulpit rock’. Formalise link with Nature Friendly Schools.

Create community orchard in wood. Create pet cemetery in wood. Use the site for biodiversity-related teaching and small-scale research

projects (Aberdeen University, School of biological sciences). Charcoal production could result in fuel for community barbecues.

Greater use of website to raise funds or advertise MWT merchandise. Quarrying – reduce cost of improving the tracks within the wood by

potentially re-instating the old quarries in the wood for mineral resource.

Hurdle-making for garden screens. Construct a pole-lathe and have a go at traditional turning (combine with

educational visits from schools). Flax might be grown and turned into linen.

A bee-keeping initiative might be encouraged which would result in an enhancement of the local ecology.

Lease stalking rights.

Lease small plots for allotments or extensions to gardens bordering the wood (lease, in preference to sale, but this will be complex to arrange

with stakeholders).

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Appendices

Appendix 1. Maryculter Woodlands Trust Progress Report July2011

Dear neighbours and all friends of the Maryculter Woodlands Trust,

The summer holidays are upon us so this is my chance to finally write a progress report for

the Maryculter Woodlands Trust (MWT). As this is our first progress report, I’ll start the

story from the beginning.

The MWT was formed in April 2007 by residents in the Kirkton of Maryculter in co-operation

with Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS). Our aim is to maintain the woods as a local

ammenity without changing its informal character. Our primary maintenance task is

therefore to keep the paths open! We also assist FCS with tree planting to increase the

abundance of native broad-leaved trees & native ground-cover in the wood. The woods may

be informal, but the relationship that the MWT has with FCS has clear structure. The MWT

has its own liability insurance and all the work that we do requires approval by FCS prior to

the work starting and then FCS inspection when the work is finished. We have built up an

extremely positive partnership with FCS who give us their time, their expertise, the loan of

tools and all we need to replant areas with native trees. Over the last 14 months we, as a

community, have achieved the following in the wood:

April 2010. Tree-planting.

We had 14 volunteers of all ages and, with the

help of Julia White from FCS, we were able to

plant 160 trees (alder, rowan, willow & gean).

We replanted the area which formally had

beech trees growing on it (see the map at the

end of this report for the exact location). It was

a perfect day, beautiful weather for the planting

and then much needed rain in the evening.

Aug 2010. New Path.

This new path connects the 2 main forestry tracks

in the wood (see map) & winds its way past the

oldest

trees in

the wood

– Scots

Pine.

The Scots Pine (photo) are older than they appear

and were old even before FCS planted the area in

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the 1930s-1950s. The soil is so poor and waterlogged that

nothing grows very fast in this part of the wood. The spruce

in this area are from the original planting – it has never been

thinned or harvested – which makes these dwarf spruce over

60 years old (we have counted the rings!) and therefore the

Scots Pine even older. Thanks again to all the hardy

volunteers who got the job done (see photo)

Mar 2011. Tree Planting.

Another sunny day, this time planting with the 1st Maryculter

Cubscouts . We had 15 cubscouts and their leaders. We planted

90 trees in the same area as the previous year, though this time

we had hazel, willow, oak and a few hawthorn. FCS again

supplied all the trees, stakes, collars & tools. The cubscouts did

a great job and really stuck to their task. I suspect that we might

need to phone them again – there are more clear-felled areas

that could be replanted.

Other activities. We have also been busy looking at access points to the woods which could

be used as alternatives to the main entrance in Polston Road. We have re-opened the path

below Red Roofs (path entrance opposite the locked gate into StoryBook Glen), which leads

to a wonderful walk overlooking the burn. People also access the wood by walking through

the field below Polston Road, opposite the Meadows, and then hopping over the dyke.

There was a very old, sunken, path which led from this entry point to the main forestry track

(see map). Unfortunately, this path got covered with brash after the clear-felling here in

2009. We have now removed the brash to re-open the path. The ‘desire line’ through the

field may disappear if the field is developed for housing, but perhaps we could ask to retain

the access point – maybe provide a gate, where the sunken path meets the dyke, which is

lockable by residents?

The paths shown by red lines on the attached map are all now reasonably open. One or two

paths cross drainage ditches so are not intended for horses. However, we want to maintain

the wood for all users, so we are always open to ideas for new alternative routes.

Next Activity. Our next activity will be thinning out the small self-sown spruce where they

are crowding out broad-leaved trees. We will not start this work until Sept, so I’ll send out

details separately. We will probably also do some more tree planting before next spring. I’ll

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sign off with a few choice photos – walk the paths and you might see these things for

yourself. This wood is a remarkable place. It is hard to believe that it is only 8 miles from

Union Street at the heart of Aberdeen city centre. Enjoy.

Regards, Ed Thorogood (chairman, MWT)

Comments or suggestions to: e.thorogood@kecl.co.uk.

From left to right: Spotted Orchid, waterfall, wild primrose, glacier-worn rock, newts, view of

Crynoch Burn with Aberdeen suburbs beyond (Milltimber)

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Appendix 2. Maryculter Woodlands Trust Progress Report Jan 2013

Dear neighbours and all friends of the Maryculter Woodlands Trust,

This report of the MWT covers all of our activities in 2012 in the Forestry Commission (FCS)

wood adjacent to the Kirkton of Maryculter (if you missed the last report for any reason,

please let me know).

First, though, some news about the wood. After some internal debate, FCS will sell the

wood after all. I haven’t seen a timetable for the sale but assume it will be this year or 2014.

FCS has written to NKRCC about the sale and I have already spoken at the last Community

Council meeting about how we could respond, including the options for a community buy-

out under the National Forest Land Scheme (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/nfls). A community

buyout, if successful, could be a great opportunity for the community. We will need to meet

the various NFLS requirements, including the creation of a viable business plan for the

wood. We will also need to raise funds of course, perhaps lottery funding. If we do nothing,

the land is likely to be sold to the highest bidder. I would really like volunteers to help me

with this - please let me know if you would like to be involved. We will arrange a community

meeting about the whole issue in the next few weeks.

This also means of course that there will be no re-planting by FCS and probably no further

MWT activity in the wood whilst it is still under FCS management. The new owners may or

may not wish to continue a partnership with MWT.

We were able to complete 2 approved jobs in the wood in 2012, summarised below:

June 2012. Spruce thinning.

In the summer we got approval from FCS

to remove small spruce in the area

(marked on the map) near the glacier-

worn rock. The objective of the job was

to free-up the self-sown birch & rowan

growing in that area and enable the

natural regeneration of ground cover

(see photo taken after the work was

completed). Many thanks to Bill & family,

Ian, Trevor & Owen for all the hard work.

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Oct 2012. New ‘Desire Line’ to Summit of Oldman Hill.

The clear-felling of mature spruce next to the Kirkton, in 2011, exposed the summit of

Oldman Hill. Clearly we just had to create a desire line to take in the 360o views from the

summit. We settled for a looped desire line off the main track (see map). Our volunteers this

time were the hard-working and ever-reliable 1st Maryculter cubscouts, assisted by their

scout leaders, notably Bill. Luckily, all (!) we needed to do was move brash out of the way,

though it was pretty deep in places. It is worth checking out the view from the summit.

Left Photo: Taken along the newly created desire line towards the small rocky knoll on the

western boundary of the wood. Right Photo: View from small rocky knoll northwards

towards the summit of Oldman Hill

Photo opposite: the troops at the summit of

Oldman Hill after all the hard work

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Latest map of the wood showing MWT activities in 2012

Ed Thorogood

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Appendix 3. Community Archaeological Potential and Opportunity,

Colin Shepherd, Scottish Heritage

Background

As part of Moray and Aberdeenshire Forestry Commission Scotland’s approach to land management, an archaeological walkover survey was carried out by the writer in advance of forestry intervention. It should be noted that the areas surveyed related only to those parts under immediate threat and that a large proportion of the woodland has not been assessed in this way. The walkover survey resulted in the recording and conservation of a number of features of historic interest that may relate to a range of periods (see Plan1).

Plan 1. Archaeological features noted from archaeological prospective walkover survey of parts of the woodland. The cairn (001) may be prehistoric and might have had some ceremonial function. It sits in a prominent position and does not immediately appear related to clearance activity. Though its position on the edge of unenclosed agricultural land as shown on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey plan (see Plan 2) might suggest a more mundane nature. The small area of rig, the clearance cairns and the linear enclosure banks clearly relate to agricultural activity. The periods of use of these features are, however, largely unknown. The 1st and 2nd OS editions show an enclosure that partly corresponds to features noted in the survey. That the recorded features are more extensive and cut by other features suggest that these enclosures belong to some pre-modern period. The fact that the clearance cairns seem not

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to be bounded by these enclosures further indicates that they may belong to an earlier period still.

Some other features are more problematic. Two small ‘penannular’ banks may be kiln sites, though further intervention would be required to confirm or deny this. Similarly, a possible hut circle sits between two linear banks though, because of its very disturbed nature, further work would also be required to substantiate such a view. Plan 2. Archaeological

features overlaying 1st Edition

OS map. The hollow-way (003) raises the further intriguing question of the former wider landscape. This feature makes little sense in terms of the landscape as known from the last two hundred and fifty years as seen on the OS maps. Its curvilinear form also suggests a pre-modern date - post-‘improvement’ features generally conform to a more rectilineal rigidity. Assuming the pre-modern landscape to have been more ‘curvilinear’ but that ‘improvement’ layouts frequently simply seek to ‘straighten out’ earlier forms, the orientation of the boundary running roughly south-eastwards from between the church and the manse (and a further parallel one east of that) may supply a formative orientation for the hollow-way. Such ‘landscape deconstruction’ might also suggest further landscape ‘ghosts’ (see Plan2). Boundary AB is crossed by enclosure C which might, therefore, predate this linear feature. C also seems to overlay the unenclosed area of better land D which, in turn, might be an earlier feature than C. The eastern and southern boundaries XY and BY do not appear to cut across any features but many features respect them. They might be suggested as fairly early features within the design of this landscape. The area of 19th century woodland is bounded on the west by a sinuous boundary- for example, at E. It is, however, seemingly cut by the

proposed late feature AB as well as at least one enclosure along its western perimeter. The place-names Parkhead to the north-west and the Lodge to the east may suggest an area of earlier parkland that may provide the context for a relict piece of woodland here. On the other hand, the Lodge name may have nothing to do with this area at all and be related to land lying further to the east (Though this argument cannot be sustained for the name ‘Parkhead’). Plan 3. Archaeological features

overlaying 2nd Edition OS map.

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Discussion Enough physical and cartographic remains survive to suggest that this area of woodland holds good potential for teasing out aspects of the processes involved in landscape development in the North-east. This very short synopsis is based upon little more than one day’s site visit to part of the wood and a quick map assessment of the landscape boundaries in the immediate vicinity. Much useful research can be carried out by members of the community of all ages and abilities. There are undoubtedly more relict features to be found and all need to be accurately recorded. Such work requires a little knowledge, a few garden canes and 30 metre tapes. Documentary research would probably also lead to a deeper understanding of the development of the area and a multidisciplinary approach incorporating geology and environmental sciences would support the historical and social research to create a more rounded understanding of the environment and its ecological and social development. Many simple techniques can be used to help develop this deeper insight into the local natural and cultural enivronment of the community and all such research can involve school children and supply a practical context for classroom theory. (Please visit www.bailiesofbennachie/bennachielandscapes to see some instances of similar undertakings).

Management and Opportunities

In order to safeguard the heritage resource, the woodland will require surveying and the resources recorded. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a ‘once and for all’ process. Changing vegetation over time will reveal new sites of interest whilst masking previously visible ones. But, such surveying and recording is a process that can be readily achieved by community members. Such work will also underline in the community consciousness just how much detail does exist within their woodland and the enterprise can be used as an educational tool in itself. Sites can be preserved by judicious planting of particular species and management regimes can also further aid conservation and presentation. For example, coppiced woodland will result in a less extensive root network and reduce the risk of windblow - both problems resulting in destruction of the archaeological resource. Moreover, coppicing would have been a local management tool in the locality in the past and such a regime can be used to create interesting educational opportunities. Youngsters can learn a range of craft techniques associated with the management of coppiced woodland and the resulting products may be used within the community. Hurdle-making results in lovely garden screens; opportunities to try charcoal production could result in fuel for community barbecues; the community might like to construct a pole-lathe and have a go at traditional turning. (Tenants in Birse forest were paying rents to the Bishops of Aberdeen in turned tableware in the early 16th century). Various ecological zones could be planted to support a range of botanical types that might also result in the resurrection of interesting craft and educational opportunities. Flax might be grown and turned into linen – another cottage industry known from 16th century records. The process is not difficult but results in excellent ‘hands-on’ learning for all members of the community. Various plants can be used for dying cloth which, in turn, might include the locally-produced linen. A bee-keeping initiative might be encouraged which would result in an enhancement of the local ecology (as well as delicious honey!). In other words, a community woodland presents a myriad of learning and community opportunities. What has been suggested here is merely the tip of the iceberg but, I hope, will be of some use in kick-starting a broader range of possibilities once the community gets fully engaged.