Woodland Management Plans

Angus Council have produced 8 draft Woodland Management Plans for the woodlands in your area.

Following Consultation on the Draft plans, which closed on Monday 23 September 2024, we would like to give you an update.

Survey Results

The Draft Woodland Management Plan engagement has received a good number of responses and we were pleased with the level of engagement. Many residents stated that their local woodlands are very important to them and described various benefits they offered them in terms of mental and physical health, offering a place to play and learn, observing wildlife and generally staying in touch with nature.

Many responses were received with comments on the draft management proposals and these have been incorporated into the plans before their submission to Scottish Forestry. This agency will review the plans and publish them on their public register, where stakeholders and interested parties can leave further comments. We will provide a link to this register once they are live.

View a summary of all written responses

Personal information has been removed to comply with Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

Monikie and Crombie Country Parks

Due to the high number of comments related to specific proposals at the two country parks in Monikie and Crombie we would like to clarify the following points.

For more detail, see the links to the Monikie and Crombie Updated Documents elsewhere on this page.

Tree felling

Large sections of the mature woodland have sustained significant damage after powerful storms in recent years and the remaining standing conifer trees are at high risk of blowing over in future extreme weather events. The main aim of the plans is to protect the public from risk through trees when using these popular country parks by undertaking targeted felling operations. The objective is to remove the dense block of conifers, and to establish windfirm edges wherever feasible, to ensure the visitors’ safety in the future.

Although the felling proposals showed a complete removal of all trees in some areas, this is only due to the format of formal tree felling applications to Scottish Forestry. This means that although the complete area is shown, only those species that have been applied for will actually be felled. The plans for the country parks applied for the felling of specific conifer species only and broadleaved trees and other coniferous species will remain in place.

To clearer identify the proposed targeted felling works, they have been recategorized as ‘selective felling’ rather than ‘clear felling’. We have revised the felling and replanting (restocking) maps for Monikie Country Park and added the Felling Permission application in the updated documents.

Replanting

The felling applications were accompanied by restocking maps that showed that all felled areas will be completely restocked with trees. In most parts native species will be prioritised, but some compartments will receive a mixture of broadleaf and conifer trees specifically designed to attract red squirrels to these areas of the park. The species mixture has been selected to ensure habitat diversity and enhance ecological resilience of the woodlands in the long-term.

Impact on wildlife

With any tree felling works we will ensure that they are compliant with all legislation and regulations affecting operations to fell trees. Before felling works commence a scoping survey will be carried out to find signs of protected species and suitable management activities will be identified in cooperation with relevant agencies and conservation groups, such as Nature Scot, Tayside Bat Group, Scottish Badgers and Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels. Information specifically pertinent to bats in woodlands have been added to all management plans.

We would like to thank all Angus residents who have taken part in this engagement.

Woodland Management Plan

If you would like reminder about forest and woodland management visit Scottish Forestry.

What is a Woodland Management Plan (WMP)?

Woodland Management Plans are a tool to record objectives and findings in a woodland. They also identify issues, opportunities and develop a possible work plan - subject to funding.

We have followed the Scottish Forestry guidance on the development of Woodland Management Plans. There are two types of WMPs used for Angus.

Woodlands In and Around Town (WIAT)

WIAT is an initiative tool to enhance woodlands in and around towns, for the benefit of residents and the environment.

Supported by funding to encourage proposals to be constructed, it aims to work with residents and provide additional funding, especially in deprived areas. Take a look at the Scottish forestry video on WIAT.

It enhances residents' access to well managed and welcoming local woodlands.

See the map of woodland management locations.

Rural Woodland Management Plans (RMPs)

This is a management tool used to record issues and propose works. It sets out a future management vision.