Managing forests for white-tailed eagles

White-tailed eagles (sea eagles) were re-introduced to Scotland from the 1970s and there are now over 50 breeding pairs. They frequently nest and roost in woodlands and tend to use habitual nest sites. The species has a high degree of legal protection, and woodland managers need to plan operations carefully to avoid disturbing the birds […]

Management of ancient wood pasture

This guidance note provides an introduction to the restoration and management of ancient wood pastures in Scotland. It is aimed at land managers, their advisers and agency staff involved in land management and grant assessment. It has also been developed to help applicants to the Scottish Rural Development Programme deliver the ‘Management of Ancient Wood […]

Benefits of green infrastructure

An in-depth technical report by Forest Research providing a synthesis of the evidence on the positive benefits which green infrastructure brings to society. A summary report is also available: Benefits of green infrastructure – summary report. By Land Regeneration and Urban Greenspace, Centre for Forestry and Climate Change.  

Benefits of green infrastructure – summary report

A Summary Report by Forest Research providing evidence on the positive benefits which green infrastructure brings to society. A Technical Report is also available: Benefits of green infrastructure. By Land Regeneration and Urban Greenspace, Centre for Forestry and Climate Change.

Restoring afforested peat bogs: results of current research

The value of peat bogs as open habitats and stores of carbon may be lost if they are planted with trees. The number of bogs being restored is increasing but still modest in scale relative to the area of afforested peatland. Research is currently being carried out to determine the feasibility and methodology for restoring […]

Identifying the historic environment in Scotland’s forests and woodlands

Identifying the historic environment in Scotland’s forests and woodlands has been prepared by Forestry Commission Scotland and Archaeology Scotland as an aid to forestry and woodland managers when considering the historic environment in their stewardship. The principal purpose of this practice guide is to provide an accessible introduction to exploring ‘archaeology in the field’. Archaeological and […]

Practical techniques for surveying and monitoring squirrels

Practical surveying and monitoring techniques are essential for anyone involved in studying or managing squirrel populations in forests and woodland in Britain. Survey methods can be used to establish the presence of squirrels in a particular area and, if used systematically, can detect significant changes in the distribution or abundance of populations and species over […]

Improving the ecological content of forest plans

A Case Study from Glen Affric – May 2008. Related pages Habitat networks Landscape ecology Integrated establishment systems for the uplands Lowland native woodlands Integrated forest vegetation management Management of upland native woodlands Silvicultural and woodland management practices publications Vegetation management publications Woodland establishment and regeneration publications

Planning for lowland habitat networks in Scotland: A landscape-scale approach

A synopsis of the Lowland Habitat Networks in Scotland report (below), including examples of how networks of non-wooded habitats and their integration in different landscape settings could benefit landscapes in the Scottish Lowlands. By Darren Moseley and Mike Smith. Full report: Developing lowland habitat networks in Scotland: Phase 2 (PDF-3207K) Related pages Habitat networks Landscape ecology Integrated establishment systems for the […]

The Environmental Change Network at Alice Holt Research Forest

The Environmental Change Network (ECN) was established in 1992 to provide a framework for monitoring the effects of a range of environmental drivers on freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. The Alice Holt ECN site represents the Forestry Commission’s commitment to this long-term collaborative programme. This Research Note reviews data collected at the Alice Holt site over […]

[Archive] Estimating deer abundance in woodlands: the combination plot technique

This Bulletin describes a technique for measuring deer abundance in woodlands. The technique is a variation of the faecal accumulation rate method and was developed and refined using data from more than ten years of monitoring and research by Strath Caulaidh Ltd. In justifying their choice of each element of the technique, the authors also […]

[Archive] Forest habitat networks Scotland

By Darren Moseley, Duncan Ray, Kevin Watts & Jonathan Humphrey. Contract report to Forestry Commission Scotland, Forestry Commission GB and Scottish Natural Heritage.