A CAMPAIGN is being carried out in Perthshire to clean out non- indigenous trees—with the blessings of major conservation groups.

A specialist firm is working at Keltneyburn, near Aberfeldy, to remove sycamore and beech from the steep sides of the deep gorge there.

The work is part of a contract started last November and funded by a partnership of Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland, with top-up funding from the EU Life-Nature programme.

It is being carried out by Dave MacIntyre, founder of the Kirkmichael-based var scotica, a nursery firm which also specialises in tree work that requires rope access, and Graeme Morison, a former member of the Killin Mountain Rescue Team.

Dave, who learned his climbing and rope access skills working for over 15 years as a tree care specialist in Germany and Switzerland, explained, “Scotland has long since lost the majority of its indigenous woodland and only 2% of the original cover remains—most of these in small remnants on marginal sites such as here in Keltneyburn.

“It’s vitally important that we retain what little is left.

“The ring barking and felling of the beech and sycamore is necessary as these trees are particularly invasive and regenerate profusely at the expense of the native tree populations.”

Their skill in rope work means that as well as being able to use it to fell trees where necessary, the two can also climb trees to obtain the seeds of native species which can be used in habitat restoration and reforestation projects.

While the smaller trees and saplings are felled, the larger trees—some up to 50 feet tall—are being ring barked which entails cutting out an eight-inch section of bark right round the tree, then spraying a herbicide on the cut.

This cuts off nutrients to the branches and the herbicide kills the roots—but the tree remains standing.

Modern forestry techniques have reduced the number of dead trees found still standing in woodlands, but they are an important food source for several types of fungi as well as beetles and other wood-boring insects—and birds like the woodpecker which feed on them.

Around 10 years ago a number of beech trees were treated in this way by Scottish Wildlife Trust trainees, and these trees are still standing in the nature reserve, bearing fungi and the holes bored in them by woodpeckers getting at the beetle grubs.

The Keltneyburn nature reserve is owned by the SWT and Dave was reserve manager for six years before becoming director of the Aberfeldy-based Scottish Native Woodlands.

Last autumn Dave gave up this job to get his feet back on—or off—the ground, having done much of the preparatory work for the project.

SNW’s Highland Perthshire area manager Paul Schofield, who is now overseeing the Keltneyburn project, thus finds himself in the delightful position of having his old boss working for him.

Graeme commented, “Having been involved in planning and overseeing the management of Keltneyburn for so many years it is great to be directly employed in carrying out work which we hope will put the woods in good heart for many years to come.”

Both Dave and Graeme are ensuring the work is carried out as sensitively as possible, and with this in mind are retaining the mature specimens of beech trees which are visible from the B840 Aberfeldy-Loch Tummel Road which runs through the glen, while at the same time returning the site to a more natural state.

The Keltneyburn site, already a designated site of special scientific interest is also a candidate special area for conservation and is one of 11 Scottish sites, six of which are in Perthshire, which are being targeted.