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Scottish Woodland organisations

The following organisations could be useful to you as a woodland owner. We have listed them under two categories: governmental and non-governmental. For each organisation, we give general information about it, followed by information that may be directly relevant to you. Generally, the governmental organisations will be the ones responsible for legal authorisations and licences (e.g. felling licences) and grants, whereas non-governmental organisations will provide you essentially with advice, information and training in different fields, for example in conservation, and woodland maintenance and management.

Note that the Scottish government is often referred to as the Scottish Executive.

Governmental organisations

Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD)

General description
The remit of SEERAD is to advise ministers in the Scottish Executive on policy relating to agriculture, rural development, food, the environment and fisheries, and to ensure that these policies are properly implemented in Scotland. SEERAD works in co-ordination with the various different governmental organisations involved in these fields. For example, SEERAD has overall responsibility for the following 'non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs): the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, and the Deer Commission for Scotland (all listed below). It also works closely with the Forestry Commission Scotland.

Relevance to woodland owners
SEERAD can be useful in many circumstances where issues of land and woodland management are in question, either through the department itself, or through one of the NDPBs. Notably, it deals with grant schemes for tree replanting.
www.scotland.gov.uk/about/departments/ERAD

Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS)

General description
Since the Forestry Devolution Review of 2003, the Forestry Commission of Great Britain has had separate departments for Scotland, England and Wales. Hence, the Forestry Commission Scotland is the forestry department of the Scottish Executive. Its main tasks are to deliver the Scottish Executive's forestry strategy, in partnership with the Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD); it also manages the national forest estate through its agency called Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES). On the ground, the FCS is divided into five Regional Conservancies, and fourteen Forest Districts, whose tasks include planting, forest design, marketing timber and providing facilities and access for the public.

Relevance to woodland owners

• The Forestry Commission is a useful source of information, providing general and specific advice about forests in Britain.
• The FCS provides grants for certain kinds of projects, such as the expansion of areas of native woodland. From 2007 the grant scheme will be operated by Land Management Contracts, which is replacing the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme (SFGS).
• The FCS is the authority that oversees regulations that apply to woodlands, notably in respect of tree felling. Tree felling requires a licence, available from the FCS. The penalties for felling without a licence are high. That said, moderate tree-felling is permitted, provided that it falls within certain limits of scale published by the FCS ('Felling Licence Exemptions').

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)

General description
The SNH is the Executive's adviser on natural heritage and nature conservation matters. Its task is to secure the conservation of Scotland’s natural heritage ? its wildlife, habitats and landscapes. It has been closely involved in the development of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which defines the public's right of access to private land.

Relevance to woodland owners

• It is vitally important for all Scottish woodland owners to know the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and be fully aware of its implications (see our separate article on Public Access Rights in Scottish Woodlands). Contact the SNH if you need further information or advice on this subject.
• If you want to embark on a project that may have an impact on natural heritage (affecting the wildlife for example), you must contact the SNH. A licence may be required if your work impinges upon a protected species.
• The SNH can also be useful in helping you to benefit from having a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in your woodland. A SSSI can relate to plants or animals or habitat, the rocks or landforms, or a combination of these. If you think this applies to your land, the SNH can offer individual management agreements.
• The SNH also offers grants to help people understand, enjoy and care for the natural heritage. You can, for example, apply for a grant to manage a 'special place' that has exceptional wildlife or scenic qualities, or for a project that supports biodiversity, or for improving paths for public use.
• www.snh.org.uk

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

General description
SEPA is the national public body responsible for environmental protection and improvement in Scotland. Its primary task is to co-ordinate and integrate protection throughout Scotland and to assist the Scottish Executive's policies for sustainable development.

Relevance to woodland owners

• If you plan to carry out activities that may in some way affect the environment, you would be wise to contact SEPA at the outset make sure this is permissible.
• SEPA is the organisation to contact to report any environmental incident or emergency.
• It also has a comprehensive databank on flooding: if you want to know about the floodline of any river at any period of the year, you can contact the SEPA flooding service.
• www.sepa.org.uk

Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS)

General description
The Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) is the public body responsible for the conservation, control and management of wild deer in Scotland. For more information on hunting, see our separate article on Fishing and Hunting Rights in Scottish Woodlands.

Relevance to woodland owners

• The DCS provides a full range of advice about wild deer. It can advise, for instance, on management regimes, including grazing regimes, or their status as a hunting asset.
• If deer are causing serious damage to your woodland, you can apply to the DCS for special authorisation to shoot them at night (under strictly regulated conditions).
• The DCS may actively intervene if deer in woodland pose a public threat, for instance by straying onto public roads and causing accidents.
• www.dcs.gov.uk

Non governmental organisations

Royal Scottish Forestry Society (RSFS)

General description
The RSFS is an educational charity founded over 150 years ago by arboriculturalists, nurserymen, foresters, landowners and tree enthusiasts. It is concerned with information about trees at all levels, and their conservation and management.

Relevance to woodland owners If you join the society, you will have the opportunity to enjoy:

• meetings and excursions held thorough their five regions of Scotland.
• meetings organised by two specialised groups: the Silvicultural Group (tree cultivation), and the Trees, Woods and People Group (debating the interaction between trees and people).
• the three-day annual excursion (usually in May).
• tours arranged with forestry services in other countries.
• their journal 'Scottish Forestry', circulated worldwide, and providing articles at all levels of interest (general and technical).
• www.rsfs.org.uk

Scottish Native Woods

General description
Based in Aberfeldy, in Perthshire, Scottish Native Woods is a charity dedicated to the conservation, restoration and expansion of Scotland's native woodlands. It does not own land, but manages woodland, and helps others to manage their woodlands.

Relevance to woodland owners

• Scottish Native Woods' five area managers provide management advice to woodland owners and tenants.
• It organises training and demonstration events.
• It also manages native woodlands to maximise their amenity value and benefit tourism. If this seems like a good solution for you, you can enter into a woodland management contract with Scottish Native Woods.
• www.scottishnativewoods.org.uk

Woodland Trust

General description
The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity dedicated solely to the protection of our native woodland heritage; it runs vigorous campaigns to further this objective. It also acquires woodland sites and manages them for wildlife and public enjoyment, and creates new native woodland. It uses its experience and authority in conservation to influence others who are in a position to improve the future of native woodland. In Scotland it manages 54 woods covering 7,129 hectares (17,616 acres).

Relevance to woodland owners

• The Woodland Trust publishes a range of brochures and booklets, many of them downloadable from its website. It also has a magazine for members called 'Broadleaf'.
• It has devised a series of woodland activities to appeal to children, parents and teachers , available on its website (for instance 'Nature Detectives' for young enthusiasts).
• www.woodland-trust.org.uk

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers Scotland (BTCV)

General description
Set up as a charity in 1959, BTCV has a successful history of environmental conservation throughout the UK and around the world. Its main activity is carrying out conservation projects with the aid of volunteers.

Relevance to woodland owners

• BCTV is keen to disseminate conservation information through its brochures and books, written on subjects such as Woodlands, Fencing, Footpaths, and Tree Planting.
• It also offers a wide range of high-quality courses in conservation (for example, on Coppicing, and Tree Planting and Aftercare).
• BTCV supplies forestry tools, equipment and plants through its online shop.
• http://comm.bio.ed.ac.uk/cve (BTCV Scotland)
• http://www2.btcv.org.uk (BTCV UK)

Reforesting Scotland

General description
Reforesting Scotland is an organisation based in Edinburgh, for those active in the ecological regeneration of Scotland, and is particularly focused on woodland restoration projects.

Relevance to woodland owners

• Reforesting Scotland offers a range of wood-related information through various media. Some of this is downloadable, or partially downloadable, from the Internet (such as the information sheet 'Acquiring Land', and tree identification sheets); others you have to order. Members of Reforesting Scotland receive a free subscription to the journal of the same name.
• It also runs a full schedule of events and meetings, publicised on its website.
• www.reforestingscotland.org

Scottish Forestry Trust

General description
This charity, based in Edinburgh, was established in 1983 though a gift from the Scottish Woodland Owners Association (Commercial) Ltd. It supports research, education and training in forestry across a broad spectrum, including recreation, wildlife and the environment. The Trust is primarily focused on the forestry industry, but also promotes education about forestry to the wider public.

Relevance to woodland owners

• publishes a number of free (and downloadable) articles.
• publishes or funds or a small number of books of general interest, such as 'A Pleasure in Scottish Trees', and 'Tall Trees and Small Woods'.
• holds meetings and workshops (for instance, on 'The future of wild harvests in Scotland').
• www.scottishforestrytrust.org.uk

Treefest Partnership

General description
The Treefest Partnership is primarily concerned with promoting events in Scotland to do with woodlands and forests. It pools and publishes details of events from a wide range of sources, such as the Royal Scottish Forestry Society, the Woodland Trust, the Forest Industries Cluster, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, and VisitScotland (formerly the Scottish Tourist Board).

Relevance to woodland owners

• The website lists a very broad range of woodland-related events for the coming months, updated daily.
• www.treefestscotland.org.uk

Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT)

General description
With its headquarters in Edinburgh and interests across the land (including more than 20 Member Centres), the SWT aims to protect and represent wildlife, and to promote conservation. It does this by offering habitat management and practical management solutions.

Relevance to woodland owners

• The SWT represents a considerable resource on all matters to do with Scottish wildlife.
• It produces a range of publications.
• It organises a programme of talks and walks.
• It welcomes volunteers who can contribute in a wide variety of ways.
• www.swt.org.uk

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland

General description
The RSPB, founded in 1889, is now thought to be the largest wildlife conservation organisation in the world. RSPB Scotland operates a large number of nature reserves.

Relevance to woodland owners

• RSPB Scotland runs a huge programme of walks, talks, demonstrations and practical activities (publicised on its website).
• The RSPB generally offers a huge resource of information about birdlife.
• It also offers habitat management courses.
• www.rspb.org.uk/scotland

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