Restoring habitats
- 25 heath monitoring plots were set up in 2021 and 80 tree seedlings marked for monitoring in order to broaden our assessments of deer browsing impact:
- 90% of the newly marked tree seedlings showed evidence of browsing
- 20% of the new heath plots showed high browsing pressure. - There has been very little change in heath and woodland growth over the past 13 years, and this data is informing our management plan going forward – with increased focus on reducing grazing impact.
Working with communities
- We hosted five volunteer days in 2021, focused on tree planting and bracken control
Collaborating with partners
- Heart of Scotland Forest Partnership continues to catalyse collaborative, landscape-level woodland regeneration across Perthshire. It was established in part by the Trust and connects six areas of land to create a linked woodland corridor stretching across more than 3,000 hectares, from the Keltneyburn Special Area of Conservation all the way to Loch Tummel. Discussions are underway about a collaborative approach to deer management in light of the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
- We teamed up with Forest and Land Scotland, Perth and Kinross Council, the Police and the Fire Service to manage visitor pressures around Schiehallion and the Braes of Foss car park in the busy summer season. There was a focus on reducing irresponsible car parking and positive engagement with campers.
- 1,500 native trees have been planted in the Braes of Foss area in 2021, bringing the total number of trees planted in this area to 10,000 since 2018. This is helping connect native woodland across Trust, private, government and community land.
- Huge thank you to the following Corporate Members who help make our work on Schiehallion possible:
Wild places for all
- Our Schiehallion Seasonal Ranger supported visitor engagement activities over the summer, conducting surveys, raising awareness and helping with land management projects.
- The easy access Foss Loop route was completed at the end of 2019, opening up access in 2020 and 202 for many more people
- Over three kilometres of the main mountain path were realigned and landscaped in 2021.
- More than 23,000 people were counted on the Schiehallion path in 2021, and 1,500 on the Brae of Foss loop.
2022 focus
- Delivering practical action on the Mountain Woodland Project.
- Visitor management and car parking feasibility study in order to find a sustainable solution to the challenge of high visitor numbers.
- Continuing to work toward landscape-level impact for people and nature with the Heart of Scotland Forest Partnership and Perthshire Nature Connections Partnership.
