Trust responds to Schiehallion media comment

John Muir Trust responds to recent media and online commentary about our plans for the land we care for at East Schiehallion.

Grazing pressures have pushed high-altitude woodland to the brink of extinction and reducing this pressure is essential to sustaining the natural regeneration of mountain woodland tree species, including rare montane willow.

Having tried other approaches, we are now resolved to make our site at East Schiehallion one of the best examples of mountain woodland in the UK. Our plan is to install a stock fence with an offset wire, similar to the one already on site that protects the woodland on the left as you walk up the path. The primary purpose of the fence is to prevent sheep wandering onto the fragile habitat.

In the absence of frameworks to support landscape scale change, the most effective protection for this habitat is to erect the planned fence along our boundary. While not our preferred solution, it will help protect the saplings from destructive grazing. Though the primary driver is to exclude sheep, deer control will be continued within the area and deer leaps will be installed to allow deer to exit with ease, and the aim is to discourage them from coming into the area.

Mountain woodland provides a home for endangered species including invertebrates, mammals, and birds. Schiehallion's woodland supports species such as whinchat and is home to endangered ring ouzel and mountain ringlet. It also ensures the survival of rare plants unique to this habitat including rockrose and Scottish asphodel.

Our aim is to allow natural process to thrive on our properties, to show case to everyone who visits the landscape potential and provide them with the ability to experience the biodiversity of mountain woodland. 

• Find out more about our work on East Schiehallion.