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Reserve hailed as “jewel in the crown” by Minister

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Issued by Forestry Commission Scotland

12 October 2015

Environment Minister, Dr Aileen McLeod, today (Monday 12 October) visited The Great Trossachs Forest – Scotland’s newest National Nature Reserve and the biggest reserve of its kind in the UK.

Hailed as an exemplar and a jewel in the crown of Scotland’s forests, the Great Trossachs Forest is managed in partnership between Forest Enterprise Scotland, RSPB Scotland and Woodland Trust Scotland and is located at the heart of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

Great Trossachs Forest 

The Great Trossachs Forest covers an area the size of Glasgow (16,500ha). More than 1.5 million trees have been planted through the project, which will eventually create one of the UKs largest native woodlands in one of Scotland’s most celebrated landscapes.

Dr McLeod, said;

“Since The Great Trossachs Forest was established in 2009, the partners have made a 200-year commitment to manage the area for native woodlands, whilst at the same time celebrating the area’s beauty and rich cultural heritage.

“This has delivered a unique blend of benefits – from enhancing biodiversity to supporting outdoor learning and research, and of course creating outdoor leisure opportunities and boosting tourism.

“The accolade of National Nature Reserve reflects this mix of qualities and helps confirm the Great Trossachs Forest project as a showcase for landscape-scale, co-operative land management. It is a jewel in the crown of Scotland’s forests.”

The National Nature Reserve accolade is awarded to areas managed to conserve sites of nationally or internationally important species or habitats and which are also managed to help people enjoy nature.

The Great Trossachs Forest met the criteria on several counts, including: containing nine designated sites along with other important non-designated habitats; being home to protected species such as golden eagle, pine marten, otter and red squirrel; and an ongoing programme of work to remove invasive species and non-native trees.

Thanks to a recent award from the Heritage Lottery Fund two Visitor Gateways have been built. A new long distance path has also been created (The Great Trossachs Path) to connect a wider network of trails and natural play and sculpture trails installed.

An app has also been developed to guide and inform people about the natural and cultural heritage of The Great Trossachs Forest NNR.


TGTF Ministers & Partners interior: - left to right Stewart Pritchard ( Ops Manager SNH), Carol Evans (Director, Woodland Trust Scotland) Environment Minister Dr Aileen McCLeod, Anne McCall (RSPB Scotland Regional Director, South and West Scotland), Gordon Donaldson (Forest Enterprise Scotland)

For more information visit http://thegreattrossachsforest.co.uk.

 


Source Url: http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/looking-after/reserve-hailed-as-jewel-in-the-crown-by-minister/menu-id-483.html
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