Black grouse at risk as plans to plant open Scottish moorland with conifers advance

Community groups have said plans for 1400-acres of commercial forestry in the Scottish Borders will have a negative impact on people and nature as a consultation for the plantation closes.

The plans have been lodged by Gresham House, one of the largest private owners of Scotland’s forests. The proposed woodland scheme will cover 1431-acres of land at Todrig Farm near Hawick.

Despite the area being home to black grouse and important colonies of the Northern Brown Argus butterfly, the area will not be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment. Before planting commences, much of the heather will be killed using glyphosate, a powerful herbicide.

Chief executive of the Moorland Association, Andrew Gilruth told ST: “It’s nearly 90 years since the Reverend H.H. Symonds famously led a local campaign to prevent 7,000 acres of the Lake District from being carpeted in trees. They argued that the tree planting would completely ruin the wild glacial character of the area and displace their Herdwick sheep.

Today we have an entire conservation industry, yet it never fails to amaze me that we are still reliant on local community groups to push back against plans like these.”