Adam Watson to David Bale (SNH)

From: Adam Watson
To: David Bale
Sent: 29 November 2012
Subject: Glen Tanar

David

We now know from Derek Pyper’s second set of photos that cross racks were used. These cause far more concentrated damage, so did the estate request consent for this from SNH?

Also we know that there is a large flat loading bay half a mile east of the Half Way Hut, on the south side of the road. Many Scots pines must have been clear-felled to make way for this loading bay, and gravel, sand and other hardcore imported in large quantity. So, a second new question is, did the estate request consent from SNH for this clear-felling, for the subsequent destruction of pinewood soils and vegetation, and for the importation and laying of hardcore etc for this large loading bay?

Derek Pyper took about 20 photographs, in addition to the earlier five that he took. The new ones show further damage to boughs of old Caledonian granny pines, many pines with their bark skinned by careless hasty work by machine operators, and much more extensive severe damage to and destruction of soils and vegetation.

It tells much that we, and shortly the public, have been far better informed about the damaging events at Glen Tanar by the public-spirited actions of a single concerned mountaineer than the miniscule absurdly brief information that we have gained by authorised site inspections by officers of SNH and FCS. This will not be lost on the wider UK public or on the officers of the EU environmental department at Brussels.

Adam Watson

Adam Watson to David Bale (SNH)

From: Adam Watson
To: David Bale
Sent: 19 October 2012

Dear David,

I have been concerned for several years about the severe damage being done to trees, understory vegetation, soils, and water tables by the use of large timber-harvesting machines and the large forwarder machines for transporting felled logs to loading bays. The damage has increased and become widespread with the rapid increase in use of these machines. In particular I have become alarmed by the use of these machines in native pinewoods in Deeside, and especially in the Old Caledonian pinewoods. I will send you photographs by my old friend Derek Pyper in Glen Tanar on 17 October 2012, taken from the roadside by the Half Way Hut, apart from a shot at Etnach. Two show a very wide forwarder route with much mud and also some standing water. Another shows an old granny pine damaged with branches ripped off, and other photos of a narrower track show a harvester route. Because there is not a scrap of plant life in the tracks, this is good evidence that the works were done this autumn, after the growing season. Mr Pyper, a notable Aberdeen mountaineering enthusiast for decades, was appalled to see the mess beside the Half Way Hut while he was on a cycling trip up the glen. Because he knew of my interest and concerns in the subject, he sent me the photos at once. You will see that the machines have skinned bark off nearby trees, which results inevitably in fungus entering, causing rot and eventual killing the tree. Large branches were ripped off a fine old granny pine that stood beside the machine routes.

I have checked that the affected ground beside the Half Way Hut lies entirely within four designated sites, SSSI, NNR, SPA, SAC, Cairngorms National Park. According to the designation details of the first four, available on the SNH website, the damage left by these machines constitutes an unlawful action and flies in the face of the admirable words on maintaining the integrity of the qualifying interest such as the native pinewood. I write to inquire whether the landowner requested consent from SNH, and, if not, what action SNH proposes to take. I regard the damage done as the worst I have seen in many woods over recent years, and particularly reprehensible because it is in a beautiful section of ancient pinewood. I regard it as land vandalism on a large scale, and I and Mr Pyper will do out utmost to ensure that the public media know what has happened. First, however, I wish to give SNH an opportunity to inform us, because I am aware that the landowner may have gone ahead with the machines even though not informing SNH or receiving the required consent from SNH.

You may be interested to learn, as I was recently, that the Prince of Wales has commissioned two expert men with horses to work for three months to thin an old coniferous wood near Birkhall. The loading bay is at the side of the South Deeside Road, just past Knocks Cottages, and the men leave their vehicle at the side of the road there. I have seen for myself that the horses with these two men are pulling out logs with minimal superficial damage to soils and vegetation, no disruption of the water table, and no skinning of bark from nearby trees. Immediately opposite on the east side of the South Deeside Road is a spectacular contrast where timber machines caused severe damage to soils, water, and barking of nearby trees while felling along linear routes in August and early September this year. I believe strongly that horses should be used for removing trees cut by power saw in the Glen Tanar designated site, and that further use of machines must be prohibited forthwith.

By chance I happened to meet the Prince when I visited the two loggers on Tuesday afternoon and we had a useful discussion. I have sent Derek Pyper’s photographs to the Prince via his assistants and also to Simon Lenihan who is working the horses along with his son Ian.

Adam

Adam Watson to David Bale (SNH)

From: Adam Watson
To: David Bale
Sent: 19 October 2012
Subject: Damage to Caledonian Pinewoods

Dear David

I have been concerned for several years about the severe damage being done to trees, understory vegetation, soils, and water tables by the use of large timber-harvesting machines and the large forwarder machines for transporting felled logs to loading bays. The damage has increased and become widespread with the rapid increase in use of these machines. In particular I have become alarmed by the use of these machines in native pinewoods in Deeside, and especially in the Old Caledonian pinewoods. I will send you photographs by my old friend Derek Pyper in Glen Tanar on 17 October 2012, taken from the roadside by the Half Way Hut, apart from a shot at Etnach. Two show a very wide forwarder route with much mud and also some standing water. Another shows an old granny pine damaged with branches ripped off, and other photos of a narrower track show a harvester route. Because there is not a scrap of plant life in the tracks, this is good evidence that the works were done this autumn, after the growing season. Mr Pyper, a notable Aberdeen mountaineering enthusiast for decades, was appalled to see the mess beside the Half Way Hut while he was on a cycling trip up the glen. Because he knew of my interest and concerns in the subject, he sent me the photos at once. You will see that the machines have skinned bark off nearby trees, which results inevitably in fungus entering, causing rot and eventual killing the tree. Large branches were ripped off a fine old granny pine that stood beside the machine routes.

I have checked that the affected ground beside the Half Way Hut lies entirely within four designated sites, SSSI, NNR, SPA, SAC, Cairngorms National Park. According to the designation details of the first four, available on the SNH website, the damage left by these machines constitutes an unlawful action and flies in the face of the admirable words on maintaining the integrity of the qualifying interest such as the native pinewood. I write to inquire whether the landowner requested consent from SNH, and, if not, what action SNH proposes to take. I regard the damage done as the worst I have seen in many woods over recent years, and particularly reprehensible because it is in a beautiful section of ancient pinewood. I regard it as land vandalism on a large scale, and I and Mr Pyper will do out utmost to ensure that the public media know what has happened. First, however, I wish to give SNH an opportunity to inform us, because I am aware that the landowner may have gone ahead with the machines even though not informing SNH or receiving the required consent from SNH.

You may be interested to learn, as I was recently, that the Prince of Wales has commissioned two expert men with horses to work for three months to thin an old coniferous wood near Birkhall. The loading bay is at the side of the South Deeside Road, just past Knocks Cottages, and the men leave their vehicle at the side of the road there. I have seen for myself that the horses with these two men are pulling out logs with minimal superficial damage to soils and vegetation, no disruption of the water table, and no skinning of bark from nearby trees. Immediately opposite on the east side of the South Deeside Road is a spectacular contrast where timber machines caused severe damage to soils, water, and barking of nearby trees while felling along linear routes in August and early September this year. I believe strongly that horses should be used for removing trees cut by power saw in the Glen Tanar designated site, and that further use of machines must be prohibited forthwith.

By chance I happened to meet the Prince when I visited the two loggers on Tuesday afternoon and we had a useful discussion. I have sent Derek Pyper’s photographs to the Prince via his assistants and also to Simon Lenihan who is working the horses along with his son Ian.

Adam