THE Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has unveiled its management plans for Corniehaugh in the Deveron Valley, Aberdeenshire.
Initial proposals to plant trees on the 212-hectare (ha) farm, purchased by FCS in 2011, sparked immediate objections from the local community and farming organisations. The previous owners of the farm had operated a successful cattle enterprise in conjunction with a contracting business.
Following a consultation process, FCS is now proposing to plant about 142ha with trees and to create a 70ha "starter unit" with the rest of the farm let to a new entrant.
It will comprise 50ha of better quality "in-bye" land and 20ha of hill grazing, along with a farmhouse and buildings. Commenting on the latest development, Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) director Angus McCall said: "We are pleased to see that FCS has listened to local concerns and the views of the agricultural industry, and has abandoned plans to plant a productive agricultural unit with trees in favour of creating another starter unit on Corniehaugh.
"However, this farm has the potential to provide a full-time living for a family if the most productive land is retained for agriculture.
"Although the creation of another starter farm will be most welcome there is also a desperate need for the provision of larger units to form a second rung in the ladder for new entrants moving on from a starter unit."
Mr McCall said STFA will be advising the Commission to reconsider making the farm available to either a young farmer progressing from a starter unit or to a young farming family who have had a short-term tenancy terminated.
"We will also be cautioning the Commission against tree-planting on Grade 3(2) land or on productive permanent pasture which could prejudice the future viability of the unit," he added.
Mr McCall added on: "There must be scope for greater integrated land management and STFA have welcomed the FC's suggestion that the new tenant of Corniehaugh could become involved in the woodland management of the holding."
David Henderson, of FCS, said: "There is quite a bit of interest in this site amongst the local community and we have consulted extensively and taken a wide range of views for the site into account. A great deal of work has gone into developing a proposal which makes optimum use of Corniehaugh."
MARKET ROUND-UP
MESSRS Craig Wilson Ltd sold 675 prime lambs in Newton Stewart yesterday to a top of £82 per head and 205.1p per kilogramme to average 167.1p (-23p on the week).
There were also 124 cast sheep forward when all classes met a similar trade to last week, with ewes selling to £79 for a pen of Texels and £58 for Blackfaces.
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