GROWTH FACTOR: A forestry strategy for Scotland's newest national park was launched yesterday which could see more open space, new tree species and the production of high-quality hardwood.

The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park board met yesterday to discuss commercial timber plantations which will constitute the biggest single land use within the 18-month-old park. It said both people and wildlife will benefit from the five-year forestry strategy which involves restructuring of the extensive forests within the park. There will be a renewed emphasis on public access and recreation opportunities and landowners will qualify for additional grant aid to meet the higher management demands.

The park board yesterday said the strategy ''will aim to become an examplar of best practice in land use within Scotland''. The public will increasingly be brought into the planning, creation and management of woodland and economic benefits from employment and recreation should increase.

The strategy document says there is potential to increase the area and quality of Caledonian pinewoods, pictured above, through natural regeneration and by linking together the remaining Caledonian pines in new woodlands along glens such as Falloch and Fillan.

The establishment of new native broadleaf woods within the national park is seen as a priority. Existing broadleaf woods are also to be brought into positive management.

The framework says that the Argyll and Queen Elizabeth forest parks will continue to provide core areas for productive coniferous forestry within the national park.