WORK began yesterday on felling giant oaks in a Perthshire forest, to

provide timber to restore the roof of the Stirling Castle's Great Hall.

The hall's original sixteenth century hammer beam structure was

removed around 1800 when the castle was converted into barracks for the

Napoleonic Wars.

Recreating the old roof, which could take up to eight years, will

begin in the spring as part of a #20m restoration scheme at the castle

being carried out by Historic Scotland.

Around 350 oak trees from Bailefuil Wood, north of Callander, will be

needed to provide enough 30ft logs for the roof beams. The felling is

being done in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage and the

Forestry Commission's commercial arm, Forest Enterprise.