Villagers to hold talks with Scottish Forestry in a bid to save woodland
Residents of Gartmore, near Stirling, will meet with the group next week
Last updated 5th Dec 2021
Stirling residents are set to hold talks with Scottish Forestry in a bid to save the future of woodland in the area.
People who live in Gartmore will meet with the Scottish Government agency next week after it felled trees in the National Park last month.
The organisation - which is responsible for forestry policy, support and regulation - has apologised for cutting down the trees without consulting locals first.
Villagers have warned this practice could leave protected species homeless, including red squirrels.
Local student Ross Patterson said: "National Parks are meant to be a haven for wildlife - and for woodland, as well.
"These are meant to be the protected areas that we have.
"We need to be replanting and rewilding the whole place instead of destroying little pockets - home to protected species - and also protecting native woodland as well instead of cutting it down."
A clear-fell licence was issued for the site at Archway Woods on Gartmore House Estate by Forestry Scotland last year.
But opponents of the move say this was supposed to have been put on hold when the the community showed "significant opposition" to allow further talks.
Ross added: "Many of them were planted specifically to be harvested, so I don't see any problem with that.
"But I do have an issue when they're destroying native woodland, native mixed broadleaf woodland, which is home to protected species."
Scottish Forestry has been approached for comment.