FDF was launched at a packed meeting in
Kirkton Hall on 27 September 1999. Over one hundred people supported the new group. It
aims to support the development of Durris Forest in an ecologically sensitive way, and in
harmony with the local community. FDF has been working with Forest Enterprise to define a
new way forward, and is closely associated with Crathes, Drumoak and Durris Community
Council.
The FDF Committee includes
representatives from the Aberdeenshire and Community Councils, Durris Kirk, Kirkton Hall
Committee and Durris School Board.
Help with all the projects below is
welcomed – please contact the co-ordinator
indicated.
John Coyne (844787) Philip Dean (811308)
Sandy Duthie (844507) David Edgar (844598)
Susan Gallagher (811884) Maureen Gibson (811396)
Paulette Gould (811625) Mark Hagger (811328)
Mike Potter (811725) Sandy Wallace (811444)
James White (811756).
David Felstead (811884)(Membership Officer)
Please tell us what you would like to
do…
History (Philip & John)
Find out about the Bronze Age Cairn and Settlement between Kirkton Wood and Woodlands Wood. An expert from Historic Scotland has been invited to talk about this newly registered historic site, one Saturday morning in mid February.
We would like to find out about the
history of the former farms in the Durris Forest – can you help?
Elsick Mounth (Mark & Philip)
The Elsick Mounth is the ancient right
of way from Drum to Stonehaven. It is overgrown and blocked by windblown trees at present.
Clearing of the path through the forest
will begin shortly. FE will brash and cut up fallen trees. Aberdeenshire Council will
arrange signposting and complete agreements with landowners.
FDF volunteers will meet at 10.00 a.m.
on Saturday, 15 Jan 2000, to help clear brash and cut timber. Please bring your friends,
with boots, gloves and snap to the entrance of Bruntyairds Wood, behind Denside (Map Ref:
807945).
Partnership with Forest Enterprise
FDF has met with Kevin Peace, the new
manager at the Kirkton FE office, and Alistair Angus, the Recreation ranger.
The new five year plan for Durris
Forest has been considered, and recommendations put forward.
Plans for improved parking and access
are to be drawn up by FE landscape architects for work to be done in the spring.
Durris School will plant some broadleaf
trees early in the new year (Paulette).
Ecology (John & Susan)
An assessment of the flora and wildlife
of the forest is being carried out by our ecology group.
When you have joined
Friends of Durris Forest, and paid your subs for the year 2000,
why not Find another Friend to join?
Subscription £3 for 1
year or £12 for 5 years, to any committee member.
The FDF Committee urges you to write
letters to Land-Rover, Forestry Commission and your MP/MSP regarding:
·
Huge
increase in off road tracks
·
Damage
to the ecology of the forest
·
Threat
to recreational users
Sir Peter Hutchison
Chairman
Forestry Commission
231 Corstorphine Road
EDINBURGH EH12 7AT
Chief Executive
Land-Rover
Lode Lane
SOLIHULL B92 8NW
Sir Robert Smith MP
& Mike Rumbles MSP
6 Dee Street
BANCHORY AB31 5ST
Explosion of Tracks
Last April a reluctant Council
Committee turned down a proposal to build a large centre for Land Rover off road driving
at Kirkton of Durris. However, temporary consent was given for off road driving on 7 km of
tracks in Durris Forest, subject to no less than 32 conditions, for a trial period of one
year.
Since then, Land Rover Highland
Experience has succeeded in negotiating use of a further 44 km of off-road tracks in the forest. The
Planning Department approved the tracks in August, but the decision was with-held from the
Community Council until 1 Oct.
In the original planning application,
passed by councillors last April, 7km of off
road routes were specified. Now there are 44 km (25 miles)!
Consequently there is little of Durris
Forest that is not marred by the off road driving. Already bulldozed tracks have caused
severe damage, carving through peat and topsoil, in places to a depth of six feet.
Vegetation has been destroyed and mud is the order of the day.
A digger working for the Land Rover
project smashed through a bronze age cairn at Kirkton Wood on 2 September, tossing aside
the principal stones. The cairn was noted in the environmental report submitted with the
planning application, and should have been carefully marked and avoided. FDF has received
an apology to the community for the destruction of the monument from Sir Peter Hutchinson,
Chair of Forest Enterprise. The developer has agreed to replace the stones and restore the
cairn with an information sign. That is small amends for the destruction of the ancient
cemetery.
FDF has tried to have the Council set
up an effective independent monitoring system, to evaluate the impact on ecology and recreational users. Forest
Enterprise initially agreed. The Council now proposes a very limited monitoring of the
ecological impact (only 15 observation points!), plus the offer of a user survey later in
the year, by Forest Enterprise.
Philip has resigned as delegate from the Community Council to the monitoring group. He is protesting at the behaviour of Council officials in withholding information about the gross extension of the off-road tracks, and the failure to set up an independent monitoring system.
The Community Council decided reluctantly to maintain a presence on the monitoring committee. The Community will now be represented by Mark Hagger and Hamish Taylor.
The leasing of the Durris Forest to
Land Rover Highland Experience has been referred to the Ombudsman by Mike Rumbles MSP. We
await a response.
Friends have successfully demanded:
·
the removal of plastic signs
advertising Land Rover around the Durris Forest
·
advertising flags at the mobile
office, clearly visible from the South Deeside Road.
·
Improved warning information at the
entrances to the forest, to reduce risk.
·
We have also objected to the siting
at Kirkton of a mobile office, which flouts the refusal by the Council to grant planning
permission for development.
Friends should note carefully any
incident with details (day, time, location, vehicle reg, description, sketch-map of scene)
and report to any Committee Member immediately. We need the whole community to continue a
careful observation of these unacceptable activities in the public forest, to ensure that
the operation is stopped in its tracks in 12 months.