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Following our successful negotiation with senior managers of Forest Enterprise in January 2001, off road driving is to be moved on from Durris Forest. We would prefer there to be no off road driving in any public forest, as more than 500 people agreed when they signed the Petition to the Scottish Parliament.

However Forest Enterprise are seeking an alternative site outwith Durris Forests. The new management at the head of Land Rover Highland Experience has been evaluating alternative sites. We understand that a new approach will be used, involving a disused quarry and a limited area of off-road tracks.

Forest Design Plan

In the new spirit of partnership, FDF are meeting with Forest Enterprise to define the future strategy for the forests. The focus will be on the outlying woods around Durris, from the Mulloch, via Cairnshee and Funach, to Kirkton and Clune Wood and then Warren, Ashentilly, Currackstane and Brachmont, and a few more in between

· about introducing areas of native trees that have traditionally clothed Scottish hillsides

The new buzz word in forestry is continuous cover, where the forest is thinned regularly, but is not clear felled in large areas. It is proposed to emply Continuous cover in all of the outlying woods.

Here is an exciting opportunity to re-design the forests. Please tell us how you would like to see the forests develop.

Diary Dates 2001

Summer: Story Trail project

Sept: Elsick Mounth walk

Sun 14 Oct: Seed gathering Sunday / Autumn Gold walk Nov: Tree planting in National Tree Week

Horses and Riders

An equestrian group is meeting to discuss how it would like to see the forest develop. Horse-riding is a popular recreation in Durris forests, and we are pleased to see this special interest considering its needs. The requirements identified will then be fed in to the Design Plan, and appropriate facilities developed.

Horse riders are particularly keen to see more link routes developed, to enable circular routes; to see better parking for horse-boxes; and for a variety of surfaces to be provided.

Story Trail project

Working in partnership with Deeside Storytellers, we plan to develop stories based on local history and traditional tales. It is planned to hold some events in the summer with local children at which stories will be created.

Parts of the story will then be set out on reading posts in the forest. The Story Trail is an exciting and innovative project. We await a response on funding.

Elsick Mounth Walk

The Committee decided that it was inappropriate to proceed with the walk from Drumoak to Stonehaven in May, because of the Foot & Mouth Disease crisis. The risk arising from an organised walk may well be small, but was not considered acceptable. It is intended to hold the walk at a later stage in the year, probably in September.

Co-Management

Our new partnership with Forest Enterprise is working well in practice. However we need to move toward a formal agreement which sets out each party’s rights and responsibilities.

We need proper legal advice to take this forward, so we have applied for a grant to enable us to become incorporated as a charity.

Link Paths

In the next few weeks, two new paths will be cleared to enable recreational access to other parts of the forest. This will be the first step toward enhancing access for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders, since the Elsick Mounth was cleared by volunteers two years ago. Other routes are under consideration.

Meantime we are working on creating a simple, meaningful map of the forest roads and trails that really exist, to enable users to enjoy the forests more.

Durris Cycle Trail and Kirkton Trail

Preparations are being made to submit funding applications for these two projects later in the year.

If you would like to contribute tot he development of any part of these proposals, we would welcome your support and ideas.

Foot & Mouth

Both our tree planting day and the Elsick Mounth walk have fallen victim to the Foot & Mouth virus. The Durris forests are now all open for recreational users, though obviously people should take care to keep away from animals on neighbouring farms. At the time of writing the Monthammock entrance is still closed, owing the its proximity to farmland.

FDF Website

Friends Committee

If you have any suggestions, or would like to contribute to one of the working groups, please contact any committee member. ((: 01330-…)

Friends of Durris Forests - Newsletter 7 - May 2001

Off Road Driving Moves On