Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has commissioned LUC to undertake National Vegetation Classification (NVC) Surveys within the Trossachs National Park as part of a large regeneration project.

FLS, in collaboration with Scottish Water, is aiming to expand native woodland, and increase carbon capture and peatland restoration opportunities across the open hill and upland habitats surrounding Loch Katrine and Loch Arklet.

LUC is surveying the area to locate zones suitable for native woodland planting.

Historically, the survey areas were subject to livestock grazing, but grazing pressure has since reduced following changes in land management practices.

As a result, natural regeneration is now occurring in abundance. Our survey work has seen areas of formerly species-poor acid grassland transforming into young heathland or woodland.

By increasing natural regeneration opportunities, FLS and Scottish Water will transform the area into a carbon emissions sink. This will aid nation-wide net zero targets, and will help to combat the climate crisis.

A consultation is ongoing with local communities on future land management plans for Loch Katrine.

The loch supplies water to 1.3 million people in Greater Glasgow and the wider Central Belt. The surrounding hills and uplands comprise 9,000 hectares of land managed by FLS.

Learn more about our Ecology services.