Falls of Clyde Forestry

Did you know the Forestry Commission used to own part of what is now the Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve?

They bought part of the Bonnington Estate (now Falls of Clyde Nature Reserve) in the 1950’s and planted a mix of conifer trees throughout the site to produce timber. These conifer trees often originate from North America (Douglas fir and Sitka spruce) and Europe (Norway spruce) and aren’t as good for wildlife as the native broadleaved woodland that would naturally grow here.

Over the last 30 years, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has slowly been reducing the amount of conifer trees in the wood to allow native trees to recolonise and the latest phase of this woodland restoration begun this week with the felling of some of the conifers between the two waterfalls Corra Linn and Bonnington Linn. More felling will take place over the coming weeks and the logs will be extracted and sold to help pay for the operation. 

- Steve Blow, Reserve Manager, Clyde Valley Woodlands