Non-native trees dominate Galloway forest at centre of would-be national park

At least 86 per cent of trees in Galloway forest park are non-native, The Ferret can reveal, prompting calls to diversify woodland in what could be Scotland’s third national park.

The 77,300 hectare Galloway Forest Park makes up a large swath of the area proposed to be a new national park in south west Scotland.

But data we obtained from Forestry and Land Scotland, which owns and manages the forest park on behalf of the public, shows that as little as 8.5 per cent of its tree cover consists of native species.

Species	Area (Hectares)	Percentage of Total	Native?
Sitka spruce	29,762	72%	No
Lodgepole pine	2,744	7%	No
Mixed broadleaves	1,976	5%	N/A
Scots pine	1,018	2.5%	Yes
Norway spruce	1,001	2.4%	No
Downy birch	872	2.1%	Yes
Japanese larch	594	1.4%	No
Hybrid larch	476	1.2%	No
Douglas fir	421	1.0%	No
Oak (robur/petraea)	269	0.7%	Yes
Birch (downy/silver)	243	0.6%	Yes
Aspen	236	0.6%	Yes
Rowan	201	0.5%	Yes
Sessile oak	158	0.4%	Yes
Other willows	138	0.3%	N/A
Mixed conifers	120	0.3%	N/A
Sycamore	113	0.3%	No
Common alder	107	0.3%	Yes
Silver birch	101	0.2%	Yes
Beech	81	0.2%	Yes
Goat willow	68	0.2%	Yes
Noble fir	61	0.1%	No
Other broadleaves	46	0.1%	N/A
Western hemlock	41	0.1%	No
Hawthorn species	33	0.1%	Yes
Grey willow	33	0.1%	Yes
Wild cherry/gean	25	0.1%	Yes
White willow	20	0.0%	No
Western red cedar	19	0.0%	No
Hazel	17	0.0%	Yes
European larch	15	0.0%	No
Grand Fir	15	0.0%	No
European Ash	14	0.0%	Yes
European silver fir	13	0.0%	No
Mountain pine	13	0.0%	No
Bird cherry	12	0.0%	Yes
Serbian spruce	12	0.0%	No
Other Alders	7	0.0%	N/A
Macedonian pine	5	0.0%	No
Lawsons cypress	4	0.0%	No
Coast redwood	4	0.0%	No
Blackthorn	4	0.0%	Yes
Pedunculate/common oak	4	0.0%	Yes
European Holly	4	0.0%	Yes
Corsican pine	3	0.0%	No
Other spruces	2	0.0%	N/A
Other firs (Abies)	2	0.0%	N/A
Hornbeam	2	0.0%	Yes
Juniper	2	0.0%	Yes
Red (pacific silver) fir	2	0.0%	No
Hybrid poplar	2	0.0%	No
Wellingtonia	1	0.0%	No
Japanese cedar	1	0.0%	No
Small-leaved lime	1	0.0%	Yes
Other conifers	1	0.0%	N/A
Grey alder	1	0.0%	Yes
Nordmann fir	1	0.0%	No
Crab apple	1	0.0%	Yes
Other birches	0.3	0.0%	N/A
Weymouth pine	0.3	0.0%	No
Other larches	0.2	0.0%	N/A
Wych elm	0.2	0.0%	Yes
Total area	41,143
Non-forested area	36,138

Some 72 per cent is made up of Sitka spruce – a conifer central to the commercial forestry industry.

In May, we revealed that the North American tree, deemed “invasive” by some, now makes up nearly half of Scotland’s forests.

As well as crowding out and killing native species if left unmanaged, Sitka spruce spreads into important habitats such as peat bogs, risking the release of vast amounts of carbon the bogs have absorbed.

Forestry bodies argue that Sitka absorbs carbon quickly, is key to Scotland’s woodland growth and net zero targets, supports 25,000 jobs, and contributes £1bn to the economy, however.

‘Invasive’ sitka spruce threaten Scottish species and habitats, say experts

But the prevalence of the conifers in Galloway has reignited debates about the future of the tree in Scotland.

A forestry think tank and national park campaigners claim Sitka spruce plantations harm biodiversity, and want to see a reduction in the south west and beyond.

However, Forestry and Land Scotland said Sitka, and other commercial plantations, are “fundamental” to tackling climate change, and ensuring wildlife conservation and timber supplies.

Galloway campaigners’ tree concerns

Galloway emerged from a shortlist of candidate areas as the preferred location of a new national park on 22 July, with NatureScot now due to conduct a public consultation and probe into the bid.

Behind the proposal are the Galloway National Park Association (GNPA) and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO biosphere. They argue the region’s varied landscape of rolling hills, coastlines, beaches, forests, moors and farmland make it a “Scotland in miniature”.

According to the GNPA, 30 per cent of the local landscape is tree covered, compared to 18 per cent average Scotland-wide. But much recent planting is of Sitka spruce, and the local landscape is impacted when large plantations are felled at once, the GNPA website states.

It would like broadleaf woods to become the majority in Galloway. A national park would help in “assessing the impacts of forest and woodland policy”, and engage with industries to encourage perceived issues to be tackled, it argued.

The GNPA declined to comment and referred The Ferret to its bid submission, which said the forest park “consists of significant areas of commercial conifer crops, and historic planting practices have had a negative impact on our biodiversity”.

It added: “The future must lie in sustainable forest management, restoring functional peat and increased planting of broadleaf species. Ensuring a resilient forestry industry that also delivers increasing biodiversity and community benefits is a key priority.”

Calls for forestry overhaul

Willie McGhee, a forest owner and manager who sits on the board of the Forest Policy Group think tank, branded Sitka spruce a “great tree”, but one which is “overused”. “The industry should consider using a more diverse range of tree species – planted in mixtures – than we currently see being planted,” said McGhee.

“It would be great if the existing spruce forests of Dumfries and Galloway could be more actively managed – to make them more resilient to pests and diseases and to benefit local people through economic activity and forest produce used and processed locally.

“Open the forests up and make them attractive, biodiverse and welcoming places rather than the dark, lowering and forbidding habitats they are when left unmanaged.”

Half of Argyll commercial forests flouting green rules, says watchdog

The national park bid is a result of a commitment outlined in the 2021 Bute House agreement, in which the Scottish Greens entered government with the SNP. They promised to create at least one new national park in Scotland by 2026, to join Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms.

Lorna Slater, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens who led on the project as biodiversity minister, welcomed the selection of Galloway as the preferred next national park.

Asked about the lack of native trees in Galloway forest park, she said: “Native woodland restoration is a crucial part of our response to the climate emergency. We know that it will take time to even get close to the levels of native forestry we need, but that is why it is so important that we act now.

“Our national parks have an important role in leading the change and showcasing the positive impact that nature restoration can have for communities, climate and local economies. Supporting our native woodlands must play a key part in that.”

A Forestry and Land Scotland spokesperson said: “Scotland’s commercial forests are fundamental to our rural economy, to Scotland’s climate emergency response and to long-term efforts to the conservation of species such as pine marten, red squirrel and raptors such as goshawks.

“They also reduce our reliance on timber shipped in from overseas and lessen the vulnerability of the UK economy to any interruption to the timber supply chain.”

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Header image © Jim Barton (cc-by-sa/2.0)