Breakthrough in felling fight to save rare fungi in Sutherland wood
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A CAMPAIGNER has made a significant breakthrough in her fight to protect rare fungi in a Sutherland wood where a felling operation is under way.
Marie Cunliffe had been prepared to wild camp and “obstruct” the work on a site at Rosehall Forest in a bid to save the fungi.
But following a meeting with Forestry & Land Scotland officials on Wednesday, she said several areas containing the fungi had been selected to be saved from felling.
And Ms Cunliffe credited an approach by the Northern Times to Forestry & Land Scotland with achieving the huge leap forward.
“I think this is a brilliant outcome and I have no doubt it is in large part due to the interest shown by the Northern Times as I made very little progress until recently,” she said.
Some 5000 tons of timber is being removed from a 16 hectare site at the entrance to Rosehall Forest, in an area known as Deer Park, around one mile from the village centre.
The work is expected to take between eight to 10 weeks to complete
Rosehall and District Action Group, which looks after trails through the forest, were informed prior to work starting as there is public access through the harvesting site which has a core path and a car park adjacent.
But Ms Cunliffe, who photographs fungi, mosses and lichens, was hugely perturbed over the felling and called for an ecologist to become involved.
She said a number of the conifer trees on the Rosehall site had rare species of fungi, including Devil’s Tooth Fungus, growing around them and if the trees were felled, the fungi would die.
“Rosehall is the only site in the north where several of these species grow. One species is only to be found at 34 sites in the entire UK,” she said.
“Forestry and Land Scotland showed a poor understanding of how tooth fungi exist or their rarity. They told me they had no legal obligation to protect the fungi as they aren’t on the legally protected species list.”
Ms Cunliffe said that after she threatened to obstruct the work, she had been offered the compromise that some of the trees would be “uprooted” rather than felled.
“They assured me this would allow the fungi to survive. However, that is extremely unlikely as there will be little soil attached to the roots,” she said.
“Nobody is disputing the overall felling, just that it is being done in a way that will not protect the rare species. The issue is Forestry and Land Scotland’s refusal to protect the site.”
But following the approach by the Northern Times, Ms Cunliffe said that on Wednesday she had met three senior Forestry and Land officials and an ecologist who spent over two hours walking around the site and trails.
“Several areas were selected to be saved from felling as well as other small areas further in the forest which the ecologist felt would be useful for biodiversity,” she said.
“As a result of their visit, the long-term management plan for the woodland will be amended and it was hinted that Forestry and Land Scotland would make more efforts to seek information on and consider fungi in any felling on other woodland they own.”
A spokesman for Forestry and Land Scotland said: “Our felling operation at Rosehall, which was assessed and approved by regulatory body Scottish Forestry, is to remove existing conifers so that the site can be restored to the type of native woodland that was first recorded there over 250 years ago.
“We aim to gradually restore this ancient woodland site to native tree species and we are exploring options for the retention of some of the mature native Scots pine trees that are associated with the more notable species of fungus.
“We are aware of the presence of the rare, but not protected, fungi at Rosehall and, aware that it would not be possible to work around each individual specimen, took advice on measures to minimise any disruption.
“This mitigation includes retaining some mature Scots pine trees, creating deadwood for other species of fungus, and regenerating the native woodland.
“We are confident that these actions will greatly increase biodiversity in this woodland in the medium to long-term.”
