Funding for Glasgow-sized forest

View of Ben A'an in the Trossachs. Pic by Undiscovered Scotland

The cash will be used to link woodland around Loch Katrine

A project to create the largest native broadleaf woodland in the Trossachs has secured almost �1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Great Trossachs Forest scheme aims to transform an area of patchwork woodland at loch Katrine into a forest the size of Glasgow - 16,650 hectares.

The plan involves planting 580 hectares of native woodland and enabling natural regeneration of a further 220 hectares.

The Forestry Commission Scotland secured �965,500 for the project.

The bid - made in partnership with Woodland Trust Scotland - will part-fund the delivery of a programme of natural regeneration and woodland planting.

The project is set in the heart of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and is expected to bring social and economic benefits for local communities.

'Considerable impact'

So far the Scottish Forest Alliance, a partnership between Forestry Commission Scotland, Woodland Trust Scotland, RSPB Scotland and BP have all contributed to the plan.

The funding was announced by Environment Minister Michael Russell.

He said: "As the largest landscape-scale forestry project in the UK, The Great Trossachs Forest promises not only to be lasting testimony to the work of this unique alliance of public and private sector but also a landmark achievement in environmental restoration."

Colin McClean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, added: "We are passionate about protecting and enhancing Scotland's cultural and natural heritage.

"This project is a great example of what can be done and the work to improve habitat will have a considerable impact on biodiversity.

"The change in land use and the positive impacts on the natural heritage will help sustain the health of Loch Katrine as Glasgow's water supply."