Stobo Estate - Enforcement Notice Variation - 23 March 2025

Scottish Forestry has issued an enforcement notice stopping all works in relation to an EIA forestry project, namely proposed woodland creation at Stobo Estate.

Stobo Estate - Statement of Reasons

EIA Statement of Reasons for proposed woodland creation at Stobo Estate.

Strategic Advisory Group - Terms of Ref

Terms of Ref for Strategic Advisory Group

Strategic Advisory Group minutes - 22 June 2021

Strategic Advisory Group minutes for June 2021.

Strategic Advisory Group minutes - 23 March 2021

Strategic Advisory Group minutes for the meeting held on 23 March 2021.

Strategic context for improving community engagement

Strategic context for improving community engagement in:

• decisions about forestry
• increasing forestry’s contribution to the delivery of community benefits

Strategic Timber Transport Fund: Annual report 2024-2025

The purpose of this paper is to give an annual update on the current position (at 1st April 2025) of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund (STTF) which supports both the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme (STTS) and the TimberLINK public service shipping contract.

Background

2025 is an auspicious year for forestry haulage. The STTF has been operating for 20 years, and TimberLINK in service for 25 years.

Although TimberLINK actually started in 2000, in part due to windblown timber arising from the major storms of 1999, the original STTF of £13m was introduced in 2005 for a three year period.

Subsequently, it was:

• extended for a further three years to 2011 with an annual budget of £5m 
  • this included a maximum £1m allocation to the TimberLINK shipping service

The fund continued thereafter with a budget of £3m/year (including TimberLINK) until 2016.

Therefore, the SF contribution was reduced to £2.85m enhanced with an extra £5 million from Transport Scotland giving 7.85m/year until 2019.

Objectives

The aims and objectives of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund remain the same:

‘To facilitate the sustainable transport of timber in rural areas of Scotland for the benefit of local communities and the environment, maximising the value of monies available through innovative projects and partnerships’

Strategic Timber Transport Scheme - Agents mandate form 2025-26

Use this form to provide your agent or representative with authority to act on your behalf when dealing with Scottish Forestry when seeking support from the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme.

Strategic Timber Transport Scheme - Application Form 2025-26

When completing this application please refer to the current Strategic Timber Transport Scheme (STTS) Application Guidance which can be found on Scottish Forestry’s Timber Transport web pages.

Strategic Timber Transport Scheme - Application Guidance 2025-26

This guide provides practical information to potential applicants in preparing and submitting applications to the Sustainable Timber Transport Fund (hereafter "STTF").

In addition, it provides a general overview of the applicable assessment and award processes.

Strategic Timber Transport Scheme - Planning ahead for your application 2025-26

When considering an application to the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme (STTS) it is important that both the Regional Timber Transport Group and the potential STTS applicant builds time into their project planning to ensure that the Forestry (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 20171 (EIA regs), planning and UKFS requirements are all met in advance.

To do this, applicants will should consider this guidance in planning ahead for your application.

Strategic Timber Transport Scheme - Sign Guidance 2025-26

Signage guidance for the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme.