Cluny Hill Forres Woodland Management Plan being finalised by Tilhill Forestry
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AN outline for the future of Forres’ best known forest is being finalised.
The Cluny Hill Woodland Management Plan was commissioned by Moray Council - in partnership with Forres Green Spaces Group - following the Forres 2020 Vision community engagement exercise and was expected to be completed last year, however, development was initially delayed due to Covid, then capacity issues.
A Moray Council spokesperson has confirmed engagement with statutory consultees is nearly complete and the plan is expected to be published this year.
He said: “It’s important to have this to deliver on the objectives set out in the Forres 2020 Vision Action Plan – the need for long-term management of the hill was identified and agreed. The plan will help to direct future management based on consultation with the community and stakeholders.”
The plan will include actions including tree works planned for an initial five years. It is also hoped to make Nelson’s Tower more visible, introduce a play area, carry out more regular maintenance of Helge’s Hole, connect up signage to a trail plan and open a new mountain bike area. Online public consultations were hosted last year and there have been site meetings, including with the Cluny Mountain Bike Group.
Tilhill Forestry have been developing the plan which will be presented to the Green Spaces User Group.
Local businessman and Forres Community Council treasurer, Graham Murdoch, is director of Forres Features, the community interest company that organised Colours of Cluny in 2016 and 2017. Profits from the light show have been re-invested in the town, including in pathways and benches in the wood. Mr Murdoch confirmed the Green Spaces group is a forum for local organisations including Sanquhar Working Group, Forres Friends of Woods and Fields, Dava Way Trust, Transition Town Forres, Forres In Bloom, Forres Features and Forres Community Council.
He added: “Forres Rotary tend Hell’s Hole in the centre of Cluny Hill.
“The forum is an ideal link to the council’s lands and parks department. Cluny Hill was left unattended for years but David Hardie of Tilhill has put a tremendous amount of work into planning its maintenance. He met with Scottish Forestry and Moray Council’s planners to discuss the conservation area - various authorities have a say in its future. He also recommended the plan be regularly reviewed.”
