BCT has ancient shared
land use rights over the whole Forest of Birse Commonty, covering
over 3,500 ha (9,000 acres). Two other parties also have rights
over the Commonty: the owner of the solum (Hon. Charles Pearson)
and the owners of the sporting rights (Hon. Charles Pearson &
Nicol Brothers).
In 1999, as part of
the historic settlement over the Commonty, BCT and the other parties
signed the North Hill Agreement to enable BCT to use its ancient
rights to manage the native pinewoods covering over 500 ha (1,250
acres) of the Commonty. In February 2000, the parties signed the
Kirk Woods Agreement to add a small area (7.5 ha) of trees near
the Forest of Birse Kirk to the North Hill Agreement, subject
to special provisions, to allow the Hon. Charles Pearson to fell
some of the trees there.
The Commonty Pinewoods
are nationally important as a major area of surviving Caledonian
Pinewood. Within the Commonty Pinewoods, on the lower slopes of
the Finlets, there is also one of the very few surviving examples
in Scotland where native oak are naturally regenerating with native
pine and other native tree species amongst heather and granite
scree.
BCT has undertaken
several major surveys of the pinewood to assist its sustainable
management of the pinewoods. It has also been carrying out a wide
range of management activities including deer control, the removal
of derelict fences, repairs to the roadside parking spaces, track
repairs, tree planting, selective tree felling and many other
habitat improvements.
