Larch Removal Benmore

Description

RBGE has a legal requirement to comply with a Statutory plant health notice which has been issued by Scottish Forestry. The notice identifies that Phytophthora ramorum has spread to the larch trees at Benmore. (Appendix 7 STH22_0957a SPGN) The notice requires the removal of Larch trees from Benmore Botanic Garden. Due to the geographic topology and the requirement to protect the scientific plant collection of Benmore Botanic Garden, forestry style commercial harvesting will not be possible. The removal of trees will need to be undertaken by a combination of manual chainsaw operations and aerial arboriculture. Commercial harvesting equipment will have limited access. Felled trees will need to be removed from site for sale or disposal subject to controls of the Statutory plant health notice. The outcome of this piece of work will be removal of approximately 300 larch trees by July 2026 in compliance with the SPHN. Lot 1: What we need Felling of approximately 300 larch trees at Benmore Botanic Garden. The trees to be felled are located in various parts of the garden, many of which have an understory of a valuable scientific plant collection. Damage to these plants must be avoided. The larch range in size and age. The majority were planted circa 1900, some date back to 1820 and are of considerable size. Where feasible, timber should be cut to commercial lengths to maximize commercial value. Arisings are to be chipped on site at agreed locations. Chips are not to block water waterways or ditches. Removal of felled timber to agreed stacking sites at Benmore, will have to be carried out with minimal ground damage and compaction. Sale and movement of timber to commercial mills will be a requirement. Compliance with all RBGE operational requirements, including the ecology survey and biosecurity measures will be necessary.