Forestry Commission Quotes

“During the 20th century, the Forestry Commission (FC) bought land and planted it with commercial forestry crops on a massive scale. In most cases the land was bought from cash-strapped private land-owners who were required, prior to afforestation, to terminate or otherwise end farm tenancies. What is less well known about this period of forestry expansion is that following purchase the FC embarked on an active programme of property ruination, involving the abandonment and deliberate destruction of hundreds of vacated residential properties, mainly farmsteads. The ruins of these farmsteads are still visible in many forests currently managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and act as a poignant symbol of Scotland's clearance legacy.”
― Douglas MacMillan, Reforesting Scotland 71, Spring/Summer 2025

“Cashel has been here before. Once part of the Rowardennan Estate, it was purchased by the National Land Fund for public benefit and passed to the Forestry Commission to manage before being sold by the Thatcher government. The cycle is now being repeated: private, public, private, public, private. What is land for?

The Cashel Trustees are now proposing to retain a core woodland are but have not said who or what the land is for. How about using the land to demonstrate what support is needed from government if native woodland is to deliver public benefit?”
― Nick Kempe, Reforesting Scotland 72: Autumn/Winter 2025