What is the process?
We are still learning about this ourselves (being only volunteers!) We understand it is something like this:
1. The investors 'cluster' buy farms, sell off the residential buildings and steadings. They also bought the Barholm Forest development in 2025 (someone elses cluster buy, planted in 2020) EJD have been contracted to act as land managers.
2. EJD are currently preparing the grant application to Scottish Forestry, and estimate submission will be autumn 2026. Scottish Forestry are the Government agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulations, and award the grants which are funded by us, the tax payer. The application demands the land owner follows the woodland creation process
3. The first public consultation in the Carsluith community hall was held on the 1st of April, the second will be on the 10th of September 2026. EJD must evidence that they have consulted with local people (who they refer to as 'stakeholders') for our feedback on their plans. This is something of a 'bread and circus' tickbox exercise, designed to focus our attention on negotiation and engagement.
5. EJD prepare various reports supporting their application, and compile a design, which will be amended as they go.
6. The first part of their application is an Environmental Impact Assessment screening. This process determines if their design requires an Environmental Impact Assessment or not. This decision is made by Scottish Forestry based on their opinion. Generally, most applications are designed in such a way to avoid the costly process of needing an EIA.
7. If the developers plan manages to get through the screening process without the need for an EIA the second part of the application is the request for funding, under the Woodland Creation Grant. which is pretty quick. Building the roads, planting and other land work can begin immediately, such as spraying off with weed killer and taking out the existing trees, ripping out the Christmas tree farm. The current draft design is linked below.
8. The proposed forestry work would increase the current woodland cover of 32% to 72%, predominantly Sitka Spruce trees, which are an invasive species.
9. The remaining land will be left as 'open land', which we presume to mean derelict and unmanaged farmland, the entire site surrounded by deer fencing.
10. It is likely that the known megalithic and important archaeology will be 'retained' by being planted around. However, as experience shows, these sites become overgrown and easily damaged by the industrial harvesting machines in the future, as the drivers can no longer see the stones.
1. The investors 'cluster' buy farms, sell off the residential buildings and steadings. They also bought the Barholm Forest development in 2025 (someone elses cluster buy, planted in 2020) EJD have been contracted to act as land managers.
2. EJD are currently preparing the grant application to Scottish Forestry, and estimate submission will be autumn 2026. Scottish Forestry are the Government agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulations, and award the grants which are funded by us, the tax payer. The application demands the land owner follows the woodland creation process
3. The first public consultation in the Carsluith community hall was held on the 1st of April, the second will be on the 10th of September 2026. EJD must evidence that they have consulted with local people (who they refer to as 'stakeholders') for our feedback on their plans. This is something of a 'bread and circus' tickbox exercise, designed to focus our attention on negotiation and engagement.
5. EJD prepare various reports supporting their application, and compile a design, which will be amended as they go.
6. The first part of their application is an Environmental Impact Assessment screening. This process determines if their design requires an Environmental Impact Assessment or not. This decision is made by Scottish Forestry based on their opinion. Generally, most applications are designed in such a way to avoid the costly process of needing an EIA.
7. If the developers plan manages to get through the screening process without the need for an EIA the second part of the application is the request for funding, under the Woodland Creation Grant. which is pretty quick. Building the roads, planting and other land work can begin immediately, such as spraying off with weed killer and taking out the existing trees, ripping out the Christmas tree farm. The current draft design is linked below.
8. The proposed forestry work would increase the current woodland cover of 32% to 72%, predominantly Sitka Spruce trees, which are an invasive species.
9. The remaining land will be left as 'open land', which we presume to mean derelict and unmanaged farmland, the entire site surrounded by deer fencing.
10. It is likely that the known megalithic and important archaeology will be 'retained' by being planted around. However, as experience shows, these sites become overgrown and easily damaged by the industrial harvesting machines in the future, as the drivers can no longer see the stones.
These are the current consultation proposals and maps: (they gave permission to share)
| barholm_information_sheet_2nd_drop_in.pdf |
| consultation_map__proposed_woodland__south_west__compressed.pdf |
| consultation_map__proposed_woodland__north_west__compressed.pdf |
| consultation_map__proposed_woodland_overview_compressed.pdf |
| consultation_map__location_compressed.pdf |
These are archaeological reports commissioned by EJD to support the application (they gave permission to share)
| ra25013-hea-claughreid_v2.pdf |
| ra25013-hea-barholm_v2.pdf |
| ra25013-hea-garrocher_v2.pdf |
| ra25013-hea-kirkbride_v2.pdf |
| ra25013-hea-kirkmabreck_v2.pdf |
These are the soil survey reports commissioned by EJD to support the application (they gave permission to share)
| soils_survey_map__barholm.pdf |
| soils_survey_map__claughreid.pdf |
| soils_survey_map__garrocher.pdf |
| soils_survey_map__kirkbride.pdf |
| soils_survey_map__kirkmabreck.pdf |
