The Mearns Land Management Plan (LMP) is currently being revised; the new LMP, once finalised and approved, will cover a 10-year period from 2025 to 2035.

The new plan will set out future management objectives and will give approval for felling, thinning and restocking operations. Through the new plan FLS want to continue to support the social, economic and ecological benefits that Mearns forest provides.

Mearns Land Management Plan area constitutes three blocks: Fetteresso, Glenfarquhar and Drumtochty. The forest is located to the west of Stonehaven with the area of South Drumtochty most prevalent in the landscape, being observed from both the A90 and East Coast mainline railway.

The first areas purchased by the Forestry Commission in 1926 and 1928 were North and South Drumtochty, with subsequent acquisitions in the 1940s and 1950s of Fetteresso and Glenfarquhar. The forest area is currently 6666 hectares and forms one contiguous block.

Mearns forest is an upland environment with poorer soils which have been planted with commercial conifers, stocked with Sitka spruce, Larch and Scots pine, and is one of the main production areas in East Region. Within the forest, FLS have been dealing with Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) disease. To date, DNB has been managed by a programme of thinning and a strong thinning programme will be an important control measure to this plant health issue.

Areas of Mearns forest did suffer from extensive windblow damage during Storm Arwen in November 2021, and the impact of this is still ongoing, with associated felling operations and restructuring continuing. This restructuring provides scope to increase the broadleaf proportion in the forest, particularly along riparian areas to meet UKFS compliance.

In addition to commercial forestry, there are extensive areas of open ground, and some areas may be suitable for peatland restoration. Riparian areas, particularly along the Cowie and Bervie form existing habitat corridors, whilst in the older parts of the forest in North and South Drumtochty there are Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS), where there is potential for restoration and enhancement of these PAWS sites. Among the wildlife of note is red squirrel, pine martin and newts. There are Scheduled Monuments in the forest along with other national monuments.

Mearns forest feeds into several river catchments, including downstream at Auchenblae, Stonehaven and the River Dee. The Auchenblae and Stonehaven catchments both have flood risk associated with them.

The forest hosts utility infrastructure from various sectors, ranging from electricity and gas providers to wind farms, and there is potential expansion of some utilities infrastructure during the 10 year timespan of this LMP. These proposed developments require Planning Permission submission by the respective developer, and approval by  Aberdeenshire Council Planning Department.

Public use of the forest is focused around South and North Drumtochty, principally via the extensive mountain bike trails, which includes Enduro events and the Midsummer Cycling Sportive. There are equestrian users who use the wider forest road network. Mearns Forest also hosts the annual Grampian Rally.

On the 13 March 2025, a public consultation meeting was held to share the draft LMP proposals and collect community feedback. The LMP is now being finalised prior to submission to the regulator, Scottish Forestry. Once checked by the regulator, the Mearns LMP will appear on their public register for a further 28 days.

Timeline

• The present Land Management Plan expires in December 2024
• scoping of stakeholder interests in August – September 2024
• draft proposals are due for public consultation in late autumn / winter 2024
• final statutory consultation period autumn – winter/ spring 2024/25
• draft plan ratified and submitted to Scottish Forestry in spring 2025

Documents and maps 

• Map 1 - Location
• Map 2 - Current Species
• Map 3a - Concept Drumtochty and Glenfarquar
• Map 3b - Concept Fetteresso
• Map 4 - Management Coupes
• Map 5 - Thinning Coupes
• Map 6 - Future Habitats and Species
• Map 7a Civils Drumtochty and Glenfarquar
• Map 7b Civils Fetteresso