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Kinnoull Hill off limits in work areas

Kinnoull Hill.
Kinnoull Hill.

Access to one of Perth’s most popular beauty spots could be restricted for up to three months.

Forest thinning operations are set to be carried out upon Kinnoull Hill by Forestry Commission Scotland in a bid to breathe new life into the tree and plant life.

The works will start at the beginning of June, but while in the long term they will be to the betterment of the woodlands, in the short term they will mean that some parts will be off limits.

And the commission has admitted that there will be “unavoidable” damage to some of the network of paths around the hill.

The work will certainly change the look of parts of the woodlands, which lead up to stunning cliff-top views over Perth and the Carse of Gowrie and an impressive folly.

For the safety of the public, there will be a rolling programme of diversions and path closures, while some areas will be closed throughout the works.

The news will come as a disappointment to the many walkers, visitors and pet owners who enjoy Kinnoull Hill’s paths and the stunning views from its 222m summit on a regular basis.

Forester Robin Lofthouse, however, said that thinning of the woodland was “vital”.

“Creating more space improves the health and quality of the remaining trees and the timber they produce but also, by letting light reach the woodland floor, it stimulates the growth of ground flora and a new generation of trees,” he said.

“We’ll also be felling some less desirable species to improve the appearance of the woodland in key areas, notably around the Kinnoull Shed.

“Members of the public are still welcome to visit the hill, but we urge everyone to be mindful of any warning notices on the site.

“We will be using heavy machinery to remove the cut timber to road side. It’s noisy work that requires the operators’ full attention, so people should stay well away and dogs should be kept under close control.”

Mr Lofthouse added: “Some paths will be closed or diverted to ensure the safety of the visiting public, but we intend to keep some routes open to allow the public access between key areas such as Kinnoull Tower to Jubilee car park, and the Quarry car park.

“The open routes may change from week to week so visitors should take heed of any safety signage or diversions they come across.”

Many of the small, informal paths will also be closed as part of this operation, either because machinery needs to cross them, or because they will become blocked with cut timber and branch wood.

Damage to these paths is unavoidable, though the commission has said that it will make every effort to minimise this wherever possible.

Formal paths damaged during the operation will be repaired once the felling is complete. Timber stacking will take place on hard standing at the rear of the Kinnoull Shed and this area will be closed to the public throughout the operation.

Timber stacks are dangerous and members of the public should not climb on them. The Kinnoull Shed, disabled car park and picnic area will be available as normal, except for a short time when felling works are located in the adjacent woodlands.