CONFIRMED LOGGING DURING THE BREEDING SEASON- A MUST READ

Hi All

Thank you so much to each and every one of you who contacted Forestry Land Scotland about the recent logging activities. Our local field worker observed multiple areas of recent logging in the Clashindarroch. We posted a picture up of one such site. The Clashindarroch forest is huge and the vast majority is owned by Forestry and Land Scotland.

We have seen the responses you have received from the Chief Executive, Simon Hodgson. The response states that the land in the picture we showed, is not owned by the FLS forest. We are already looking into this. However, the response continues and contains this remarkable statement.

‘I can confirm that all of the harvesting operations on Scotland’s national forests and land in Clashindarroch were completed by the 31 January 2023, prior to the start of the breeding season’.

For the avoidance of any doubt, it is a scientific fact and widely accepted that the Scottish wildcat breeding season starts in January. Look at the picture above, it details the annual breeding cycle. January is a time of peak female fertility and part of the main mating period. This diagram has previously been published by the government. So, any logging activities in January can be hugely damaging to the upcoming breeding season. No mating, no kittens, it’s as simple as that.

So there we have it, the Chief executive of Forestry land Scotland has confirmed in writing that logging has taken place during the wildcat breeding season.

I know many of you have received a response from the Chief Executive. You may wish to reply back to him raising the following issues.

What has been the extent of logging in the Clashindarroch in 2022 and 2023 and when did it occur?

Why is he issuing statements that say they haven’t been harvesting in the breeding season, when by his own admission, they have?

You can see what we are up against. Whilst grandiose claims are made about best practice, and working with the Governments Saving Wildcats scheme, the reality is that Forestry Land Scotland have indeed been logging at an absolutely crucial stage of the wildcat breeding cycle.

So as a result of your emails, Simon Hodgson’s response has revealed some extremely useful, albeit it, highly concerning information.

The more we dig, the more we find and collectively we give a voice to the voiceless.

Keep in touch and as you have been doing, please do copy us in to any communications and send us any responses. Our email is:

admin@wildcathaven.co.uk

Thanks so much as always.

Very best wishes

Emily (Director) and Finlay.