Hopes have been expressed that Helensburgh’s Duchess Wood can be given an extension to its local nature reserve status as its management prepares to change hands.
Argyll and Bute Council is due to end its management agreement on Friday, July 31, with control then passing to Luss Estates.
But with the local nature reserve (LNR) committee not having been able to meet in person since February, it is hoped that the status can be retained for some time yet.
The LNR committee, which is chaired by Clllr Lorna Douglas, is due to meet via Skype on Tuesday, August 4. It will be its first meeting in any form since lockdown began.
Sean McCay, land agent at Luss Estates, said: “As things stand when the current management agreement ends the woods revert to Luss Estates’ management and control.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has made a structured transition from the council to the Estate difficult and the Duchess Woods Management Local Nature Reserve Management Committee, on which we sit, have formally approached Pippa Milne of Argyll and Bute Council to request a short extension to the current management agreement of several months to allow this to happen.
“When the management agreement expires, Luss Estates Company will be responsible for the management of the wood and will collaborate with other organisations with an interest in Duchess Wood, particularly the Friends of Duchess Wood.
“A new management committee will be formed with Luss Estates and other stakeholders to oversee the management of the wood.
“It is the intention that the wood will continue to be a Local Nature Reserve if possible. Argyll and Bute Council are responsible for ensuring that the wood meets the criteria so will have an element of oversight in that regard.
“Our approach will be kept under review in the months ahead.”
Cllr Douglas added: “Duchess Woods and its Local Nature Reserve status, are much valued by the local community and in this regard I hope the council can negotiate some way of retaining the LNR status of the woods.
“The DWLNRC have been unable to meet since February and it would be beneficial for stakeholders if an extension could be granted by the council.”
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