Save Stobo Hope from Commercial Forestry Project

Awaiting Response from Scottish Forestry

In our previous update, we explained that we had lodged a petition for judicial review to the Court of Session, Edinburgh on Tuesday 16th April 2024, seeking to reverse the decision by Scottish Forestry to approve the Stobo Hope forestry project. We are awaiting a response from Scottish Forestry and we then anticipate a decision from the court on whether to grant us permission to bring our claim.

Fundraising so far 

Thank you all again for your generous contributions and helpful comments. We have received correspondence from across Scotland expressing reservations not only about inappropriate forest proposals, but the apparent lack of inclination by Scottish Forestry to assess the environmental impacts of these forestry schemes.

We have raised nearly £13,000 in three weeks which has provided sufficient funds to issue the petition and take the case to the permission stage. We are extending the duration of our crowdfunder by four weeks to hopefully raise the money needed to take the case all the way to a final hearing. We have been advised this will be in the region of £35,000, so further donations are vital and please make as many people as you can aware of our crowdfunder page.   

We can only do this with your support. Further contributions will not only help fund our legal challenge, but also send a powerful message that the protection of biodiversity and landscape is a priority for all who cherish Scotland’s unparalleled beauty.

Report on forestry by the Royal Society of Edinburgh 

The Royal Society of Edinburgh published a report on 29 February 2024, ‘Inquiry into public financial support for tree planting and forestry’ providing a number of recommendations. These included: ceasing subsidies for commercial coniferous planting, increasing native woodland, reducing soil disturbance, requiring EIAs for woodlands exceeding 40ha, increasing capacity for compliance with regulations and mandating adherence to community engagement guidelines.

Media coverage

We are once again grateful to the following authors and publications for their coverage of the developing situation at Stobo Hope.

Katharine Hay, ‘Campaigners push to take Scotland Sitka forest proposals to court amid clash over environment impact', The Scotsman, 24 April 2024.

Mark Davey, ‘John Buchan’s granddaughter campaigns to ‘save footpath’’, Peeblesshire News, 28 April 2024.

An example of native woodland, Carrifran. Credit: Colin McLean Photography (copyright protected).

The Stobo Residents Action Group.