Safety warning for Moray forest visitors
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FORESTRY and Land Scotland (FLS) is urging visitors to stay safe if they visit a forest over the Christmas holiday.
Many trails have been left impassable and dangerous as a result of damage from Storm Arwen.
Teams are working to clear debris and reinstate trails as quickly as is safely possible, with the situation changing day by day, but FLS has warned that in some locations extensive damage will take several months to clear.
In Moray, according to the latest updates from FLS, the car parks and tracks at Culbin and Torrieston are open again following closure in the wake of the storm.
The car park at Roseisle is open for access to the beach, but the trails and forest remain closed due to the number of windblown trees.
Lossie Forest and car park will remain closed until FLS teams can make the site safe as there are significant areas of windblow with some routes still blocked.
Fochabers' Winding Walks car park and trails are now open with the exception of the Winding Walks itself which remains closed due to landslips and dangerous windblown trees.
The Moray Monster Trails Skills Area, Fochabers Ring and Fochabers Freeride are all open. The car park at Ordiequish and all blue routes remain closed due to significant windblow.
The car park and trails have now reopened at Quarry Wood near Elgin.
Alastair Henry, FLS health and safety adviser, said: "It's been another long and difficult year for everyone and the temptation over the festive season is to get out into the countryside and enjoy the outdoors.
"That enthusiasm can sometimes lead to people taking risks – such as ignoring safety signage or closure notices – because the trail ahead looks clear, or because it doesn't look like the storm damage is too bad.
"Slips, trips and falls in the forest can happen easily in winter conditions where frost, ice and even partially frozen mud can all catch you unawares.
"Attempting to clamber over, around or under fallen trees is also extremely dangerous, especially in wet or icy conditions. Fallen trees might look to be solidly on the ground or stacked across each other but they can slip, pivot, roll or fall at the slightest disturbance.
"It is not worth taking the risk and ruining your Christmas. If the forest is closed, please stay out and if you venture to a forest that is open, please observe all and any safety signage."
Anyone looking to visit an FLS forest in Moray should first check online here for the latest updates.
