Tree Planting scheme A9 Berriedale Braes, Caithness: EIR release

Information requested

Information regarding the tree planting scheme carried out on the A9 at Berriedale Braes after the road was realigned on the north side of the Braes to include;

1. Details of numbers of trees planted and species types,
2. costs of scheme,
3. maintenance programme of the trees since planted,
4. estimated survival percentage of trees,
5. future re planting proposals,
6. future removal of the plastic tree protection tubes.

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

1. Details of numbers of trees planted and species types

Details of the trees planted under the contract for the A9 Berriedale Braes Improvement project (the “Contract”), including planting plot areas, species types and numbers, are shown on the enclosed ‘as-built’ record drawings:

• A9BB-ARP-00-XX-DR-L-00001_C2.pdf Landscape Drawing, Sheet 1 of 2
• A9BB-ARP-00-XX-DR-L-00002_C1.pdf Landscape Drawing, Sheet 2 of 2
• A9BB-ARP-00-XX-DR-L-00003_C2.pdf Planting Scheme.

2. Costs of scheme

The price for the planting works element of the Contract was £28,235.47.

3. Maintenance programme of the trees since planted

Under the Contract, there is a five-year Period of Establishment Maintenance, whereby the Contractor is required to inspect and maintain the grass, wildflower and planted landscape areas. This period commenced on 14 December 2020. The Contractor’s landscape subcontractor has made maintenance visits to the site in the first three years of the Period of Establishment Maintenance as follows: at least seven times in 2021; at least five times in 2022; and at least five times in 2023.

4. Estimated survival percentage of trees

The estimated survival rate of the planted trees is 82% based on a plant count conducted in 2023. The planting numbers and densities in the original design incorporated an allowance for some losses.

5. Future re planting proposals

The Contract requires the Contractor to replace plants found to be defective or damaged during the Period of Establishment Maintenance. Replacement takes place during the planting season from November to March. Replacement planting was undertaken w/c 19 February 2024. Replacement during the Period of Establishment Maintenance is at no extra cost.

6. Future removal of the plastic tree protection tubes

Tree shelters and stakes are to be removed at the end of the Period of Establishment Maintenance, subject to agreement with Transport Scotland’s Engineer for the Contract, AECOM.

About FOI

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FOI 202400398374 - Information Released - Drawings 1 - 3

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