A PUBLIC body responsible for Scotland’s natural environment has apologised to a landowner for killing more than 300 trees.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Luss Estates Company – owned by Sir Malcolm Colquhoun, ninth baronet of Luss and Colquhoun clan chieftain – yesterday ended their long-running dispute about the chemical poisoning of mature beech trees on a Loch Lomond island.

The beeches killed on Inchtavannach six years ago were non-native and SNH had agreed to the selective felling of such fauna with the Scottish Government agency.

Plants including flowering rhododendron were to be removed over a five-year period.

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But Luss Estates Company said the island – which is part of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park area and has special conservation and protection status – had been left resembling a “wasteland” after the beeches were killed using a chemical injection.

SNH has now apologised and will pay to remove the affected material.

David Maclennan, SNH area manager for Argyll and the Outer Hebrides, said the impact of the 2013 work had been bigger than the agency expected.

He commented: “SNH apologise for what was, with hindsight, an error on our part.

“We should have ensured that Luss Estates Company was informed of and consented to the proposed operations.

“The speed, scale, and visual impact of the operation was much greater than anticipated, and we recognise that this has caused considerable detriment and upset to Luss Estates Company, and to Sir Malcolm Colquhoun personally.

“For this we unreservedly apologise.

“There remains a need to undertake works to remove fallen timber from agreed areas – and we have offered to do this through a new agreement.

“Looking forward, we remain committed to working in partnership with Luss Estates Company to protect and enhance the island for future generations.”

While Luss Estates Company had been party to a species management agreement, it was not informed about the plan to use glyphosate to remove all beech trees in a single operation.

The rural firm was established in the early 1960s and the lands have been owned by the Colquhouns since the 12th century.

Responding, Simon Miller of Luss Estates said: “After nearly six years, we are pleased that SNH has apologised for the killing of the beech trees at Inchtavannach, and accept this gesture. SNH has now agreed, at its expense, to remove as much of the fallen timber as possible this year.

“Luss Estates are proud to be the custodians of these islands and look forward to working with SNH to protect them.

“Inchtavannach and other nearby islands deserve to be treated as some of the most protected countryside in Scotland, as national treasures and designated Nature Reserves. We hope to work with SNH in future towards this end.”