Woodland Habitat Impact Assessment Lite (WHIALite) Workshop - Aviemore

2026 WHIALite Programme

As part of The Wild Deer Best Practice guidance collection, Steering Group partners, including NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) developed a simplified methodology for assessing the impacts of grazing herbivores on woodland habitat.

Known as ‘WHIA Lite’ this method has been developed to stand separately to the full Woodland Habitat Impact Assessment (WHIA) methodology found in the woodland grazing toolbox on the Scottish Forestry website.

(Please note the this methodology is not suitable for Scottish Forestry grant support nor Protected Site assessment – the full WHIA methodology would be required in these instances.)

We are running a series of workshops across Scotland again this Spring to train Practitioners in its use.

Ideal for those interested in carrying out their own site assessments relating to herbivore damage i.e. Deer Managers, Gamekeepers, Land, Forestry and Woodland Managers

During these training workshops we will cover the basics of undertaking this monitoring method, of which we have the following guides available:

Methodology Sheet - https://tinyurl.com/WHIA-Lite-Methodology

Record Sheet - https://tinyurl.com/WHIA-Lite-Record-Sheet

Meeting Location:

Craigellachie NNR

Meet at MacDonald Resort Play Park

Grampian Road

Aviemore

(Car park )

PH22 1PR

Directions: Meet at Car Park behind MacDonald hotel near the play park at

Ref: NH89231226

What3Words:

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Further Info:

These events are delivered outside so please ensure you have the following:

• Suitable outdoor clothing and footwear
• Clipboard/weather writer
• Packed lunch/refreshments

If you have specific questions regarding the training days please contact [email protected]

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Host or Publisher Wildlife Management Best Practice Officer, NatureScot