Forestry Memories

Inverinan Forest Nursery circa 1963

Photograph taken by Don MacCaskill and image courtesy of Bridget MacCaskill, Strathyre. Don was based as Head Forester at Inverinan from about 1960 through to 1968 before transferring initially to Allean Forest and then Strathyre Forest in 1972.

No information was attached to the photograph but with help from Duncan MacDougall, Inverinan, this has been identified as Inverinan Forest Nursery. Duncan does not recognise the men and thinks they may have come over from another forest for the lining out – possibly Eredine Forest.

The operation is lining out one or two year old seedlings into transplant beds in the nursery where they would grow for another one or two years. In the transplant lines the young trees had much more room to grow into suitable sized trees for planting on the open hill.

The young seedlings spaced at regular distances and temporarily trapped by their upper foliage between the two boards of the lining out boards have their roots hanging down below in the trench ready to be covered by the soil. The Fergie tractor Reg No KXT162 is ploughing the soil up against the roots of the trees hanging down from the lining out boards. This operation would have been done by hand prior to the introduction of the tractor and plough. Note the heavy stone fitted on the plough. The lining out boards in this case have ring hinges and stirrup rings locking the hinges closed although one has a round ring and chain tether. It is interesting to see the wide variety of lining out board mechanism used throughout the country.

Can anyone name the people in the photograph or confirm which forest they came from?

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Groups: Forest Nurseries, Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action

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