Forestry Memories

VIDEO - Forestry operations in Dalavich, c1966

VIDEO - Forestry operations in Dalavich, c1966

Date Added: 02 May 2007 Contributor: Heritage North Year of Photo: 1966 Picture No: 193

Short very low resolution video of forestry operations in Dalavich, Argyll, featuring helicopter spreading fertiliser, log-hauling by crane, felling by chainsaw. The video is courtesy of Jas Duffy of Dalavich and features a number of forestry operations in what is assumed to be Forestry Commission forests in the Dalavich area.

The first shots are of a small (Bell?) helicopter spreading fertiliser onto the forest from two side panniers mounted directly onto the machine frame. It is thought the first time this system was used in Forestry Commission forests was around 1969.

The next operation featured is extracting logs using a highlead cable crane (no skyline) and appears to be a locally made tower fitted to tractor with a double drum winch mounted on the back. This could well be a contractor operated and owned machine. The tractor looks like a Ferguson 135 or similar but not certain and make of winch is uncertain but the control levers appear as though they are in the Igland Winch position. The triangular travelling carriage assembly used on the highlead system is easily spotted next to large logs as they are hauled in. Note the chokerman hauling out the wire cable to attach it to the logs.

The winch scene is intermixed with that of two men felling a large open grown spruce tree which takes a bit of persuasion to fall over possibly with the help of some wedges. The final scene is that of one of the fellers brushing the sawdust off the stump and applying urea solution to the cut surface to minimise the possibility of infection of the site by butt rot fungus.

Any details of the site, men and machines would be very welcome.

Groups: Aircraft in Forestry Work, Dalavich, Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Tools, equipment and clothing, Video

5 Comments

Hi, I left school 1966 and went to work for the Commission at Inverliever. Ian Mackenzie was head forester then and he lived at Ford. I could if wanted name most of the squad then if need be.
The winch in question is an Igland and it is not as described a home made or locally made tower on it. The tower was what came with these machines then. The tower change became more common in the run up to the wind-blow 1968, which I worked right through. My father was contracting to Wilson’s of Troon at this time in Inverliever and had an Igland of this type, he also had an Isaachson. There weren’t many winches about then horses were still being used a lot. Others who had a winch then was Len Stewart, and he had the first one using it a couple of years before I left school, and the Commission had one at that time in Inverliever Forest. Best regards Neil Valentine - Forester. Comment left on 12 June 2023 at 22:11 by Neil Valentine
Neil - Good to get your information on the Igland winch towers. Must have been one of the first in the country. I was a young forester in 1968 and looking after the harvesting team at Leanachan Forest (nr Ft William) when the gale occurred. Not much damage with us but all harvesting was stopped and our workers were sent down to help with the clear up at Inverliever Forest. Our winch operator John Dodds in time ended up on a large skidder down there possibly a Haugh Paylogger. He and the team were accommodated near Ford (possibly). Any more details of the windblow clear up operation would be very welcome. Comment left on 14 June 2023 at 08:02 by Norman Davidson
I worked in the windblow in 1968 and remember working with you when my mate left.
We came from Glengarry Forest with an Isachsen winch and we stayed in Dalavich with the Bell's.
I remember your Father and Len and Tommy Stewart.
Seen the first Igland winch there, the operator had to kneel on the tractor seat to work the levers before they were modified by the FC.
Hope you're keeping well?
Regards, Robert Hannah. Comment left on 15 June 2023 at 12:37 by Robert Hannah
Hi to you Bobby and Norman, nice to hear from you and hope you are both in good health. That was just yesterday when we were up to our eyes in wind blow. I remember working with guys from your forest Norman, and you came down from the Garry, Bobby with Ewan Trotter along with men from Skye and Kielder Forest. There was also the Irish contractor, was his name John Dimond running his wagons of wood to his boat, I think to Ardrishaig.

Regards Neil Valentine Comment left on 23 June 2023 at 14:53 by Neil Valentine
Hi Neil, seems not long ago we were working there. I remember the Irish contractor but not his name, he used wire rope slings to load the logs onto the boat, they were lying everywhere you went. Worked with one man from Skye called John Hall, think he stayed at Barmaddy farm along with the boys from Torlundy. Remember Jock Wemys and his white horse.
Regards Bobby Hannah. Comment left on 26 June 2023 at 20:40 by Robert Hannah
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