Cubin Forest and Sand Dunes 1946
A series of RAF aerial photographs purchased many years ago by and used by the Forestry Commission to assess boundaries of forest compartments and the growth of the trees. Photographs are courtesy of Moray and Aberdeenshire Forest District.
Several photographs have been digitally stitched together to cover the eastern section of Culbin Forest and shows a dramatic landscape of shifting sand dunes, some planted trees, the village of Findhorn and Findhorn river mouth.
Close study of the sand shows a movement easterly with large dunes spaced out like waves and in the troughs some of the original ground surface emerging from the wind blown sand as the ‘wave’ moves slowly eastward. The little patterns of lines and tufts on the sand could well be work to try and stabilise the sand dunes with planted marram grass which was the technique commonly used by the Forestry Commission before the 1939-45 war. The marram grass work appears very patchy and may have suffered during the war period as Culbin Forest was commandeered by the military for war exercises and training and no remedial work would have been carried out. Almost certainly instead there would have been quite a number of dune damaging activities!
Note the Forestry Commission 1928 tree planting on the southern boundary and the older trees planted 1870 -1913 by Binsness Estate before purchase by the Commission in 1922.
The large image shows the area in more detail.
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Groups: Forestry Areas