Forest Record of Pitfichie Forest, nr Monymusk
Record Book courtesy of Forestry Commission Moray and Aberdeenshire Forest District, Huntly.
This is one of a few Forest Record Books that have survived since this system of recording the details of the forest work in each new forest was changed after the early 1950s. Two copies of the book were maintained one at the forest and the other by the District Officer but in reality both were maintained by the District Office as it was only they who had a typist. It is likely the forester had to provide a written summary for the DO to work off.
The hard back cover had a sophisticated and durable locking system to retain the loose leaf pages as they were added when each year’s work was completed. The pages came in several categories R3 – Staff Record; R4 – Annual summary of Operations; R6 Silvicultural Notes by Year; R7 – Plantation History. Looking over the forms and also the print run details on their bottom edge this system of recording work was only initiated in 1935 and ended circa 1953. No doubt these forms were themselves summarised by Division, Country and Nationally. The form R1 still survives today as the annual planting record and always had its own folder.
Pitfichie Forest was only started in 1945 and included Scare Wood formerly part of Cluny Estate. Some details of Correnie Forest are also included in this book which started in January 1949.
The only District Officer named is I Gllespie 1945 - 46 when the record ends.
The Forester is named as C McDowell when the record ends.
The forest operations record and history describes an early start to quite a large planting and protection programme with 62 acres the first year, 138 acres in 1947 and 302 acres in 1948 dropping slightly thereafter. The record does extend to 1953 but the actual planting area totals are not mentioned. There is a brief mention of the acquired woodlands of Scare Wood and of them being thinned by a merchant.
Correnie Forest start date is recorded as 1949 but as with Pitfichie there is a detailed operations description but no actual quantities mentioned. The broadleaved species used in 1954 are not familiar today!
Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry Records, Booklets and Reports, Northeast Scotland