Jimmy Sutherland working with clearing saw
Photograph courtesy of Moray and Aberdeenshire Forest District with particular help from Lesley Hutcheson, Newton.
Jimmy Sutherland from Moray Forest District is clearing whins in an unidentified forest with a Clearing Saw. The year is not known. The attached PDF shows another view of him working. Can anyone name the clearing saw model?
Any further details of where Jimmy was based and how long he worked in forestry would be very welcome.
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Groups: Forestry in Action, Northeast Scotland , Other Vehicles and Machines
Group: Other Vehicles and Machines - 628 pictures
3 Comments
Looks like a Husqvarna.
Comment left on 14 November 2016 at 12:53 by Leslie Phillip
I would agree with your comment Leslie and would suggest that it was probably a Husqvarna 165R. I believe that these were the 'standard' machine purchased by the FC and remember using a machine very similar in appearance to Jimmy's, in south Knockfin, over the hill from the Dog Falls road entrance bridge, Glen Affric in 1974. However, instead of using the saw blade to cut whins, we were using the blade to create 3 x ~2m spaced, 50cm x 50cm planting positions by removing rank heather and the 'duff' layer (surface organic/peaty/moss layer) down to the mineral soil. This proved very effective, with the operator working from side to side and spacing the screef areas ~2m apart as we made our way forward. The area was down for hand screefing and planting Affric provenance SP on intimate rocky knolls. Despite the efficacy of the operation; it was swiftly brought to a close, when saw blade teeth started to fracture and it was feared that due to the tempering of the blades we might break a blade when at 'full throttle', with dire consequences. It was suggested that we might use the tri-bladed grass blade, but these were less effective and caused brutal kick-backs if they came into contact with a stone, and showed stress fractures as well. N.B. I suggest that YOU DO NOT TRY THESE METHODS NOW, AS THE HSE WOULD NOT APPROVE!
Comment left on 21 November 2016 at 00:10 by Bill Rayner
Is it a fact that whins will only grow on poor soil conditions.?
Comment left on 21 November 2016 at 00:58 by Leslie Phillip
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