Students at tallest Tree in UK-Ardkinglass Estate
Photograph is courtesy of John Keenleyside, Forres, who has provided the details.
During this era, second year forestry students changed Forester Training Schools for one whole term from New Year to Easter to gain experience in a very different environment. In this case the exchange students at Benmore consisted of six from Glentress and six from Forest of Dean. The other Forester Training School in operation at that time was Lynford Hall in Thetford considered to be the Rolls Royce of the schools and had an annual rainfall one quarter of that for Benmore.
The photograph shows all the exchange students from Glentress standing beside what was then believed to be the tallest tree in Britain (a Silver fir- one of the Abies species) growing on Ardkinglass Estate near the head of Loch Fyne which was the home of the Noble Family. The students measured the girth and from memory John believed it was nearly 23 feet. It was a very wet day and all the students are suited up in their wet weather gear of note Jim Ferguson on right wearing an expensive 'Gannex' coat.
The students from the left are:
Arkle Fraser
Ian Fraser
John Keenleyside
Geoff Reid
Bill Hunter
Jim Ferguson
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Groups: Forester Training Schools and Universities, Forestry Areas, Groups of people