Fetteresso Forest Record Book 1946 — 1953
Record Book is courtesy of Forestry Commission Moray and Aberdeenshire Forest District, Huntly.
See the PDF for full view of the complete Forest Record Book.
This is one of a few Forest Record Books that have survived since this system of recording details of 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. 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.
The Durris Forest R3 staff record is unfortunately not included in this incomplete Record of the forest. The earliest mention of any work is in 1945 when the area may have been purchased by the Forestry Commission which when added to Drumtochty and other acquisitions formed one very large forest unit of over eight thousand hectares. The initial planting programme was substantial in 1948 (post war labour available?) at over 300 acres rising later to over 500 acres with most of the areas being ploughed. There is mention of the hydraulic lift tine and other ploughs. One of the early Foresters in charge was David Anderson and a District Officer was George Dey although neither is mentioned.
Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry Records, Booklets and Reports, Northeast Scotland