Spraying Gorse (Whin) at Speymouth Forest 1960
This forest details was located in files annotated as Speymouth Forest Historical documents and is courtesy of Moray and Aberdeenshire Forest District.
In this set of documents a report by forester George Stewart of Speymouth Forest is being considered for entry into a Forestry Commission publication. The written report highlights the real problem with growth of gorse (whin) within newly planted areas of trees and areas having to be cut over by hand 3-4 times. (actually printed in FC Journal of Forestry about April 1962)
The proposed method of dealing with the problem was to overall spray with a 24D and 245T chemical marketed as ‘Spontox’ or ‘Brush Wood Killer’ which killed woody growth including trees particularly in their spring/summer growing phase. This chemical could be used on tree plantations invaded with gorse if used late in the year (Oct) when tree growth had ceased but gorse by its nature was still actively growing.
There is a description of hand trials and then of application by Helicopter Services Ltd of Luton Airport and a comparison of costs.
The PDF contains the eight pages of the report.
Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry Records, Booklets and Reports, Northeast Scotland