Bin Forest Squad 1930s
Photograph Courtesy of Flora Stephen of Huntly which shows her father in law, Jim Scott of Roadburn (No 8).
The location of the photograph is believed to be the forest nursery areas in the Bin Forest which were located on Ord Brae above and below the main road A96. Jim Strachan of Huntly whose father started with the Bin Forest Squad in 1936 recalls that the nursery areas were in several small parks above the road on the Huntly side of Beech Cottage as well as for a time on the field between the main road and the River Deveron. The main use was for lining out seedlings brought in from other nurseries. Jim remembers his father telling him that at times the small parks were cultivated using a plough pulled by up to six men ploughing downhill but that over time the soil thinned down due to so much going out on the roots of the young trees that some areas had to be abandoned.
This image is almost certainly taken, perhaps as early as 1934, up in the high parks beside Beech Cottage and there is just a glimpse of the lining out beds area in front of the boots of the men. Up behind the group the little bare field looks as though some cultivation is taking place on the right hand side. There is the handle of a rake leaning on the wall behind the group. The forest map indicated the hill behind was planted with Scots pine in 1928 but there is little sign of any young trees – only the stumps of the previous crop planted in 1840 and felled by James Jones after or during first World War.
Only a few men have been named in this case.
No 1 Willie Milne – Forester
No 2 Looks a bit like Bill Reid the keeper
No8 Jim Scott – Roadburn
No 11 Alex Bowie – Later to become Under Forester
Any more names or suggestions would be very welcome.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Groups of people, Northeast Scotland