Annual Report Dingwall District (West) 1982-83
The report is courtesy of Inverness, Ross and Skye forest District and lists the main activities and comments on the work for year April 1982 – March 1983. Only two forests (Torrachilty and Achnashellach) reports have been located. The Torrachilty one by Tim Taylor is a short one page affair but the other by Donald Beaton is much more detailed.
At Torrachilty the last house in Strathconon was sold as were the Crofts at Gorstan and Cat’s Back. Ben Wyvis scheme ‘still on the move’.
At Achnashellach from the report written by Head Forester Donald Beaton we learn that he took over from Alex Forsyth and Henry Bowers, Forester, replaced Willie Grant. Training provided on Helicopters, Spruce Bark Beetle and the Huntly Applicator (Granular Herbicide). Ploughing restock areas with double furrow plough on the D7 proved very problematic whereas a single furrow was satisfactory. Descriptions of weeding and heather burning give an insight into some of the year’s work along with the note that FC working on harvesting had stopped and was now all standing sales (Riddochs and Catto) but only clear felling (no thinning) was attempted due to low prices. In the Civil Engineering work two Superintendant of Works are named namely John Ross and Frank McCulloch.
New Forest Office built at Lair and old office dismantled.
First mention of reorganisation (change to Forest Districts) which occurred from 1983 onwards.
Fountain Forestry start up in the area.
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