Centenary of the Forestry Commission – Tree planting
Images are courtesy of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society (RSFS) Centenary Event committee headed by Graham Hamilton and Forestry Scotland.
A commemorative oak tree planted by 16th Lord Lovat on the 9th Dec 2019 in Monaughty Forest in Morayshire. The event was to mark a similar event on 8th Dec 1919 when Lord Lovat (Great Grandfather of the present Lord Lovat) the then Chairman of the newly formed Forestry Commission is reputed to have planted a tree close to this spot.
On the 1919 occasion the tree was the first tree planted by a Commissioner in Scotland. As recorded in Lord Clinton’s diaries (also a Forestry Commissioner) Lord Clinton achieved the honour, in a private wager, of planting the very first Commission tree in Eggesford Forest near Exeter several hours before Lord Lovat arrived at Elgin station.
A similar event was organised to take place in Eggesford Forest on 9th Dec 2019 to coincide with the Monaughty Forest planting timed for 14.00 precisely. It seems that on this occasion the present Lord Lovat timed his planting perfectly at the appointed time a little ahead of the event at Eggesford. Perhaps after one hundred years the honours are even!
Standing by the oak tree are: George Stewart a former Forestry Commission Commissioner who celebrated his 100th birthday a few days later in the same week, Fergus Ewing MSP Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and finally Lord Lovat with spade.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Groups of people