‘Trees, Timber Talk’ programme by Scottish Home Service 1962
This programme was recorded by the late George Dey, Forestry Commission District Officer, on a reel to reel tape recorder in 1962. The digital version is courtesy of his daughter Sheila Young, Aberdeenshire, and covers two different short talks in their entirety plus the start of a third which fades out very close to the start.
The recording is a rare voice record of two well known forestry stalwarts of their day namely Norman Brown (photograph above) and Dr Charles Taylor (sorry no photograph yet available).
Following the introduction, origin and format descriptions of the Forestry Magazine program by Kennedy Stewart, he introduces the first topic of Muir Burning and Fire Protection spoken by Norman Brown who was a District Officer based, then, at Peebles.
Norman describes and discusses:
1. The period of muir burning and its reasons
2. The role of fire belts and breaks
3. Collaboration with neighbouring estates on burning
4. Fires started by careless visitors to the countryside
5. Description of vulnerable tree crops and types of damage
6. Use of patrols, fire fighting teams and radios
7. Mutual aid schemes with neighbours
8. Welcome to the careful public in their use of the forests.
The second topic is on the role of Forest Research in Scotland and the belief that Scotland does not get a fair share of this valuable resource within its borders. The speaker is Dr Charles Taylor, Head of Department of Forestry Studies in the University of Edinburgh. Charles begins by describing the role of and benefits of Forest Research.
He points to:
1. The past lost of indigenous forests and use of exotic conifers
2. Mention of larch planting on Athol Estate and the use of spruce where the native Scots pine would struggle.
3. The scale of the issue of marginal land becoming available to afforestation at that time and sourcing suitable tree species to cope with the difficult and varying conditions.
4. There role of the peat landscape is covered in some detail and mention of tree species trials, development of special ploughs and drainage machines.
5. The development of heathland nurseries and the very significant cost and time savings in the production of forest planting stock.
6. The role of fertilising in forest, understanding soil structure and condition to prevent their deterioration which includes the study of micro flora and fauna soils systems.
7. The role of sample plots in determining volume production and the effects of different thinning regimes on a variety of species on sites with varying capacities of crop volume growth.
8. The role of sample plot data in determining timber volume production forecasts into the future.
9. Research role in studying the effects of insects and pathogens on the tree species commonly used in the forest and seeking methods to ameliorate or prevent damage.
10. An acknowledgement of experimental work being carried out by Forestry Commission, the Forestry Departments of Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen as well as Macaulay Institute.
11. Finally an statement that there is a large scope of research work required in Scotland and the need for a dedicated Forest Research base within its borders. (perhaps pointing to Roslin in Edinburgh?)
The last topic, Education of Forestry staff, is only just mentioned as it is the end of the recording but there is enough to discover the title of the talk by Dr Charles Gorrie of Braehead School, Fife on Forestry as a school subject. Unfortunately the recording fades out at this point.
Groups: Audio, Forest Research, Forestry in Action