MPs Tour of East Scotland Conservancy
The notes are courtesy of Duncan Menzies, Banchory.
The tour is led by Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse Director General of the Forestry Commission includes four Labour and four Conservative MPs.
The tour notes begin with a summary of the East Conservancy statistics which include total area breakdown, volumes thinned and felled (in hoppus feet). The details include facts such as 49 separate forests, 700 workers, 183 Dedicated private woods and Approved Woods on 49 private Estates.
At Durris Forest, P F McIntyre is listed as District officer, G Gilbert as Head Forester and James C Finlay as Forester covering a total area of 6,567 acres with 15 FC workers and 16 employed by timber merchants. Seven houses are listed as on the forest. A small map of the Durris Forest areas is included.
Blackhall forest next to Banchory is managed again by the same District Officer, Jim Webster as Head Forester and Bill Taylor as Trainee Forester covering 4,864 acres with 17 workers plus 2 employed by timber merchants. Eight Forestry Commission houses as listed as at the forest as a small map of Black Forest Areas is included.
The visit includes Dunecht Estate with Consultant D D Laurie, Factor I C Douglas and Head Forester C Y Ross to the Estate sawmill, joinery shop and yard as well as several forest areas.
On the second day the party visits Glenlivet Forest managed by KNV Townsend, District Officer, G J A M Murray, Head Forester and Brian Foggo, Forester covering a total area of 11,204 acres. There are seven Forestry Commission houses and 18 forest workers. The notes include a small map of all the Glenlivet Forest areas.
The party then bypass Tornashean and Cushnie Forest to arrive at Alltcailleach Forest headed by P F McIntyre District Officer, D M Marnoch Head Forester and J Rose Forester covering 3,804 acres. There are seven Forestry Commission houses, 15 forest workers, one clerical staff and 4 men employed by timber merchants. Again there is a small map of all the Allcailleach Forest areas.
The third and final day tour begins with Drumtochty Forest again led by District Officer P F McIntyre , Head Forester W McDonald, Robbie Adam as Forester and G D Smith as trainee Forester covering 9,189 acres. There are 13 houses in Drumtochty and 14 forest workers plus another 12 employed by timber merchants.
There is mention of the large spruce tree at Drumtochty (Gammell spruce) which was measured in 1961 as top height of 134 feet, Breast height quarter girth as 58.25 inches, volume of 892 hoppus feet and approx 100 years old.
At Fetteresso Forest the management team are Head Forester G L McBain and Forester G S Thirde covering 8,115 acres. There are 7 Forestry Commission houses and 15 forest workers at this forest.
Two small maps cover the Forestry Commission areas and extent of the current planting of the two forests.
The PDF contains the full tour notes and maps.
Download Large Version (1.1MB)
Groups: Forestry Records, Booklets and Reports, Maps of Forest and Woodland Areas