Island locations - Forestry Commission Forest Name Signs
Images are courtesy of Malcolm Wield, Glenurquhart and Gordon Donaldson who contacted holders and collected Forest Name images and actual signs from several locations. The metal signs were manufactured by The Royal Label Factory (RLF) that has a history going back over 100 years of producing aluminium and non corroding metal signs.
These four island locations of Mull, Glen Brittle, Raasay and Aline give a flavour of the outpost locations where many foresters and their families had great concerns about being posted to. In the event that foresters were actually sent it often turned out that they became a key part of the local communities and thoroughly enjoyed their postings. The one major drawback in some islands was the lack of secondary education for their children where no local schools were available. This involved children staying in school hostels often very long distances from their homes and only getting back at weekends or only at ends of term. This was also a feature in some mainland locations.
The forest signs featured here show a little of the evolving nature of their design. Very early signs of this type appear to have had the words State Forest in the design. The signs following this simply had the forest management unit name and Forestry Commission highlighted in a yellow colour. Scotland located forests had the rampant lion at the bottom with the usual crown at the top. It is not certain if these were originally pointed yellow or red, the latter colour certainly used on the ridged edge lines. The word ‘Forest’ after the unit name appears to have evolved possibly about the late 1950s or early 1960s. The Mull example followed the change of name from Salen to Mull Forest about 1961. Aline Forest on Lewis only came into existence about 1968 indicating variations in style were being produced.
Mull Forest – Island of Mull. Initiated in 1925 as Salen Forest and changed to Mull in the records in 1961. By 1980 the total land area managed by the Forestry Commission was approx 40,000 acres of which over 21,000 acres was planted forest. Over time Mull Forest also transformed into Mull Forest District following the 1983 reorgansisation.
Raasay Forest – Island of Raasay – Initiated in 1949 and continued as a separate forest unit until 1968 when it was absorbed by Skye Forest Unit. By then the total area was 749 acres of which 589 had been planted.
Glen Brittle – Isle of Skye. Initiated in 1932 and retained as a separate unit until 1961 when it was amalgamated with Glen Varragill, Healaval and Blaven Forests (all on Skye) to form Skye Forest. At this point total land area in Glen Brittle Forest was 8858 acres of which 1645 acres had been planted.
Aline Forest – Isle of Lewis. First experimental plots appear to have been set up around 1953 and then a further acquisition added land in 1969. By 1971 the total land holding was 2110 acres with 249 under plantations. After this point is appears that the forest was amalgamated under Skye Forest management but nowhere does the name Aline appear as an official forest accounting unit. It is possible that the Aline sign was ordered following the completion of the 1969 land acquisition and name sign erected. The area is now largely a community woodland area.
Any further information would be very welcome.
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Groups: Forest Signs, Forestry Areas