Mearns Forest new office at Glenfarquhar Lodge
The image is from a photograph collection that was originally stored at Kincardine Forest District.
These high quality images by I A (Tony) Anderson, the Forestry Commission photographer based in Alice Holt were assigned Number B7196-7.
This new office was built to accommodate the staff of the newly merged Forests of Drumtochty and Fetteresso which came into being in 1971/1972. The office and behind it a large work and store shed were located close to Glenfarquhar Lodge which is sited a number of miles north east of Drumtochty Glen. The Lodge itself was accommodation for foresters and Brian Allison may have been one of the tenants. By 1974 it was an outpost for the Aberdeen Camphill organisation.
Abbie Gordon (Banchory) has kindly supplied some of the above and the following information: ‘I was stationed at Mearns Forest from 1974 – 1978 and was the Head Forester responsible for Forest Management and Recreation and Doug Elliot was Head Forester for Harvesting. George Murray was the Chief Forester in charge of Mearns Forest at that time.
While I was there for the fourth time in four years another forest clerk was appointed. Her name was Isobel Morrison and she was still there when I left Mearns in 1978. I understand she transferred to the Durris office when Mearns and Kincardine amalgamated. At least all the revolving door activity improved my experience as a forest clerk fighting with the Kalamazoo and having words when the cash account didn’t balance
Usually there were about twelve/fourteen staff in the Harvesting squad and six/seven in Forest Management. At this time also Ian Forshaw left the Army to sample the delights of planting, fence repairs etc sometimes in freezing temperatures. However as we all know he survived. I’m not claiming any credit but Ian did get a fairly good grounding in the various tasks forest workers had to endure. I don’t recall if he was ever in Harvesting apart from measured loads, marking and measuring etc.’
In time Ian attended Aberdeen University graduating in 1978, as Assistant Forester at Lybster circa 1984 and then Forest District manager of Dornoch Forest District circa 1990 and eventually Regional Director Wales.
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Groups: Buildings in Forests, Forestry Areas, Northeast Scotland