Preparing to collect beech mast in a beech wood near Ledmore Nursery
The images are courtesy of Michael Lawrence of Bankfoot whose grandfather, Sandy Rose, was Forester and Head Forester at Ledmore Forest Nursery from 1950 (when land was acquired) until his retirement in 1969. In 1966 the nearby Strathord Forest was brought under his charge. The year of the photograph is estimated to be around 1957.
A spectacular image of a team of forestry workers from Ledmore Nursery and possibly Strathord Forest preparing the ground for the possible collection of fallen beech seed or mast. All the leaf and branch debris has been and is being swept and shovelled down the hill to clear a debris free collecting zone before the beech seed or mast fall. It could be assumed that large hessian sheets are not planned to be used in this case.
Note - Pre artificial fertiliser days in forest nurseries piles of broadleaved weeds were packed into large pits, covered and stored there for long periods to form mulch for improving the nuresery soils.
Some of the people have been named as follows:
1. ?
2. ?
3. ?
4. Chalmers Thain (Jnr)
5. ?
6. Willie Menzies
7. Andrew Thain
Can any of the other workers be named?
Where is the location of the beech wood?
Any comments or additional information would be very welcome.
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