Hand weeding in Ledmore Forest 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.
This is one of four small photographs showing the task of hand weeding in the nursery lining out beds. Prior to the advent of many specific weed control chemicals hand weeding was a long, back breaking and laborious process that must have daunted many a worker’s heart. It was quickly ascertained that women generally had the ability to take on this work and carry it out conscientiously throughout the long day. Following their work in filling the lining out boards they were retained through the late spring and early summer months to tackle the weeding.
Looking at the lining out beds in more detail it can be seen that the soil in between the rows has been cultivated and loosened up. It seems that Sandy Rose did not have the luxury of a large pool of available labour and resorted to devising mechanical means to make the weeding work more easily accomplished. It is likely following the cultivation work the women would quickly go over each bed and remove any missed weeds and possibly re insert any young trees uprooted by the machine. Note that they are not taking any carriers with them for the collected weeds an indication of low weed growth perhaps.
Any comments would be very welcome.
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