Ben Nevis from back of No 10 Forestry Houses, Torlundy, Leanachan Forest
The photographs courtesy of Stephen Newsom, Aberdour, were taken by his father Geoff Newsom while Head Forester at Corrour Forest. Geoff was transferred from Gisburn Forest NW (E) to Leanachan Forest, Fort William, in August 1966 and was responsible for the new planting operations then taking place largely around Loch Eilt and Callop next to Loch Shiel. Following the purchase of Corrour Estate by the Forestry Commission, Geoff took charge from January 1968 until December 1971, while still based at Torlundy, primarily organising and managing all the new planting operations as well those staff who had transferred from the Estate. In March 1972 Corrour was amalgamated with Strathmashie Forest. Geoff was then relocated to Wark Forest, and again to Jervaulx Forest (both NE England), and ended his forestry career in November 1983.
This is the view over the eastern part of Leanachan Forest at Torlundy looking from above No 10 Forestry Houses (one of three Dorran built Forester’s Bungalows – the other two were occupied by Alec MacLeman – Chief Forester, Leanachan Forest, and John Dunford, District Officer in charge, at the pulp mill, of all the FC pulp despatches ). An ice bound north face of Ben Nevis is overlooking the area of forest where early first thinning was being carried out to supply pulp for the pulp mill. It was here that Sandy Morrison, District Officer, instructed the harvesting teams to try out line thinning of one row out in three and also two rows out with several versions of chevrons on either side. The aim was to reduce take down difficulty and secure a high volume per cable crane rack. This was the era of the high lead Isachsen winch on a Ferguson 35 tractor. However line thinning depended heavily on straight planting lines!
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