Clearing snow from fences � possibly at Countesswells Forest

Date Added: 06 October 2022 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1954 Picture No: 5460

The image is courtesy of Bill McPherson, Cyprus, and shows Adam Cassie, forester at Countesswells Forest, near Aberdeen on the extreme left. The year is unknown as is the location but assumed to Countesswells area but could also be at Kirkhill Forest.

In heavy snow conditions meaningful work was hard to maintain for forest regular fill in job as was clearing fences to prevent deer, rabbits and hares from walking in over the top. Once cleared the deeply dug channels often filled in with the next bit of wind and had to be cleared again. There were heavy snow falls in winter of 1947 and in the early 1950s. Adam retired about 1957.

Does anyone recognise any of the workers? See larger image in link below this text.

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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Groups of people, Northeast Scotland

3 Comments

Forestry Commission Birkhall Recognise Jock Kennedy Sandy Howit Could be George Cassie ( my father) on the other side of Deer Fence Clearing the fences was a lost cause A night wind and the fence was blocked. One of the squad ( Chess Percey) died after a heart attack. He was a Canadian Lumber Jack.
Comment left on 03 January 2023 at 13:10 by Alistair Cassie

Deer fence clearing snow. FC slavery. Deer like the forest shelter and food. The Forestry guys were like slaves. Waxed shovels and hard graft to keep deer out The Estates did not like losing Deer. The Forestry did not like losing trees. The picture was on the Glenmuick Estate boundary. Difficult to recognise the workers. Names definitely Jock Kennedy at the rear, George Cassie( my father) at the other side of the fence and Sandy Howit at the end. At a clearance on the FC and Glenmuick boundary a Forestry worker and Lumber Jack ( Chess Piercey) took ill and died on the hill. Avery sad day for everyone. Comment left on 03 January 2023 at 14:45 by Alistair Cassie

Not Adam Cassie
This picture is on the FC at Ballater. The person with the shovel is Jock Kennedy. The person on the other side of the fence looks like my father George Cassie and the person at the front looks like Sandy Howit who was a game keeper. Comment left on 03 January 2023 at 15:24 by Alistair Cassie

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