Visitor information notes on Corrour Forest 1970
The images have been provided by Stephen Newsom, Aberdour, who has scanned these notes used by his father Geoff Newsom while Head Forester at Corrour Forest in 1968-1971.
The notes are a valuable insight into the overall planned future of the newly acquired Estate, the areas planned for forestry plantings and the management of the red deer. It also mentions a little of the past history of the Estate, the purchase by Sir John Stirling Maxwell in 1891 and the start of his afforestation trials around Loch Ossian in 1992. Briefly mentioned is the use of turf planting and the introduction of over 70 tree species to this high elevation location. Note that Edinburgh University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources had been and continues managing some 130 acres of the best stands since 1952 and mentions the severe problems of access and lack of markets in such isolated locations.
It appears the deer management and sporting rights passed to the Forestry Commission and that they did let the deer stalking and managed the hind culling on the open hill land. On afforestation the aim was to establish no less than 8000 acres in addition to the existing woods. With new access road in situ, the latter would be thinned and capable of producing significant volumes of timber for sale.
Strangely there is no mention of the extensive road building programme from Torgulbin into Loch Ossian and into the Fersit Woods.
See the full 5 page notes in the PDF link below.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry Records, Booklets and Reports