Ledmore nursery or Strathord Forest work force at a new planting site
The images are courtesy of Michael Lawrence of Bankfoot whose grandfather, Sandy Rose, was Forester and Head Forester at Ledmore Forest Nursery from Nov 1949 (when land was acquired) until his retirement in 1969. In 1966 the nearby Strathord Forest was brought under his charge.
The planting squad having a tea break on site on a lovely spring day. The presence of the wooden D handled spades and the hessian or hemp fabric planting bags does place the period circa 1960s.
The extensive area of new forest land possibly indicates that this is not Strathord Forest but another neighbouring forest unit. A dyke and deer or stock fence can be seen dividing the area and could form the boundary of non FC land that marches with the forest. The view may be easterly. The forest land has been single furrow shallow tine ploughed, the bracken indicating moderately rich free draining soil hence the use of Douglas fir. The PDF link below shows one of the work men with a good sized plant large enough to cope with the bracken when it grows in late spring/summer. (Hope it is Douglas fir!)
Can the location and any of the work team be named?
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Groups of people, Tools, equipment and clothing