Women workers setting off to plant the hillsides in Strathyre Forest circa 1950
The image is courtesy of William Fleming, Polmont, who photographed it from a Forestry Commission leaflet on Strathyre Forest many years ago. The lovely image of workers heading across the loch to plant trees on the hillside opposite highlights the enormous effort required to establish the forests with millions of hand planted trees.
Unusually all of the eight workers appear to be ladies each carrying a planting bag full of plants and a heavy Schlich type spade. The ladies may have also worked in the nursery and helped out with the planting in the early spring time. Willie thinks the boat man was Jimmy Mckenzie ferrying the squad across loch Lubnaig to plant the Laggan section before a proper road was put in past Laggan farm.
Can any of the ladies be named? What was the name of the boat? Any other information and comments very welcome.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Groups of people, Ships, boats and sea transport, Tools, equipment and clothing