Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 188 - August 1963
The digitisation of the Slasher was undertaken by, and images courtesy of, the Forest Research Knowledge and Information Management staff based at both the Northern Research Station in Roslin, Scotland and Alice Holt in Surrey, where the original copies are currently located.
The content summary below was very kindly compiled by Diane Birkett, Bedfordshire. See PDF attachment link below the text to view the full document. A total of over 400 issues were produced between 1948 and the final issue in 2010.
Report on a Trip to Africa
Mr J.Q. Williamson, Director, Wales describes his three months' tour around Africa, as a consultant on forestry education for F.A.O.
Excavator Floated
Engineers from North Conservancy, Scotland obtained the co-operation of the Royal Engineers Territorial Army when they floated a 23 ton excavator along Loch Shiel on a raft.
Details are given of the complicated manoeuvre which requires the excavator for building a 13 mile forest road along the east side of Loch Shiel, linking Glenfinnan to Polloch. The road is required to open up plantations in Glenhurich Forest and to facilitate supplies to the pulp mill soon to be erected near Fort William. The current distance between the forest and the pulp mill is around 55 miles with many miles of heavy gradients.
Strata Florida Abbey
A dedication took place at the old Abbey of Strata Florida in Cardiganshire which was founded by monks in 1164 and dissolved in 1539. The present church was built around 1700. The land has been acquired by the Forestry Commission and one of the principal routes into Towy Forest passes the main entrance of the church. In 1960 a restoration fund was launched with an appeal made to the Forestry Commission to supply timber for the construction of a new lych gate. Tintern oak was provided and a donation towards the construction of the gate by local craftsmen with an inscription "This Lych Gate of Tintern oak was presented by the Forestry Commission". The dedication service on 26th June 1963 was conducted by the Rural Dean and was attended by Mr P.H. Legard, Divisional Officer, Mr Euros Jones, District Forest Officer, Mr D.T. Lewis, Head Forester and Mr John Jones, Forester.
Retirements
Lord Radnor retired after 20 years as a Commissioner and 11 years as Chairman.
Mr S.W. Edwards is to retire as Chief Estates Officer in England after 27 years with the Commission.
Mr E. Gower (Ted Gower), H.E.O. in the Establishment branch at HQ since 1956 has retired.
Mr L.A. Briggs, C.O. at Headquarters has retired after 7 years with the Commission.
Departures
Mr Neil Burton, Principal at Headquarters has returned to his former department, the Ministry of Agriculture where he will serve in the Horticultural Division.
Mr W.E. Coggins, former Principal at Headquarters, who on reaching retirement age joined the Office of Director, England for duties as an Executive Officer.
Presentations and Tributes
Lord Radnor retirement presentation. Among those attending the presentation were Lady Radnor, Lord Waldegrave, Mr Stanley C. Longhurst, Mr A.P.F. Hamilton, Sir Arthur Gosling, Sir William Ling Taylor, Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse and Sir Richard Cotterell. A presentation was made of a large inscribed glass goblet engraved by Mr Laurence Whistler. Lord Radnor's private secretary Mrs Mary Alison recounted an anecdote which she believes readers of Slasher would appreciate.
Mr Neil Burton, Principal, HQ, presentation and tributes on his return to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Mr W.E. Coggins, former Principal at Headquarters, presentation on his departure.
Appointments
Mr J.R. Booth, Land Commissioner with the Ministry of Agriculture will succeed Mr S.W. Edwards who is retiring.
Mr J.H. Holroyd, an Assistant Private Secretary in the Private Office of the Minister of Agriculture will be joining the Commission.
Unsuitable Word: Re-Afforest
According to the British Commonwealth Forest Terminology, when you afforest an area, you establish a forest on an area from which forest vegetation has always or long been absent. Therefore, if you re-afforest land, you are repeating that action. To replace a felled stand of trees, two clearer words are available, "reforest" which has the support of "Forest Terminology" and "replant" which is generally used in our Plans of Operations and Annual Reports.
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