Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 207 - March 1965
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.
Obituary
Mr L.R. Kerfoot, Forester, Hay Forest, South Wales, has died aged 51 years.
Retirement
Mr C.J. Hopkins, Forester, Bechan and Carno Forests, North Wales has retired after 30 years with the Commission.
Presentation
Mr C.J. Hopkins, Forester, North Wales Conservancy retirement presentation.
New Line in Litter
Forester J. France, Wharncliffe Beat, South Yorkshire Forest writes about the rubbish deposited in the forest near the main roads. An unusual item was found recently by Messrs Harvey, Swift and Brook who were on their beat in Lowe Wood. A safe, recently stolen from a Sheffield butcher still contained 50s but the remaining £313 was missing and the safe was a write-off.
Working Holiday in Norway
David Shephard, Michael Shuttleworth and David Scurrah, three young forest workers at Fountains Forest, North East England recently spent a working holiday in temporary posts in a Norwegian Forestry School. They have written an interesting report on their work in the forests and their stay in Evanstad, a hamlet beside the River Gloma in the heart of the Asterdal.
Off-Beat Utilisation
MR R. Carnell, District Officer, S.W. England writes about itinerant people who gathered what was supplied by nature in the countryside and sold it in the large towns and cities. Ferns were in great demand for fishmongers' display slabs, moss was used for wreaths or to line small graves, waxed flowers were attached to birch twigs and hawked from door to door. Box clippings were sold as picked or sprayed with aluminium paint for table decorations. The report contains many details of the trade of foliage, collection, use, vendors and locations.
Arrivals
Crossbills arriving here from Scandinavia in 1963 are thought to have originated in Northern Russia.
A new species of bat has been discovered in the roof of the Nature Conservancy's research station at Furzebrook, Dorset. The Grey Long-Eared Bat Plecotus austriacus has only been recorded once before in Britain, around 1875 in Hampshire. Now a colony of 15 to 20 has been found, together with about 40 Common Long-Eared Bats Plecotus auritus and five other species.
A small puffin, obviously off course was tracked in Thetford Forest at Mildenhall by Mr H.A.E. Tilney-Bassett and Mr C. Redford. The little black and white bird, with its bright orange bill was spotted with the aid of a Landrover's headlights. It was fed by our colleagues on fish, then handed to a local R.S.P.C.A. inspector whose intention was to have it set free at Yarmouth.
A Scientific Paper on Stink Bugs
An unusual title for a scientific paper "Co-existence of the two related stink bugs Nezara vividula and N. antennata under natural conditions" by Keizi Kiritani, Nobuhiko Hokyo and Junichi Yukawa, in Researches on Population Ecology, Vol. V, No. 1, June 1963 pp. 17-22 Kyoto, Japan.
Awful Ordeal
Forester W. Arnott, Andover, South East England recalls the ordeal which occurred 45 years ago to a lad in Parkend who was apprenticed to an undertaker in the Dean village. After his first experience of laying out a dead body and measuring it for the coffin, he headed home in the darkness, lit only by a shrouded moon. As he walked along the roadway through Oakenhill towards the church, he heard "the most terrible wailing and shrieking he had ever heard in his life". Fresh from the recent sight of his first corpse, he stood, absolutely petrified. Out of the darkness he saw a huge figure bearing down on him. He ran for dear life and was in a state of near collapse when he arrived home.
The following night, a brave band of villagers marched to the spot which the lad had vividly described. They hadn’t long to wait before they heard the "awful noise". The bravest of them stood their ground and there by the light of the lantern they perceived a District Officer (who shall be nameless) of Scottish descent and of rather massive proportions, recently returned from the war, marching majestically down the ride in the full regalia of his clan, grossly intent on improving his playing of the bagpipes.
Mony a Mickle Maks a Muckle
The official record of "Sales of Standing Coniferous Timber from Forestry Coniferous Areas" shows a penny increase per hoppus foot in the average price for the year ended 30th September 1964, amounting to a difference of £53,828. 12s. 6d.
Transfers: Foresters
W.R.C. Beattie from Eilanreach N (S) to Battan N (S)
R.D. Davies from Coed-y-Brenin N (W) to Dean School
W.J.P. Dyce from Clach Liath N (S) to Ratagan N (S)
W.E. Dye from Ardfin W (S) to Asknish W (S)
R.G. Fife from Mendip SW (E) to Okehampton SW (E)
E.A. Howell from Brechfa S (W) to Ebbw S (W)
J.M. McGavin from Lochard W (S) to Ardfin W (S)
I.D. Mobbs from Kielder (Planning & Economics) to Hamsterley (Planning & Economics)
D.J Morris from Brecon N (W) to Bechan D (R)
I.C. Morrison from South Laggan N (S) to Balblair N (S)
A.W. Officer from Inshriach N (S) to Culloden N (S)
J. Parker from Stratton SW (E) to Exeter SW (E)
J. Scott from Rumster N (S) to Inshriach N (S)
P.L. Stone from Exeter SW (E) to Halwill SW (E)
J.W. Taylor from Battan N (S) to Eilanreach N (S)
Transfers: Assistant Foresters
M.J. Boughton from Kesteven E (E) to Rockingham E (E)
G. Bruce from Alice Holt (Planning & Economics) to Edinburgh (Planning & Economics)
D. Elgy from Wark NE (E) to Alice Holt D (R) detached duty
E.B. Jury from Kesteven (Planning & Economics) to Thetford (Planning & Economics)
C.R. Liversidge from Edinburgh (Planning & Economics) to Changue (Planning & Economics)
B.D. Robinson from Aeron N (W) to Penllyn N (W)
F.G.O. Thom from Balblair N (S) to Sunart N (S)
B. Thompson from Edinburgh (Planning & Economics) to Poyntyfield (Planning & Economics)
J.J. Waddell from Alice Holt (Planning & Economics) to Edinburgh (Planning & Economics)
J.D.E. Wainwright from Fineshade E (E) to Salcey E (E)
M.R. Wigzell from Edinburgh (Planning & Economics) to Alice Holt (Planning & Economics)
Transfer: Higher Executive Officer
Miss M.A.E. Frost from London (Education) to London Headquarters
Transfers: Executive Officers
A.E. Bradfield from Lyndhurst, New to London (Chief Education Officer
P.H. Hamilton from London, Director (E) to Alice Holt, Director (R)
E.N. Pauley from Cambridge E (E) to London D (E)
Miss M. Peal from London D (E) to London Headquarters
Transfer: Clerical Officer
G.P. Calladine from London D (E) to York NE (E)