Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 236 - August 1967
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.
Mast For The Nonsuch Sailing Ship
The Hudson Bay Company are having a replica of their 17th century sailing ship "Nonsuch" built in Appledore, Devon.
They are having difficulty in sourcing the same species of timber as used in the original ship. The search is on for Scots pine (first choice) or Norway spruce (second choice) for the lower main mast.
Retirement
Mr Walter Smith, Assistant Conservator, North East Conservancy, has retired aged 60 years.
Presentation and Tribute
Mr Walter Smith, Assistant Conservator, North East Conservancy, tree planting ceremony, retirement presentation and dinner in Hexham. In the presence of a large number of Commission colleagues and representatives of private forestry, Mr & Mrs Smith each planted an oak tree at Hamsterley Forest where Mr Smith had been a Forester 30 years ago. Among those attending the tree planting were Mr Thornton Trevelyan and Mrs Trevelyan; Lt. Colonel George Stobart; Earl of Carlisle; Mr G.E. Godwin and Mr George Mackenzie.
Basingstoke Carnival Float Prize
An estimated 50,000 people lined the route of the Basingstoke Carnival procession. First prize was awarded to the Commission's float for the best exhibit in its class, the trade displays. The efforts of the Sylvatica committee were rewarded. They included Eric Cuerden, Brian Donovan, Trevor Hall, Dick Soars, Yvonne Hudswell and the driver Eddie Hill, with the support of Forester Budgeon of Micheldever, who provided the basic material for dressing the float.
Not For Damsels
The Commission's Mammals Section has acquired bird scaring equipment which amplifies distress calls to deter starlings from roosting and damaging trees at dusk.
Forest Walks
A new forest walk in Ae Forest was opened recently by Major D.C. Bowser, C.B.E., J.P., of Argaty before a gathering of foresters, factors and landowners.
A nature trail at Inverinan Forest, West Scotland Conservancy, has also been opened.
Timber Farm Building
The Commission donated the structural timber for the Farm Buildings Centre at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh, near Warwick.
Gypsy Moth IV
A comment on the constructional use of wood in Gypsy Moth IV, Sir Francis Chichester's boat for his round-the-world voyage.
Straight Flew the Arrows
The President of the Scottish Field Archery Association approached Mr W.F. French, District Officer, requesting a venue for an archery championship. The Cullaloe section of Blairadam Forest in East Scotland was chosen and 150 competitors, mainly from Britain, U.S.A. and Germany took part in the championship which was won by Mr Dick Hoosen of U.S.A.
Dartington Visit
South West England Conservancy staff went to Dartington Hall for their annual educational forest visit. They were welcomed by Mr L.K. Elmhurst who, with his wife, founded this centre of country education, industry and arts.
Lunch was consumed in the mess hut beside a stone-built fire, which was converted from the old kindling shed by the eighteen school levers, according to Assistant Conservator Mr Morley Penistan.
Mr R.M. Harley, the Woodlands Manager and Mr Bunce the Head Forester and now Chief Instructor, showed the visitor the series of timber stands in North Wood which had been planted in the last 40 years - mostly western American conifers including the redwood Sequoia sempervirens.
Also of interest was the excavated Roman camp overlooking the Dart ford at Staverton.
At Dartington Hall, the visitors were shown the gardens and after tea in the local Education Centre, they viewed the restored mediaeval buildings of Dartington Hall.
Former Dartington "woodlanders" now with the Commission are Assistant Conservators Mr J.T.L. Fitzherbert and Mr J.B. Stocks and District Forest Officer Mr J.L.F. Ferguson, all of whom began their forestry career there as did the late world famous forester Mr W.E. Hiley.
Odd Spots
Mr H.O. Armstrong, Head Forester at Bareagle Nursery, South Scotland, discovered a one year old Norway spruce seedling, about three inches tall, which has seeded in the bowl of a smoker's pipe and sent its roots through and out of the narrow stem.
In a Peterborough article in the Daily Telegraph headed "Worse Than Their Bark?", a house agent's circular describes a garden as attractively laid out 'with carnivorous trees and hedges offering ample seclusion'. The trees may soon be biting each other!
At the Royal Show, the following caption was seen in a school exhibit: "Red Campion. Male plants continue to flower long after female plants have gone to seed and well into the autumn, which seems rather pointless".
It's recorded that a fox disturbed by trappers at Speymouth bolted and, as it disappeared, dropped a black bundle. This was found to be a seemingly over-fat crow but neatly stowed away under the folded wings were found three tiny pheasant chicks, two baby grouse and a field mouse, all dead. Obviously the fox was carrying his own packed lunch.