Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 237 - September 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.
Floods Carry Away Bailey Bridge
During a recent storm, which lasted for just three quarters of a hour, four and a half inches of rain were recorded by the Fylde Water Board, most of which fell on 8,000 acres of the River Dunsop catchment area.
Rivers feeding the Dunsop - Brennand and Whitendale - rose 20 feet above normal in a matter of minutes and were funnelled down the valley of the Dunsop causing a wave of water and silt to rush down, taking everything in its path. Damage to Forestry Commission property was comparatively light, apart from the 40 feet Bailey bridge which was picked up and deposited nearly a third of a mile away. But damage to the Fylde Water Board Works was considerable and the Commission is giving all possible assistance with temporary bridging.
Water Diviner's Tales
Some reminiscences from Mr W.L. McCavish, Game Warden in the Border District, who has been divining water for 35 years.
When builders began laying foundations for the new village houses at Butteryhaugh in Kielder Forest, work was held up due to flooding. Mr McCavish was called in to assist in locating the cause of the trouble and with the aid of a divining rod, he traced an underground culvert to its source. The water was piped away into the river, the site dried and work proceeded.
The tracks of people, plus an item of their clothing, can also be followed with the use of stranded copper wire.
Mr McCavish recalls a District Officer, who was photographing bird life on Redesdale Moor lost his camera tripod. "He left his cap with me and I traced his earlier movements for two miles, picking up the tripod out of the Heather".
Another incident occurred when a wet-weather shelter was damaged by vandals, the windows being broken. Holding stones which had obviously been thrown by the culprits, in one hand and using the divining rod led him and a policeman to two separate houses. As a follow up, the policeman visited the nearby school and saw certain boys, who confessed to the vandalism.
With his copper rod to divine metal, he has found silver coins and watches that had been lost.
The art of divining is proving useful in locating injured deer, and he has found three shot deer who were lying dead in cover. By holding blood stained grass, he followed their movements from the point where they were shot to where they lay dead, although they left no bloodstained trails.
His copper wire rod is 30 inches long and terminates with a splaying of the strands.
The forks of the twig should be around 15 inches long, ending in a prong of two or three inches. Blackcurrant, hazel and willow forked twigs are the best conductors.
Mr McCavish says he cannot get a watch to keep time on his wrist nor will it keep going for very long.
Deer Trophy
Mr Finlay MacRae, District Officer in North Scotland is to receive the Balfour-Browne Deer Trophy, which will be presented to him during a symposium on deer control to be held in Inverness in October.
Obituaries
Mr F.H. Drake, Head Forester, Alton Forest, South East England has died in a road accident.
Mr Walter Smith, former Assistant Conservator in North East England and recently retired has died.
New AA Viewpoint
Symonds Yat in the Lower Wye Valley is the latest site to be chosen by the Automobile Association for an engraved panoramic plaque indicating the most prominent and interesting landmarks.
Forest of Dean Deputy Surveyor, Mr R.G. Sanzen-Baker, was among the gathering for the unveiling.
Symonds Yat Rock is part of an ancient British camp and the adjacent defensive works were part of Offa's Dyke, which was constructed by the Mercian King Offa in about 785 from north to south Wales.
From just over 500 feet above sea level, there are 27 separate landmarks, including the Black Mountains, over 20 miles away, Buton Hill (23 miles) and Marche Hill (12 miles).
Deputy Surveyor Becomes JP
Mr R.G. Sanzen-Baker, Deputy Surveyor, Forest of Dean, since 1954 has been appointed a Justice of the Peace. His association with the Dean dates back to 1927 when he was a student at the Forester Training School.
Private Woodlands Census
The Census of Private Woodlands which was started in 1965 and completed in the Spring of this year, has used the kilometre squares marked on the one inch to one mile and six inches to one mile Ordnance Survey maps as the sampling units. About thirty thousand of these squares were selected for detailed investigation. Data is now being processed and it is hoped to have the area results completed within about six months and the volume results completed sometime thereafter.
Nature Reserve
An area of the New Forest has been made into a nature reserve by arrangement with the Hampshire Naturalists Trust.
Retirements
Mr Jim Bruce, Head Forester, Exeter Forest, has retired. Following training at the Dean Forestry Training School, he became a Ganger at Clipstone Forest in 1937.
Mr T.C. Bowdler (Charlie Bowdler), Forester, Exeter Forest, has retired after starting his career as a forest worker in 1927.
Mr A.A. Ward, Superintendent of Works, North Scotland has retired after 20 years' service in the North of Scotland.
Presentations
Mr Jim Bruce, Head Forester, Exeter Forest, retirement presentation.
Mr T.C. Bowdler (Charlie Bowdler), Forester, Exeter Forest, retirement presentation. He thanks all for their kindness.
Mr A.A. Ward, Superintendent of Works, North Scotland, retirement presentation.