Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 268 - July/August 1971
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.
Honours
Mr Leslie A.W. Jenkins, former Chairman of the Commission was appointed a C.B.E. in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to exports.
Mr J.S.R. Chard, Conservator NW (E) has been awarded an O.B.E.
Mr D.H. Ross, former Head Forester in West Scotland has been awarded an M.B.E.
Appointments
Lord Balfour of Burleigh has been appointed a part-time Forestry Commissioner for a three year period to fill a vacancy caused by the appointment of Lord Taylor of Gryfe to the post of Chairman.
Obituaries
Mr R.A. Galloway, O.B.E., MC., B.Sc., former Secretary of the Royal Forestry Society, died in Edinburgh on 10th July 1971.
Mr William John Lake, Mobile Mechanist, Thetford Chase, E (E), died suddenly on 9th June 1971 aged 57 years.
Dean Forest School Reunion
A Committee of Dean School staff and local Forest staff organised a programme of reunions to coincide with the closure of the School, which included meeting at the C.S.M.A. Club at Whitemead Park, where they were welcomed to the Dean by M G.D. Rouse, Conservator SW (E) and Deputy Surveyor(Dean).
Tours were arranged to visit Symonds Yat and Highmeadow, Abbotswood and Blakeney Walk, Churchill, Nagshead and Knockalls. Refreshment stops included The Fountain, the White Horse, Staunton and the Yat Rock.
Seventy guests attended the reunion dinner at the Beaufort Hotel, Tintern, which was presided over by Mr P.C. Gough, the present Education Officer, Dean, who introduced the speakers.
A cricket match, tea at Whitemead Park and beer and skittles in the evening were also enjoyed.
A specimen commemoration tie has been received and orders placed.
Chelsea Flower Show
This year was the Commission's second appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show and the first as a general exhibit. Over £250 was received for the sale of publications.
FC Computer Developments
At the Alice Holt Research Department, a new IBM 1130 computer has replaced the two Sirius computers originally purchased in 1963 and 1967.
Appraisal Interviews
The Career Development Branch has published the results of a survey conducted last summer about Appraisal Interviewing.
Forestry Commission Christmas Cards
The Forestry Commission Christmas Card design judges chose the "Economy" model by Miss Jean Davies of the South Wales Conservancy Drawing Office, Cardiff and the "Regular" model produced from a photograph submitted by Mr T.H. McGeorge HQ (B).
Parkend is Ended But the Memories Linger On by Jack Jennings
The sandstone walls look brooding, dull and grey:
They closed the Parkend School today;
No heavy booted feet tramp through the hall
That front door key has turned once and for all;
No rattling plate or spoon in jug and dish,
No smell of onions, cabbage and fried fish
Pervades the passages and dining room;
From shower bath no raucous shout or booming
Voice upraised in ribald song and verse;
In middle dormitory no muffled curse;
From lecture room no sound of questions come;
The building now is empty, silent … dumb.
But in the Fountain Inn those who found fame
Will be remembered not so much by name
But by their skill at games, wisecracks and tricks:
"He" climbed that chimney stack; "He" hit that six;
Who swam in Cannop ponds so black and deep?
Who drank all that rough cider? Dressed a sheep
In football shorts? Who placed a chamber pot
On Parkend flag pole? and who oiled the clock
With treacle from a tin and margarine?
Who weeded in the nude at Moseley Green?
An era passes, sixty years have gone
But student memories will linger on.
The Case For Forestry
The publication "The Case for Forestry" is intended to promote the planting of more forests in Britain.
"Norways" Need a Helping Hand
Mr H.E. Edlin responds to Jack Jennings article in the May/June 1971 issue of Slasher agreeing that he has never seen natural regeneration of Norway Spruce in British forests. Though in Norway and Switzerland, it is commonplace to see dense spruce regeneration. He believes the continuous snow cover may assist regeneration. Perhaps it chills the seeds to give better germination or it may simply protect the delicate young seedlings from marauding birds and mice during the critical winter months.
Mr Edlin says another curious fact is that although most common Alpine and Scandinavian trees spread naturally to Britain after the Ice Age, spruce did not. Pine, birch, oak and ash all came in and regenerated freely.
He concludes that Norway spruce cones do open naturally in the warm dry climate of the New Forest, but still no young trees appear. New Forest squirrels attack any sort of cone and may possibly destroy the seedlings as well as the seeds in the cones.
A Ready-Made Factor 1 Relascope
Mr K.W. Wilson, District Officer, Surrey, writes: - "Take a Stanley flexible tape - metric type with a lock. They're always handy to have in your pocket in the forest. The tag at the end is 10 mm wide - if under, file to size. Bottom edge of the case is 50 mm, so extend tape to 45 mm and you have a relascope."
Trees to Change Desert City Into Oasis
Within the next two decades the sand locked city of Khartoum - capital of Sudan - may become Africa's greatest oasis, according to Scottish forester Mr Archibald Stein of Lanarkshire, who is attached to the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation.
To defeat the sandstorms, Mr Stein, aided by Sudanese foresters, built a barrier of fast-growing trees, mainly comprised of eucalyptus from Australia and a drought-resistant species from Somalia, which serves as a windbreak. It has worked well and there is now a luxuriant forest where ten years ago, there was only a barren steppe.
Cattle Feed From Timber
A process which can transform forestry industry waste products into protein rich cattle feed is being refined by timber scientists in Sweden, according to a report in the "Scottish Farmer"
Staff Inspection Report on a Symphony Orchestra
A member of Works Study, who prefers to remain anonymous, has sent in an "economical" version of an orchestra.
He goes through the various instruments and musicians, suggesting where cuts can be made, for example the twelve violins playing identical notes is unnecessary duplication. The staff of this section should be drastically cut and the volume of sound increased by electronic apparatus.
Many more controversial suggestions are made.
Retirements
Miss Majorie Peal, Executive Officer in Finance Branch, London HQ., retired in June after joining the Commission in 1949.
Mr E.D. Fraser (Ted Fraser), Head Forester, Perth, has retired. He initially entered Benmore Forestry School, emerging in 1932.
Mr T.S. Fraser, Head Forester, West Scotland, has retired after serving 25 years with the Commission.
Mr E.J. Dummett, Senior Superintendent of Works, Gwydyr, North Wales has retired after serving 22 years with the Commission.
Presentations
Mr John Cumming (Jock Cumming), Head Forester, Jervaulx Forest retirement presentation at the King's Head, Masham, North East England. In all, he was honoured by five separate presentations.
Mr E.D. Fraser (Ted Fraser), Head Forester, Perth, retirement presentation.
Mr T.S. Fraser (Tommy Fraser), Head Forester, West Scotland, retirement presentation at a ceilidh in Rowardennan Hotel.
Mr E.J. Dummett, Senior Superintendent of Works, Gwydyr, North Wales, retirement presentation at the Swallow Falls Hotel, Betws-y-Coed, North Wales.
Mr Donald K. Fraser, Silviculture Forester and Head Forester, South East Scotland, presentation on leaving the Commission.
Invasion of The Bee People
The ceremonial oak tree planted in the New Forest by the past Chairman of the Forestry Commission, to mark the Commission's Jubilee in 1969, was seen to be bent double with its crown touching the ground.
Keeper John Gulliver apprehended the culprits - a swarm of bees. The tree is now recovering.
Overheard in the HQ (L) Canteen
Mr B: "Where's Jack? Is he playing golf today?"
Mr C: "No, he's not playing golf, he's on leave today".
Logical Trees
An enquirer telephoned the Publications Section and asked: "Does the Forestry Commission publish the booklet called "The Increasing Use of Logical Trees in the Civil Service?".
A Cambridge Visitor and The Productivity Council
Mr M.G. Harker, District Officer, S.W. (E), repeats two humorous tales he read recently in the Journal of the Royal Institute of Cornwall.
Champion Digger Driver
Mr H. Williamson, Plant operator at Hamsterley Forest, went to Sheffield to compete with twenty four other highly skilled hydraulic excavator operators in a competition to cut three chains of open ditch using a McConnell ditching bucket, mounted on a Massey Ferguson 175 tractor. With points awarded for straightness of line, cleanness of cut, effectiveness of drainage and the time taken, Mr Williamson emerged as the winner and was acclaimed the North Midlands champion.
Woodland Walk Aids Blind People
The Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, with the co-operation of the Forestry Commission, held a two mile sponsored walk in the New Forest. Entrants came in pairs and were tired together to make a three-legged unit. The route along forest paths was fully monitored by stewards to ensure all who set out on "Expedition Eyesight" returned to base.
In the Commonwealth, there are over six million blind people, four million of whom went blind from preventable causes, and at least one million of whom could have their sight restored, at an average cost of £2 per person.
North Scotland Educational Visit
The Educational Outing on the 23rd June by the staff of N (S) Conservancy Office followed the route of General Wade's road on the shores of Loch Ness, between "Nessie's" watering place and Farigaig Forest.
They visited Inverfarigaig, the Commission's "Forestry and Wild Life Exhibition"; Inchnacardoch Forest, where District Officer Ron Marnie and Head Forester Hugh Morris explained and demonstrated the tubed seedling production unit; and Ratagan Forest, on the shore of Loch Duich, beneath Mam Ratagan and the Five Sisters of Kintail.
A picnic lunch was provided by Linda Cummings and Kathleen MacKintosh of the Drawing Office, who also sung their own composition "Papa's taking us to the Forest" to the tune of "Papa's taking us to the Zoo tomorrow".
On the return journey, the party travelled along the recently opened Strome Ferry by-pass road.
Cricket in the Far North
A report on the Summer season opening cricket match in Inverness on 17th June when a team from North Scotland Conservancy (Inverness and District) met a team from the Crofters' Commission.
Inverness Historical Find
Details of an archaeological excavation which has been undertaken in the Inverness area of North Scotland on Commission land at Craig Phadrig.
South Scotland Sports
The annual Summer outing of the South Scotland Conservancy Golf Club was held at Dumfries and Country Golf Club on 21st May 1971.
Twenty seven players enjoyed the excellent golfing conditions. The winner of the Fotheringham Trophy was Mr S.K. Fergusson, Bennan Forest, S (S), with Mr J. Wilson, Wark Forest, NE (E) as the runner-up.
The A.G.M. of the Office Curling Club has held on 24th May. The league was played over the Winter months in which 8 rinks took part in 28 games and the decision for first place rested on the result of the final game. The winning rink was skipped by Mr J. Paterson, aided by Mrs Chard and Mr and Mrs Hendry. Mrs James, wife of Senior Officer, Scotland, presented the James Cup to the winners.
Shot of the Week
At the end of June, Mr John H. James, Conservator, N (W), holed-out his tee shot from the 17th at Aberystwyth. Owing to a slight deviation from the intended line, however, the ball curled out of sight over the trees and ended in the cup on the 18th green - a distance of 250 yards. He must have been anxious to get to the 19th hole.
A Forester Looks Back
Mr Jack Jennings, Chief Forester, Crychan Forest, South Wales will be retiring soon after 44 years service with the Commission and looks back over those years.
That's Telling Them
A contributor from South Wales sent in this cutting from the "Western Mail" of 23rd June: -
An elderly woman Councillor of a South Wales local authority took part in a debate on the afforestation of a reclaimed industrial site. "I do not know about this afforestation but what about planting some trees there?".
The Commission Saves The Empire
The Tower of London's next guest will be from Wentworth Forest S (W). At the moment, he is staying with Mr Colin Titcombe of Brockwells Farm, Caldicott. Colin, a worker in Wentwood, found a young raven at the beginning of May, when it was half starved. "It could hardly fly", he said. "I thought it had been trying to fly and strayed from its nest".
Later he found a dead parent. Rather than risk the life of the young raven by leaving it, he took the bird to his home. "It has become very tame", said Colin. "We let it out over Whitsun. He flew around a few trees, but he would not fly away and kept coming back. I wrote to the Tower of London to see if they would accept it, and they did. I'm going to take it up there on 17th July".
Yeoman Clerk at the Tower, Mr. John Herd said there have always been six ravens at the Tower since the reign of Charles II. "Legend says that without them, the British Empire would fall and the Tower of London would crumble to dust".
Mr Herd said the Resident governor of the Tower hopes to be able to welcome Colin and accept the Wentwood raven. He said the birds had an official meat allowance from the Government of 30 pence per bird per week.
The Wentwood raven will be a guest until one of the six dies. The oldest living raven on record lived to the age of 44, but they normally live between 10 and 20 years.
The Commission's contribution to the safety of the British Empire will be looked after by the Yeoman Warder and Quartermaster, Mr Jack Wilmington.
Several of the Tower's ravens have come from Scotland, but the last three have come from Wales.
Northern Research Station Resignation
Mr Donald K. Fraser, Silviculture Forester and Head Forester in charge of the South East Scotland Research area for the past 20 years has resigned to take up an appointment with the Economic Forestry Group based in Edinburgh.
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