Lorne Forest District Map – Former Glencoe Forest Area updated to 1991 – Map 2
The map was recovered from a shed at Newton Nursery which acted as a storage area for Forest Research who used the maps to locate forest and tree experiments in the field.
Keith Miller (Former Lorne Forest District Manager) writes:
“This map covers what were called Brecklet (above Ballachulish Village) and also Glencoe Hospital block. These bits were unambiguously parts of the original Glencoe Forest initiated in 1950 and here allocated the 3400 series of Compartment numbers. “
Note the early planting years of 1952 onwards in the Hospital block but also the retained acquired Scots pine areas aged as from 1875 and also 1914. Glencoe Forest planting appears to have moved onto the Brecklet area as early as 1963 and 1964 onwards planting up into the steep challenging slopes Gleann an Fhiodh area. Part of the same area extended over the ridge and dropped down towards the River Coe and the A82 public road through Glencoe. A camping and caravan site was established in Compartment No 3460 possibly around 1973? Note also the small detached area south east of the Mountain Rescue Base and annotated as Compartment No 3461 planted mainly in 1955 and 1959.
Keith has also mentioned another part of Glencoe Forest - Black Corries – possibly acquired around or pre 1966. “It was an ill-fated acquisition way out on Rannoch Moor near the Blackwater range. Very poor ground, so bad we never attempted to plant it, but did a couple of 'trial plantations' beside the main road where it rises over the top of Rannoch Moor. It is all cut down now I think as it demonstrated that we had over-reached ourselves in that hostile ground”. Perhaps also there was a view that the wild rugged openness of the high part of the moor was compromised by the ‘softening’ brought on by growing trees!
Historical records name Foresters stationed at Glen Coe Forest as: 1950 - D Carmichael; 1965 - C J MacPhee, Head Forester and R M Murray, Forester.
Any more details and names would be very welcome - See large image link below