Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 328 - April 1987
The scanned images of the Slasher were produced by and courtesy of the Forest Research library staff based at Alice Holt, Surry, where the original copies are 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 2009.
Jack Rebbeck - Avid Reader of “Slasher”
Eighty-nine year old Jack Rebbeck who worked at Savernake and West Woods from 1941-1962 is still an avid reader of “Slasher”.
Picture: Jack Rebbeck reading “Slasher”.
Super Spruce Attraction for Industry
A tree planting ceremony marked the start of building work at Irvine in Ayrshire, on the new £215 million Caledonian Paper mill, a subsidiary of the Kymmene-Stromberg Corporation of Finland. At the planting ceremony, Lord Glenarthur, Minister of State, Scottish Office, said the availability of 200,000 tonnes of timber a year, 50% from the Forestry Commission, had led to the decision to establish the plant in West Scotland.
To coincide with the official start of construction at Irvine, the Forestry Commission published “Sitka Spruce - the Super Tree”, a booklet setting out the impact that Sitka has had on British forestry since it was first introduced from North America in 1831. Steve Quigley, Director, Harvesting and Marketing said it produces good quality sawlogs from which sawn timber for the construction market can be produced.
Picture: Lord Glenarthur, Scottish Office, and Mr Casimir Ehrnrooth, Chief Executive, Kymmene Stromberg at the Irvine tree planting ceremony.
Farm Woodland Scheme
Widespread interest is aroused by the Government's proposed Farm Woodland Scheme, which aims at 36,000 hectares of planting in its first three years starting in 1988.
The scheme’s aims are: To divert land from agricultural production and thereby assist in the diminution of agricultural surpluses; To enhance the landscape, to create new wildlife habitats, to encourage recreational use, including sport, and to expand tourist interest; To contribute to supporting farm income and rural employment; To encourage greater interest in timber production from farms; To contribute to the UK's timber requirements in the long term.
Notes From Westminster
In the House of Commons, Robert Maclennan asked the Secretary of State for Scotland about the Forestry Commission’s advice on conifer planting distances, including the distance of conifer planting from main water courses. In reply, John Mackay said the Forestry Commission’s advice on this matter is published in its leaflet “The Management of Forest Streams”, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Baroness Jeger asked HM Government why a felling licence was granted for Tyrrel’s Wood in Norfolk although the area includes a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an area of ancient woodland. In reply, Lord Belstead, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, said permission was given for some felling and restocking by the Forestry Commission in 1986. This followed consultations and agreement with the Nature Conservancy Council and the local authority.
Ron Davis asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, several questions on planting by the Forestry Commission in areas including the flow country of Sutherland and Caithness.
Timber Topics
John Oakley gives the reasons why auctions are a major plan in the Forestry Commission’s marketing strategy.
Picture: John Oakley.
Foresters' Protest - Action Lobby at HQ
Over 400 foresters from all over Britain gathered at HQ on 11th March to protest over certain issues regarding the pay and working conditions of forest officers. John Sheldon, General Secretary, Civil Service Union, gave details of the dispute. Director General Gwyn Francis spent an hour in the HQ forecourt talking to foresters.
Picture: The protestors at HQ.
We're Sailing
Details of the Civil Service Sailing Association.
John's Essay Wins
The winning entrant in the 1987 Forestry Commission Essay Competition is 23 year old John Andrew Townsend, a second-year forestry student at Aberdeen University.
An essay submitted by 11 year old Victoria Todrayner from Lower Gresham in Norfolk, attracted special praise. In recognition of her efforts, she is to spend a day in Thetford Forest as the Forestry Commission’s honoured guest, where she will be shown a day in the life of a forester.
Head Ranger Appointed
Robin Khan has been appointed as Head Ranger (Conservation) covering Avon, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
Picture: Robin Khan.
Trade Union Team Had the Answers
The winners of the Sports and Social Club Shield were the Trade Union Side team with the Data Processing Division runners-up.
Picture: Richard Green; Boyd Glen; Stuart Fletcher; David Stewart, captain of DPD. The winning team Ken Murray, captain; Ted Radford; Jan Anderson; Cathy Conway,
The Kenavo Sailing Crabber
Three masts and six spars have been felled in the Forest of Dean for the Kenavo, built in France in 1948 as a sailing Crabber, and now being renovated as a late 19th century two masted schooner to be used mainly in film work.
Picture: Felling in the Forest of Dean.
Charity Drive Raises £2,678
Brian Atwell, Welfare Officer, reports Forestry Commission staff raised over £1,678 on behalf of the Civil Service Benevolent Fund, to which the Forestry Commission added a contribution of £1,000. General collections raised over £1,008 and the remainder was raised by individuals in sponsored events, namely, from HQ Keith Ball, Ewen Cameron, Garry Duncan and Bill MacLauchlan raised £417 by running in the Edinburgh Marathon, David Niven raised over £101 by joining in Operation Pipeline from Berwick to Dunbar. Carol Derrick, Iris Jenkins, husband Eddie Jenkins, Mike Little and Elfed Parry of Aberystwyth raised £152 in a sponsored walk.
EYE Projects
The Forestry Commission is finalising details of over 50 projects being undertaken as its contribution to the European Year of the Environment.
Surprise Backfires
When Area Land Agent Mr K. Firth (Llandovery Forest District) plotted to surprise Conservancy Land Agent Mr D. I. Williams, the tables were turned.
Picture: Mr K. Firth meets “Miss Whiplash” Sarah Poley, Conservancy Office Wales.
Get Snapping
A photographic exhibition is being organised in conjunction with Pentax, with the Pentax Compact Automatic PC 333 Camera as the prize.
Action Plan for Isle of Arran - Amenity Projects Will Aid Tourism
On the Scottish island of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, a new industry has come into production and it has led to another. With the first commercial harvesting of thinnings by the Forestry Commission and the virtual completion of plantings, the ten strong squad on Arran are turning their attention to more detailed work on conservation and recreation. Cowal Forest District Manager Bob Selmes gives the details, and the man in charge is local man Kerr Robertson. He is assisted by ranger Bob Logan in encouraging hawks, buzzards and eagles to the island in an effort to control the population of voles. Damage by squirrels and deer is also a problem.
Pictures: (1) The first timber leaves Arran bound for Ardrossan in Ayrshire. (2) Larry Keeney, Andy Currie and Robin Irving work on a footpath. (3) Kerr Robertson beside an old Scots pine previously surrounded by dense rhododendrons. (4) Dhepin Falls, soon to be a more accessible beauty spot. (5) The workers have a break at a picnic table.
Help for the Barn Owl
Details of nest-box projects in Scotland for owls using plastic drums.
Pictures: (1) A vertical drum in a position in a tree. (2) A young barn owl reared in a nest box. (3) A diagram of the drum nestbox.
Retired
Lloyd Jones, Aberystwyth Forest District, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission in 1954 when planting and nursery work were the major winter jobs. When production started in the 1960s, he operated extraction winches and drove tractors for haulage of timber. In latter years, he was the handyman.
Picture: Forester David Legge with Lloyd Jones surrounded by colleagues.
Mrs Mary Clark, Clerical Officer, Forest of Dean has retired after 20 years’ service. She joined the Commission in 1967. When the School closed in 1971, she took up an appointment as CO at Crown Office in Coleford, where she continued until her retirement.
Picture: Mary Clark presented with a watch by Roger Busby, acting Conservator.
Arthur Ross, Mid Scotland, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission. During the past 12 years, he has been the Welfare Officer for the Conservancy.
Brian Tipping, A&FO, West England Conservancy, has retired.
Ian Mathew, Mechanical Engineer, West England Conservancy, has retired.
Owen Jones BEM, Forest Craftsman, Gwydyr, has retired after 50 years’ service with the Commission at Gwydyr. He spent most of his career on harvesting duties. Owen was awarded the BEM in the New Year Honours List in 1983. He has been a Branch Secretary of the TGWU for many years and is an active member of the Maelgwyn Male Voice Choir.
Picture: Owen Jones and his wife.
Jim Chelmick, Forest Craftsman, Marches Forest District, has retired after 46 years’ service with the Commission.
Joe Rhead, Foreman Mechanic, Tintern Workshop, has retired after 35 years’ service with the Commission.
Glyn Hughes, Aberystwyth Forest District, has retired after 29 years’ service with the Commission, all at the Tarenig beat of the now Aberystwyth Forest District.
Jack Hope, Llandrindod Forest District, has retired after 37 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission at Coed Sarnau and has spent his career on forest management.
Bob Kemp, New Forest, has retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission at Mendip in 1947, attended the Dean School from 1949-1951 and remained in the Forest until he went to Education Branch in 1953 for 24 years as an Instructor, first at Gwydyr, then in the Borders. He moved to the New Forest in 1977 to take charge of Harvesting and Marketing.
Ron Evans, Forester, Forest Survey Branch, Banchory, has retired after 38 years’ service with the Commission. He worked at Tillyfoure and Kirkhill before going to Glentress Training School, after which he was posted to Shin and other North Scotland postings. In 1976, Ron joined the Field Survey Branch, as it was then, and moved to Banchory in charge of the local team.
Ritchie Jones, has retired after 32 years’ service with the Commission. He began working in Taliesin Forest which, with other areas added to, it is now Rheidol Forest.
Jack Moffat, Forest Craftsman, Glentrool Beat, Newton Stewart Forest District, has retired after joining the Commission at Kirroughtree Nursery in 1940. After War service, he returned to the Commission in 1948 at Glentrool. He has worked on all management duties and harvesting work.
Mike Locke, has retired. On joining the Commission in 1948, he worked on the Census of Woodlands. He has spent his entire career on various facets of survey and census work.
Picture: Mike Locke with Commissioner David Foot.
Kenny Munro, Lael Section of the Easter Ross Forest District, has retired after 37 years’ service with the Commission and eight previous years as a juvenile Forest Worker.
Picture: Kenny Munro with colleagues at his retirement presentation at the Braemore Hall.
Raymond Dinnell (Bud Dinnell), has retired after 31 years’ service with the Commission. Most of his work was as a Mobile Operator and he was well known throughout South Scotland.
Picture: Conservator George Taylor presents Bud Dinnell with his Long Service certificate.
Bob Hughes, Ruthin Forest District, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission. His early years were spent on establishment work, including planting a crop of Omorika spruce in Castle wood, Ruthin, which is now thought to be one of the best stands in Britain.
Picture: Bob Hughes at his retirement presentation with Assistant Conservator Gwyn Hughes.
Obituary
Sandy Rose MBE, former Head Forester, has died aged 81. He joined the Commission in 1923, working in the Heldon and Newton areas of Morayshire. After War service, he rejoined the Commission in Perthshire. In the following 23 years, he was involved in developments such as the Ledmore plough, seed drilling and undercutting equipment, which paved the way for extensive forestry developments. Sandy was known for his model nurseries which were an attraction at the Royal Highland Show from 1949-1969. He retired from the Commission in 1969 and was awarded the MBE.