Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 339 - February 1989
The scanned images of the Slasher were produced by and courtesy of the Forest Research library staff based at Alice Holt, Surry, where some of 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.
Doggone it … Where's the Snow
Despite the shortage of snow, over 100 dog teams and their followers were at Glenmore Forest Park in January for Britain’s largest Siberian husky dog rally. The event which has been running since 1983, attracts a great deal of interest and this year BBC's Blue Peter programme was there, filming one of their presenters, Mark Curry, taking part. John Evans, rally organiser and Chairman of the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain, said: “Husky dog racing is a fast-growing sport and it uses many FC forests. Glenmore is normally one of the best locations for snow but unfortunately, not this year”.
Picture: Husky dogs with their followers and fans at the rally.
Magic - Slasher Wins Again
Slasher has won a Certificate of Merit in the Editing for Industry Awards presented by The British Association of Industrial Editors. The award was for the April 1988 issue which featured the Glasgow Garden Festival and the FC’s Magic Garden. The judges remarked on a bright and cheerful paper, lively, bold design, eye-catching and striking use of colour photography with the emphasis firmly on the important role of people in the industry. Editor Roy Gregor thanked all contributors who help to maintain the high standard.
Long Term Sitka Policy Pays Off at Super Mill - We're Sprucing Up
Caledonian Paper’s £215m plant at Irvine, Ayrshire, is all set to meet its target of going into production in April. The mill will produce lightweight coated paper (LWC) widely used in magazines, catalogues and brochures, which has, until now, all been imported. Two years after the decision was taken by the Kymmene Corporation of Finland to build the giant mill on a 100 acre site, the first of the Forestry Commission's deliveries of logs arrived in the wood yard. This was the start of a daily 330 tonne supply, agreed under a ten year contract which commits the Commission to supply half the eventual annual requirements of 200,000 tonnes a year.
As the first lorries and rail wagons arrived, Toby Beadle, chief timber buyer for Caledonian Paper, said: “If it had not been for the Forestry Commission's post war plantings of spruce and their ability to guarantee supplies for the next ten years, there would be no mill in Irvine today. The quality of the timber is all important and the fibre length of the Scottish Sitka spruce that we sent for testing in Finland was four times that of the Scots pine and better than Finnish grown spruce.”
Pictures: (1) Some of the first FC timber arriving in Irvine. (2) Caledonian Paper’s new mill, on target for April.
Farming Scheme Growing A-Pace
Six hundred and fifty farmers have applied for grants under the new Farm Woodland Scheme, according to the Minister of Agriculture, John MacGregor, in a parliamentary answer. The applications involve 4,578 hectares of woodland. Although final figures are not yet available, applications to the Ministry indicate that broadleaved planting may account for around 75 per cent of the area planted across the country. The total applications applied for up to January 31 are: England 469 (2,902 hectares); Scotland 119 (1,329 hectares); Wales 18 (139 hectares); Northern Ireland 45 (208 hectares).
Imports Bill Up Again
Recent figures from Customs and Excise indicate a further increase in the UK import for timber and timber products from £5.9 billion in 1987 to £6.6 billion in 1988.
Bird Projects
Ian Prestt, Director General of the RSPB and Forestry Commission Director General Gwyn Francis visited Thetford Forest to study some of the joint FC/RSPB research projects, and review possible future joint projects on creating and improving bird habitats in the forest. In this centenary year of the RSPB, they discussed the success of the Thetford Bird Trail and future plans for bird conservation in the area. Thetford is of particular interest for species like the red-backed shrike, nightjar, woodlark and goshawk.
Picture: Ian Prestt and Gwyn Francis at Thetford.
Gale Damage
Storms that swept across Northern Scotland in mid February, with gusts up to 120 knots being recorded at some coastal spots, did not cause widespread damage to forests. Latest estimates put the windblow at 200,000 cubic metres in Forestry Commission Woodlands and 100,000 cubic metres in private woodlands. The areas which suffered most damage, were Easter Ross, Inverness, Moray and Kincardine and Buchan districts. Most of the damage occurred around clearfell sites and although it may represent up to 15 per cent of the normal Scottish timber harvest, no serious harvesting difficulties are anticipated and there should be no major effect on timber prices.
Let Everyone Know
Frazer Lindsay, Principal Information Officer, writes an article on promoting the work of the Forestry Commission and includes many statistics and the following advice.
During the coming year, the Forestry Commission will be concentrating much of its public information effort on three major areas of policy - our constant and successful efforts to improve the forest environment; our vast recreation opportunities; the case for an increasing home timber resource.
Public information is the responsibility of everyone in the Commission. The perceptions of the public can be formed by first impressions as well as carefully thought out policies. A welcoming response to telephone callers and the maintenance of good standards of vehicle cleanliness are just two examples of how individuals can do their bit.
Policy objectives of the Commission are set out in a number of published documents, but here is a quick reminder of just some of the tasks: To promote the interests of forestry and trees in the countryside; To increase the area of forest; To produce and supply timber and promote new wood using industries; To provide jobs, especially in remote areas; To protect and enhance the environment; To provide recreational facilities; To manage the estate economically and efficiently.
Picture: Frazer Lindsay.
Guide Lines on Woodland Grants
The Forestry Commission has produced a new set of guidance leaflets explaining the environmental standards required of applicants to the Woodland Grant Scheme. The introduction of the Grant Scheme last April gave the opportunity to set even higher environmental standards for the planning of new plantings. Now, anyone who submits an application for grant aid for new forestry planting may be required to undertake a formal assessment of the effects that the proposed planting would be expected to have on the environment before the Commission decides whether or not to make a grant.
Four leaflets offer advice on water protection, archaeological protection, landscape and nature conservation and open out into a full colour poster illustrating the main considerations.
Picture: The covers of the four leaflets.
Huge Response by Staff After Air Disaster
Forestry Commission staff were involved in the harrowing search for victims when the Pan Am Boeing 747 jet was blown up over Lockerbie in the Scottish Borders on 21st December 1988, killing all 259 passengers and crew and 11 people in the town. Commission workers in South Scotland and North England joined a massive search for bodies and debris scattered over an area that began in Rothbury Forest, North-east England and continued over the Kielder and Border Forests, ending in Lockerbie.
Joe Meechan, Lockerbie Manager, recalls: “It all started with the Christmas decorations shaking, then the houses, as shock waves developed ahead of the plane as it headed for the ground. Our worst fears were realised in seconds when the plane crashed following an explosion felt 15 miles away.” Arthur Barlow, Assistant Conservator (Operations), South Scotland, a representative on the Regional Emergencies Planning Consultative Group was called out and District Office staff at Lockerbie and Nithsdale were mobilised, working through the night with the emergency services. Lockerbie office staff were heavily involved in providing communications services; Rangers and other industrial staff helped rescue workers to clear debris. Chainsaw operators joined in to make safe roofs of houses damaged by the explosion.
In the days that followed, when it became clear that the search area was much more extensive than had first been thought, other FC personnel in the borders became deeply involved. Debris found in Kielder led to the setting up of a police control centre there with staff helping in office work and search efforts.
Throughout the search area there was an urgent need for maps and Mrs Ann Thomson, South Scotland Drawing Office Manager, whose home in Lockerbie was extensively damaged, produced over 6,000 copies of various maps, charts, diagrams and drawings required by emergency workers. Similar backup services were provided at Kielder and Rothbury.
Kielder District Manager, Bob McIntosh, reported: “During the main part of the search, 100 people were deployed daily and 27,000 hectares were searched, recovering 1,150 bags of debris, although other debris may remain in some canopies and in thicket stage crops.” Another early volunteer was Stan Tanner, FOIII, Nithsdale FD, a member of the Search and Rescue Dog Association. He was quickly on the scene with his border collie, Donna, which he handed over to another handler while he took on the role of SARDA controller / coordinator. Within two hours, 21 dogs were present and over the next week their assistance was invaluable.
In a letter to South Scotland Conservator Gordon Cowie, the chairman of Pan Am, Thomas Plaskett said: “I wish to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for the support and assistance you offered so unselfishly throughout the period after the bombing of our flight. It is sad that it took a tragedy of this magnitude for so many individuals and volunteer organisations, many of which were total strangers to each other, to come together in a strong bond to work as a team. Please accept our deepest appreciation for all your kindness and sincere efforts for all those whose lives were changed forever by the tragedy of Flight 103 over Lockerbie.”
While the people of the town try to erase the memory of that night, Joe Meechan and his staff are continuing to provide support. Together with other FC staff, they have raised £2,000 for the Lockerbie Relief Fund.
Pictures: (1) Volunteer Stan Tanner of Nithsdale, with his collie, one of an invaluable team of 21 dogs in the large-scale search. (2) Stan Tanner’s collie.
Answers Needed
Kenny Murray requests answers in his regular TUS Diary column and suggests disposals, which have realised over £118 million, should cease after the current policy “expires” on March 31. He also suggests the Government has a tailor-made solution to “Green” issues by ensuring the Forestry Commission is at the forefront of any initiative.
The TUS is opposing the proposal to delegate manpower control for mobile grades to Conservators.
Bull's-Eye Boys
Forestry Commission marksmen have won a shoot-out against 21 other teams. Frank Clough, Brian Mahony and Roger Hodge from York, won through to the final of the Malton Cup for the second year running, and this time were on target, beating last year's winners Ryedale ATC.
How the Message of Peace is Spread From Italy to Scotland
Children involved in an FC project in the Scottish Borders have helped to spread the message of peace with nature to Italy. Last March, 400 children from 35 nations gathered in Assisi, Italy, for the first Children's International Spring Festival. As a symbol of their hope, each child planted a tree on the slopes of St Francis’s Mountain, Mount Subasio.
Helping to send this message were ten children who attend the Burnfoot Project in Hawick. For several years on their own patch, they have been busy learning about conservation and planting their own wildlife garden. They had produced a video expressing their hopes for a greener future entitled “Return to Paradise”, which they took to Assisi. There the group spent a day with David Bellamy, exploring St Francis’s retreat known as the Hermitage. During a ramble among the oak trees, talks turned to acorns and David explained the differences between Italian and Scottish oak trees. The FC responded to an idea of planting acorns in Hawick to make a wood, which would be a twin to the grove on Subasio. Fifty Scottish oak trees were provided by the FC, which the children planted in Wauchope Forest. The children’s forest forms part of an important development at the Hells Hole conservation area which adjoins Crag Bank national nature reserve.
The Commission coordinated the work, which has involved The Nature Conservancy Council, the Scottish Conservation Projects, and now the children of Burnfoot. The project leader, Chris Archer, said: “Going to Assisi was an experience of a lifetime for the children. We will be sending photographs of the tree planting day to our Italian friends, the Gabbiani Conservation Group. They will see us in action wearing Gabbiani uniforms, which they kindly gave us. Conservation must begin at home and the Burnfoot children are showing the way forward.”
Local FC staff Tom Gough, Chris Rider and Harry Jackson said they were delighted by the children's enthusiasm and commitment.
Pictures: (1) Children of the Burnfoot Project show off the garb they received from their Italian friends. (2) The children with some of the FC staff. (3) Another Scottish oak is planted.
Neil Tops Again for Second Year
For the second year in succession, Neil McKechnie, Apprentice Plant Fitter at Glenbranter Repair Depot, has won the Apprentice of the Year award at Springburn College.
Picture: Alistair McLachlan, foreman at Glenbranter; Neil McKechnie and his father, the storeman at the depot.
New Conservator for the West and Other Appointments
Roger Busby is to become Conservator, West England in July, when John Fletcher retires after 36 years with the Commission. Roger has been Operations Manager at Bristol since 1985. He joined the Commission in 1962 and has specialised in forest economics and planning, and has completed several projects overseas for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. In the early 1980s, he pioneered the Commission’s approach to fire fighting using helicopters in South Wales. He has been actively involved with “Tree Aid” as the charity’s technical advisor since 1987.
Picture: Roger Busby.
Arthur Barlow will succeed Roger Busby as Operations Manager at Bristol. Arthur will move from South Scotland Conservancy HQ at Dumfries. He joined the Commission in 1958 and trained as a Forester at the Forest of Dean Training School, then worked at Alice Holt before graduating with honours in forestry from Aberdeen University in 1971. Arthur’s career continued in various Districts until he was appointed Assistant Conservator, Dumfries. Since 1976, he has advised the Government of St Helena on forestry.
Donald Thompson, South Conservancy, has been appointed Principal Silviculturist from 17th April.
Cave - Batty Tales
To encourage bat roosting, staff at Llanrwst District in North Wales built a lake and a hibernacle, an artificial bat cave, in Newborough Forest. The cave is to serve as winter accommodation during hibernation. Ideal conditions are a constant cool temperature and humidity, with a deep and long structure so that temperature variations outside don't affect inside. As much as possible, draughts are excluded and checks are made on humidity conditions. Bat boxes in Newborough Forest have attracted brown long eared and pipistrelle bats, and it is hoped that next winter they can be enticed to move into purpose built hibernation accommodation. The majority of bat species in Britain live in, or around forests, feeding on insects by trees and clearings, and roosting in tree holes. Some species, such as the noctule, still prefer tree holes, but other bats have learned to use artificial structures such as buildings and bridges.
The Forestry Commission has been working with a number of conservation groups around the country to encourage bat roosting. In 1985, Fife Bat Group erected its first bat boxes in two Scots pine plantations in Tentsmuir Forest. Over the years, more than 500 boxes have been placed around Fife with more than 60 per cent having been occupied. The boxes are placed, three to a tree, all at the same height. One faces North, the others face South-east and South-west. This provides different kinds of environment. If a bat is in the South-east facing box on a sunny day, it may become too hot for comfort. Other boxes close by mean it can fly into a cooler box quickly. This leaves it less vulnerable to attack by sparrowhawks, or other enemies. Three of the four species known to breed in Scotland have taken up residence in the Fife boxes - pipistrelle, natterer's and brown long eared bats. After establishing themselves within the artificial roosts, some bats explore their new environment. Released from one box, a group of natterer’s bats flew directly to a hole in a nearby alder, which became Fife's first known natural roost.
Cannock Forest in Staffordshire has also been successful with bat boxes. One of Britain's rarest bats, the leisler, has established a breeding colony there. Only four other nursing colonies of leislers are known to exist in Britain. Considered to be a ‘true forest bat’, they live and feed totally within forests. A quick flyer, the leisler needs plenty of space to fly so appreciates careful forest management providing open areas. The obvious popularity of the bat boxes shows that bats can live and breed in coniferous plantations.
Picture: An artificial bat cave in Newborough Forest, North Wales.
Outings for the Retired
A list of outings for the North England Forestry Commission Retirement Association.
The East England representatives.
Little Grey Home in the West
Richard Illingworth, Chief Land Agent, based at HQ, writes about his house in Achaglachgach.
Nest Boxes for Barn Owls
The barn owl nestbox project run by Newton Stewart Forest District last year yielded excellent results. With a high vole population, the owls responded by occupying 30 boxes. Of these 30 pairs, all but one had eggs, an increase from 1987 of 22 pairs. At least 50 per cent of the nesting birds were first-year, breeding for the first time. Over 60 young were reared from the boxes.
With 74 box sites available during 1988, 14 pairs of tawny owls used them for breeding purposes, both barn and tawny owls nested close together at certain sites, without any effect on barn owl success.
Doug at the Helm in America's Cup
Doug Yeats, H&M Forester, Buchan Forest District is spearheading a challenge for the 1991 America’s Cup, the blue ribband of sailing. He is raising the £12 million of funds necessary to set up a suitable headquarters for the bid, made by the Royal Findhorn Yacht Club based on the Moray Firth. Doug has been a member of the club for 15 years and has been involved in previous long distance sea ventures including setting up the Banff-Stavanger race, but nothing on the scale of taking on the might of the 11 competing nations in the America’s Cup, which includes America, Russia, Japan and Australia. Doug has been granted a three-year secondment from the Forestry Commission. Now comes the business of high level meetings with possible financial backers, Government agencies and others who will be involved in the lead up to the design and construction of two identical boats. The first will be launched in the spring of next year.
Picture: Doug Yeats from Buchan who will lead Scotland’s first challenge for over 100 years.
Wykeham's Wonders Plan 12 Million Plants a Year
Expansion plans at Wykeham Nursery on the North Yorkshire Moors will take production from the current 8 million plants to 10 million in 1991 and 12 million in 1995. The 54 hectare nursery has 32 miles of seedbed which adds up to 256 miles of seedlings, 90 per cent precision sown. Plus another 6.2 hectares which has already been clearfelled and grubbed for stump removal in preparation for cultivation operations which will create the seedbed tilth necessary for nursery operations. Due to the expansion programme and the overall need to provide production and research plots with irrigation facilities, a 5-million gallon reservoir has been created. Last year, scientists from 15 countries were there as part of a four-day conference at York University for 130 delegates of the International Union of Forest Research Organisations. John Aldhous, Head of Silviculture Division, told delegates the emphasis must be on the production of uniform plants that would meet the demands of commercial afforestation. Other speakers stressed the need for improved packaging, handling and transport of plants. Manager Bill Bartholomew said the aim is to provide young plants that will go on to give faster growth in commercial forests and will provide enhanced timber values.
Pictures: (1) Rows of young plants, the eventual aim at Wykeham is 12 million plants a year. There is room for 256 miles of seedlings at the nursery. (2) The new 5 million gallon reservoir at Wykeham.
Delamere Milestone Praised
Long term plans to meet future planting programmes with supplies of high quality plants capable of uniform performance, have led to expansion at the Forestry Commission's Delamere and Wykeham nurseries. Improvements in direct drilling techniques and the establishment of vegetative propagation for rapid multiplication of potentially high yielding, selective strains, have shown a need for greater centralisation of plant production.
While nurseries at Tulliallan (Kincardine), Dornoch (Sutherland), Bareagle (Wigtownshire) and Fleet (Kirkcudbrightshire) will eventually be phased out, other centres will be updated and provided with facilities that will improve the growing and handling of plants. The latest phase in the development at Delamere Nursery, Cheshire, was the opening of a £270,000 cold store and grading unit. The building was opened by Wilf Nicholas, Ganger, who said “It not only gives us greater flexibility, but also vastly improved working conditions for the graders, and a capability for mechanical handling.”
Initial targets for this project suggested that over a six year cycle, each seed from selected strains of Sitka spruce would produce 200 to 300 plants. During the last season, Delamere managed to achieve 400 plants per seed. Cuttings are harvested by a skilled team of contractors during a four week period in February / March. The cuttings are rooted in the polyhouses before transplanting in the 33 hectare open nursery at Abbots Moss. The main nursery has the capacity for a programme of 8.2 million plants per year. More than half are Sitka spruce and the balance includes 860,000 Douglas fir; 580,000 Japanese larch; 400,000 Noble fir; 400,000 Corsican pine; plus Norway spruce, Scots pine and hybrid larch. In addition there are 1 million broadleaves.
Forest District Manager Arthur Miller said “This is the only Commission nursery where you will see the four major production methods: cuttings, containers, precision sowing and transplants. We are gearing up for a programme of 14-15 million plants.”
The Forestry Commission is also in the process of acquiring a further nursery site of 52 hectares, based on an old sand quarry. It is planned to fence, rip and cultivate the area during the summer and to start transplanting 6 million plants in the late autumn.
Delamere Forest, soon to be made into a Forest Park, covers 900 hectares and produces 8000 cubic metres of timber per year. It is a forest that is extremely popular with 250,000 visitors per year from Cheshire and the urban areas of Liverpool and Manchester. In addition to woodland walks and picnic areas, Delamere contains a cycleway, a trail for the disabled, a soils trail and fragile sites where there are sphagnum moss rafts, being carefully managed by the Forestry Commission.
This year has seen another milestone at Delamere. Having been involved in the planting of motorway verges since the early days of that policy, it is now harvesting its first 25 year old thinnings. Geoff McGowan, Head Forester in charge of the motorway unit, said “Not only is motorway planting becoming established, but also a wide range of wildlife has become settled within these planted areas, as many travellers will have noticed”.
Pictures: (1) The new carousel sorting unit in action at Delamere. (2) The old plastic shed where the work rate could be affected by the elements. (3) Exterior of the new cold store at Delamere. As District Manager Arthur Miller said, the store and carousel system are “a definite milestone” in the development of the centre. (4) Men at work. Thinnings on the motorway verges, fruits of a far-seeing policy. (5) Wilf Nicholas, Ganger at Delamere, who officially opened the new cold store and sorting unit.
Biggest Tunnel of its Type - Northern Research Station
Bill Brown, FOII, reports on two new polythene tunnels which are being erected by the Tree Improvement Branch at their Northern Research Station. One of the tunnels is the widest single span tunnel in Britain, where trees will be grown to improve and expand the branch programme for future seed production. The “Ultrastock” tunnel is 16 metres wide, 20 metres long and 5.6 metres high. Initially containerized Sitka spruce and larch grafts, taken from genetically superior parent material, will be grown in this semi-controlled environment, with other species possibly being grown in the future. The containerised stock will be grown to a height of approximately 4.5 to 5 metres over a four to five year period, during which time they will be pruned into shape to provide the maximum number of possible flowering points. They will also be subjected to various stress treatments, such as drought and girdling along with chemical injection treatments, which all help to promote flowering. Controlled pollinations will then be carried out by isolating the female flowers and injecting pollen from good male parents when the females are receptive. The seed obtained from this method will be of a specific cross where both parents are known. The resulting seedlings (progenies) from the specific crosses, will then be tested in forest stage progeny trials on various sites throughout Britain. These sites have been designed to test the progenies under different soil and climatic conditions over a 10-15 year period.
Pictures: The new structures at the Northern Research Station, the biggest tunnel of its type in Britain and the framework which will be mounted on a rail system.
Better Late Than Never
In February, when everyone was completing their final returns from the Christmas tree sales campaign, Llanrwst Forest District received a request to supply a 7-8 ft pine. The order came from a woman in Holyhead, Anglesey, whose builders had not been able to meet their promise of providing entry to her new home in November. But she was determined that her new home should celebrate Christmas, complete with tree and decorations, even though it was six weeks past.
The Oil Oasis
Recent interest in onshore oil wells has resulted in an exploratory oil/gas borehole being drilled in Lothian and Tweed Forest District, South Scotland Conservancy, in the Woodmuir plantation, about 10 miles from Lanark.
After early problems, due to unstable ground conditions on this former opencast site (thousands of gallons of water are needed each day for the drilling mud), drilling progressed around the clock at a steady rate of between 12 and 20 ft an hour to a depth of approximately 4,000 feet, but no worthwhile oil or gas reserves were discovered. Within one kilometre of the borehole site, there are leases to a private drift-mine producing almost 1,000 tonnes of coal a week, with a lifetime of over 20 years; a large poultry litter processing plant; and a radio antenna site.
Picture: The rig erected on site by Kelt UK Ltd.
How Iceland is Branching Out
An article by Roger Lines about his trip to Iceland to find out about the work of the Icelandic Forestry Association, which has 6,000 members and manages two large forests, mainly for recreation.
Pictures: (1) A greenhouse of the Icelandic Forestry Association in Reykjavik which has three-month old LP seedlings. It is heated mainly by hot water pumped from geothermal sources. (2) Typical Icelandic birch which grew up after fencing in 1912. (3) P59 Lodgepole pine with natural regeneration in the foreground. Lodgepole pine sample plot P40 from Smithers.
Accolades for Grizedale
The redevelopment of the Visitor Centre at Grizedale has won two commendations in award schemes.
In the Civic Trust Awards for 1988, the judges said: “A great many creative activities are brought together at Grizedale Forest Park, and this new Visitor Centre is typical of the inventive approach of the enthusiastic organisers. Rather than simply replicate the strong ‘Arts and Crafts’ character of the earlier buildings, their architects have brought a totally fresh new idiom to the form of the latest. The simple design solution is highly successful - once a collection of ‘ad hoc’ buildings, the centre has now acquired a strong identity grouped around a new paved yard.”
At the Science Museum in South Kensington, London, in January, Forest District Manager John Voysey, and Bob Jones, who was responsible for the new interpretive display, were presented with a Carnegie Interpret Britain Awards commendation by Lord Montague of Beaulieu, Chairman of British Heritage. In the judges opinion, it is “a new interpretive exhibition in a centre which achieves a high overall standard with a well-designed and laid-out display and entertaining computer programmes.”
Picture: Lord Montague presenting the Carnegie Interpret Britain Awards commendation.
Two Important Dates
The Mid-Wales Yomp is set for 3-4 June and the Kielder Folk Festival is on 11-13 August.
Invasion of the 2000
In the run up to Christmas, Gwent FD were hosts to 29 schools from Gwent and Avon when about 2,100 children and minders invaded the Christmas tree sale point at Wentwood to see their trees being felled. Refreshment sales raised £500 of which £400 went to the Save the Children Fund and £50 each went to Llanvaches Church Fund and Tree Aid.
Christmas Winners
Fourteen winners – one from each forest district – were presented with a tree of their choice and decorations for it in Wales Conservancy’s Christmas Competition, which took the form of questions on all forestry topics.
A Story With a Sting in Its Tale
John Gulliver, a New Forest Keeper, won through to the final in the Environment Award Scheme run by The Times and BBC's PM programme. But it is unlikely that he will get many followers for his hobby - hornets. Since childhood days, John, 37, has been fascinated by the special behaviour of ants, bees and wasps but graduated to hornets after meeting a retired ornithologist, Dr Gilbert Nixon, who lived nearby in Ashurst. He helped to remove nests that would have been destroyed by people who regard the hornet as the worst of our flying stingers. Following the death of Dr Gilbert, John has become regarded as the New Forest’s resident hornet handler, removing nests from roofs, sheds and picnic sites and taking them to safer sites. The local pest control officers, residents and foresters call on him 15 to 20 times a year to remove broods. He sees this as more of a service to the hornets, whose population has been seriously depleted by persecution and loss of habitat.
He has been stung innumerable times by bees and believes he is probably immune to hornet stings, although they can deliver a nasty belt of poison. Hornets are more likely to avoid stinging you than a bee or a wasp, but at three times the size of these others, it certainly carries heavy artillery.
Retired
Tom Griffin, Ranger, Lockerbie, has retired after 37 years service with the Commission. He joined the Commission following War service in Europe and the Far East as a Royal Commando and a brief spell as a private estate keeper. Tom’s farewell get together was overshadowed by the Lockerbie air disaster which occurred only two days previously.
Jimmy Mitchell, Loch Awe, has retired after 49 years’ service with the Commission in the Loch Awe district, mainly on the Eredine section.
Charlie Mitchell, Loch Awe, has retired after 36 years’ service with the Commission.
Pictures: (1) District Manager Peter Quelch, Jimmy Mitchell and Charlie Mitchell with their 93-year-old mother. (2) Jimmy Mitchell, Stan Maule (ex Head Forester at Eredine), Peter Quelch and Ganger Alister McVean.
Mike Whitlock, Database Manager, Forest Surveys, Alice Holt, has retired after 40 years’ service with the Commission. Mike started his career in South West England, moving to Working Plans section in 1961. Since 1974 he had responsibility for the subcompartment database.
Picture: Mike Whitlock with Survey Officer Alan Betts.
John Chapman, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, has retired after 34 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission in 1954 and served with the Education Branch, Director’s Office, England, the old NE and SE England Conservancies, before leading the office team in the New Forest Deputy Surveyor’s office, since 1985. He was the past Secretary of the New Forest Consultative Panel and was Secretary to the New Forest Review Group.
Alex Forbes, Moray Forest District N(S), has retired after 49 years’ service with the Commission. He started his career thatching and planting in the Culbin sands. For many years he was a Ganger in harvesting, latterly transferring to Stores / Handyman duties.
Picture: Alex Forbes with his Long Service certificate, Assistant Conservator Operations N(S), Mr A.F. Mackay; Jacquie Forsyth, Typist; Myra Young, AO; and Mrs Forbes.
Angus Macrae, Ganger, Wester Ross, North Scotland, has retired after 38 years’ service with the Commission. Angus, who works a large productive croft, is President of the Scottish Crofters Union.
Andy Murdoch, Mabie Forest, Nithsdale District, has retired after 22 years’ service with the Commission. For many years, he had been responsible for the maintenance of all public facilities, plus the Conservancy Office gardens in Moffat Road.
Warren Henman, Llandovery, has retired after 38 years’ service with the Commission. He joined the Commission as a Forest Worker at Charlton Forest, and later entered Bangor University where he obtained an Honours degree in forestry in 1955. He spent 10 years working on research, mostly in Edinburgh, before he moved to Oswestry, where he was promoted to DFO 1 in 1967 and stayed until his transfer to Aberfoyle. In 1982 he was in charge of Llandovery District, then Brechfa Forest District.
Picture: Warren Henman.
Donald Jones, Llandovery District, has retired after 36 years’ service with the Commission in the same district.
Picture: Donald Jones and his wife Glenys with friends and colleagues in Llandovery.
David Legge, has retired after 39 years’ service with the Commission. He began at Mortimer before going to Gwydyr Forester Training School, followed by a few years at Dyfi and Clocaenog. The last 26 years were spent in Ystwyth (now part of Aberystwyth Forest District), and was employed on forest management.
Picture: David Legge with Conservator John Morgan.
Evan John Jones, Ganger, Aberystwyth District, has retired. He served in the old Aeron Forest for over 29 years, the last 10 years as a Ganger. He was involved in all stages of forest management operations in most of the areas.
Jimmy Coutts, from the old E(S) part of N(S), who left the Commission, came back, left, came back again, has finally left for good. He joined the Commission in 1937 in the Cabrach area of Clashindarroch Forest (now part of Buchan FD). When he returned for the third time in 1965, he was a Mobile Tractorman and became well known from Forres to Fife.
Obituaries
Ken Townsend DFM, BSc, FIC For., former District Officer has died. After suffering serious wounds and being a POW during the War, he graduated from Edinburgh University in 1948, joined the Commission the following year and was in charge of forestry in Kintyre and the Islands of Islay and Jura from 1951-1965. He was transferred to East Scotland and served there in various capacities, particularly as Planning Officer for forest recreational facilities until 1977, when he retired.
Bill Stott, former Head Forester E and SW, has died aged 73. He joined the Commission in 1948 and worked in East England, then Honiton Forest SW, before leaving in 1971 to become First Warden at Sandwell Valley, a country park in West Midlands.
Horace Burnett, former Craftsman, Brendon Forest, has died aged 78. He worked for the Nettlecombe Estate for 30 years before joining the Commission in 1955 and working on extraction operations in West Somerset. Later he worked on FM operations, with his son-in-law Jack Croucher, who still works in West Somerset. Horace retired in 1975.