Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 5 - May 1948
The scanned images of the Slasher were produced by and courtesy of the Forest Research Data and Information Team staff based at Roslin, where some of the original copies are located. The Forestry England Information Knowledge Management Team and New Forest Heritage made available copies of The Slasher from their collections. Brian Mahony of the FC Retirement Association devised and coordinates the Slasher Project and has been instrumental in locating many missing editions and coordinating the searches to locate all the earlier publication numbers.
The content summary below was again very kindly compiled by Diane Birkett, Bedfordshire. See PDF attachment link below the text summary to view the full document. A total of over 420 issues or publications were produced between January 1948 and the final publication in 2010.
The Implacable Enemy
The number of forest fires reported in the last six months as having caused, or threatened to cause, damage to Commission plantations has greatly exceeded that of any previous corresponding period.
There were 625 reported outbreaks, the area burnt being 770 acres, equivalent in terms of growth to 8,200 acre-years. The financial loss, including the cost of extinguishing the fires, was £18,500.
On average, 25 per cent of the total outbreaks in a forest year occur during the first six months, and if this percentage was repeated in 1948 it means there would be about 1,800 fires between April and September - 2,400 in all in the year.
Details of fires in the six months (to 31st March) are as follows: England, 178 fires, 675 acres burnt, loss £15,800; Scotland, 300 fires, 60 acres burnt, loss £1,600; Wales, 147 fires, 35 acres burnt, loss £1,100.
Of the total fires, 20 caused damage in excess of £100 and four resulted in loss exceeding £1,000. The worst was that at Ringwood at Easter, during which 329 acres were destroyed, the loss being £8,000. Next biggest blaze was at Kielder, where 114 acres were burnt and the loss was £2,085; this fire occurred just before the Easter period. Both at Ringwood and Kielder, fire spread from adjoining land, the original causes being unknown.
Of the 625 fires reported, 176 were on adjoining land or spread therefrom while 32 were known to have been caused by members of the public.
Queen of the Forest
A recent newspaper article was illustrated with photographs which showed, among a bevy of attractive young ladies, 19-year old Sheila Davies at work in the Aberfoyle district. Sheila is beauty queen of Perthshire and, it is understood, competitor for the title of "'Miss Scotland'. Before taking up forestry work she was employed in an insurance office in Glasgow.
The Northerwood Courses
A programme of instructional courses is planned at Northerwood House, in the New Forest.
May 3-8 (inclusive), British Silviculture, ex-India and Burma recruits; May 31 - June 5, Aerial Photographs and the Census, District Officers; June 7-12, Management, District Officers, Grade 1; June 14-19, Care of Mechanical Equipment, Senior Foresters; June 29 - July 1, Forestry Education, Education Officers; Sept. 15-22, Utilisation, State Forest Officers, etc.; Oct, 4-16, Estate Forestry, Landowners and Estate Agents; Oct. 18-23, Nursery Practice, District Officers; Nov. 1-6, Nursery Practice, Nursery Foresters and Foremen; Nov. 15-20, Management, Junior District Officers, etc.; Nov. 29 - Dec. 4, Care of Mechanical Equipment, Senior Foresters; Dec. 6-11, Nursery Practice. Nursery Foresters and Foremen.
From April 27 to May 1 Directorate and Conservancy Chief Clerks were assembled for a course on Management, the lecturers being Deputy Secretary, E. Shanks and Controller of Finance, V. Bates.
Letter From a Forest Worker
A letter from Bob Roberts, a Forest Worker at Buriton, waves the flag for Forest Workers and makes a request for Forest Workers to be included in the distribution of The Slasher. He concludes "After all, we wield the tool which has been chosen for your new organ's symbol."
The Editor replies that restricted production facilities and paper shortage have an effect on circulation and requests Foresters and Foremen make their copies widely available.
Transfers
District Officer W.P. Thomson, Census work, Edinburgh, transferred to Employment work for Director, Scotland;
District Officer C.A.H. Gascoigne, Glasgow, transferred to Inverness;
District Officer G.L. Owen, Machynlleth, N(W) transferred to Dovey, N(W);
District Officer G.E. Godwin, Aberystwyth, transferred to Llandrindod Wells (on acquisition duties);
District Officer T.A. Hughson Dumfries transferred to Inverness;
District Officer T.F. Wilson, Woking, SE(E), transferred to the staff of Director, England, in London;
Forester G.J. Pierce, Beddgelert, N(W), transferred to Hafren, N(W);
Forester G.T.S. Gwilliam, Beeston, transferred to NW(E);
Forester G. Allison, Slaley, NE(E) transferred to The Dean;
Forester W.J. Humphries, New Forest, transferred to Quantocks, SW(E) ;
Forester G. Roberts, High Lodge, Thetford, transferred to Mildenhall;
Foreman G. Pringle, Changue, S(S), transferred for Research Branch work in North Wales;
Clerk of Works T. Bassey, Hamsterley, NE(E) transferred to Kielder NE(E);
Clerk of Works T.H. Noake, Chingford, SE(E), transferred to the New Forest;
Clerk of Works P.H. Thomas, The Dean, transferred to Wyre SW(E);
Clerk of Works E.G. Bradbeer, New Forest, transferred to Brendon and Quantocks, SW(E);
Clerical Officer G. Nimmo, Office of Director, England, transferred to Glasgow.
Edinburgh Social Club
The Social Club recently formed by the staff of the Edinburgh Office is going strong. One of the latest ventures has been the organisation of a "hike" (due to take place on May 1) followed by a theatre visit.
For Sunday, May 23rd an outing to the Forest of Ae, in Dumfriesshire, has been arranged, which may be followed by visits to other forests. Previous events have included a whist drive, which was followed by modern and Scottish dancing. Songs were sung by Miss A. Stout and Mrs H. Fox and about 50 of the office staff attended (the first Club function was a dance held in the Balmoral Rooms, Princes Street, which was attended by about 140 people, including 20 from the Glasgow and Dumfries offices).
Among those present were Mr H.C. Beresford-Peirse (Director, Scotland) and Mrs Peirse, Mr A. Watt (Conservator, West) and Mrs Watt.
It was on January 7th that the decision was taken to form the Club, the elected officers being: President, Mr J.M. Massie; Vice-President, Mr R J. Walker; Secretary, Mr H. Henry; Treasurer, Mrs J.C. Crich. Members of the Committee include Mr T. MacBeath, Mrs Fox and Miss C. Dea.
Forest Cameos (continued)
District Officer Conder describes Hockham: -
Lying rather off the beaten track and only half in the Breckland country, the 3,000 acres of Hockham Forest give us a welcome source of variety from the endless Pine plantations of Thetford. Taken as a rib from the side of Swaffham, Stow Heath was already two years old when it was transferred to form part of the newly acquired land at Hockham, where planting seriously started in 1932 under Forester J.J. Smith. Fortunately there was a considerable area of older hardwood scattered over Hockham to provide interest, and not even the energy of H.G.T.P.D. and its mills during the war was able entirely to clear up the area - though what remains of the old hardwoods now admittedly forms little more than sanctuaries for firewood merchants, wild birds and warblers.
Fortunately the young crops of hardwoods, mostly Oak with some Beech and Ash, initiated under the direction of Dr Steven and subsequently nursed by Larch and Pine, promise to establish Hockham in the good opinion of Foresters and the interest of the public; moreover the Pine plantations will contribute substantially to the nation’s reserve of pitwood and timber. Streams, meres, pits and derelict water meadows are scattered throughout the area, and much of the Scots Pine has been established in almost marsh conditions. Draining - quite strange to Thetford - has figured as a considerable item, and many Forest Worker Trainees will entertain memories of happy (!) autumn days spent up to thighs in mud and marsh.
Roadmen have become expert in the setting of sharp flints to tear up Forester Birkitt's bicycle tyres; wrongly, of course, it's sometimes thought the fireman of the Watton train carefully rakes his firebox on the most inflammable section of the line; and malignant fate has placed the Forester's house in exposed isolation. But who would not endure such trivia for 10 years spent in the lovely woods and autumn fields of Heathly, known so well to readers of Michael Home, some ageing few of whose characters are still numbered amongst our Forest Workers.
Tentsmuir Forest - Fife
From District Officer I.O. Robertson come the following few words on Tentsmuir.
Tentsmuir Forest was established in 1922 from an area of sand dunes and heather lying between the estuaries of the Tay and the Eden, in north-east Fifeshire. The forest is now 4,000 acres of Scots Pine and Corsican Pine and produces over 3,000 tons per annum of pitprops from thinnings which are the main operations in progress.
Forester W. Mason has a squad of 35 workers. His main worry is fire, for the area is a dry one, with spring and autumn as the danger periods. Unfortunately the east margin opening to the heather is popular with summer visitors, and the attendant risks add to Forester Mason's worries.
There is an unplanted area on the North boundary on the Tay estuary which is preserved as a Bird Sanctuary and Terns, Eider duck and Shelduck rest in their hundreds. This gives the Forester yet another job - the lifting of the young birds over the rabbit fence. Sand blow is another worry and ditches and drains suffer from this, while one boundary fence has already been raised almost as many times as wages.
Social Life at Grizedale
Miss Mary Kendall, a clerk in the office at Ambleside, describes the social side of life at Grizedale: -
The Commission acquired Grizedale Estate in 1937 from Mr Brocklebank, a shipowner. Included are the villages of Satterthwaite and Grizedale where times have changed.
The Parish Council is now comprised of Forestry Commission employees and tenants, while representation by Commission staff is equally strong on the Church Council. The personnel of Satterthwaite Sports Club is almost exclusively Forestry Commission; football and cricket teams are run, as well as hound trails and annual sports. Forester L.A. King is a member of the Rural District Council.
Work in the forest, originally undertaken by "locals", has expanded to such an extent as to require the importation of labour from the nearby towns of Ulverston and Barrow. All look eagerly forward to the annual staff party, which has been successfully staged in January for three years. Between parties, interest among the various working gangs is maintained by the issue of News Sheets, these taking the form of local forest gossip. All is taken in good part by those concerned and thus a contribution is made towards maintaining amicable and good relations between the staff in general. We are fortunate in having a Forester with a strong sense of humour; he takes part in everything which goes on locally and has even this year started playing hockey - as if he didn't get enough exercise marking thinnings and carrying out his numerous other tasks in the forest.
The Work They Do (No. 4)
Our Aberystwyth contributor who writes of the Machinery and Stores Branch (Wales) asserts the Section is not afflicted with "Specialists". Everyone is inter-changeable and remains this way by virtue of Section Standing Instructions being issued to, and apparently understood, by all. These instructions are fully detailed and cover all work processes handled in the Section. Where there is any link-up, they also relate to the work of other sections.
It will be noted that the Section, by counting of heads, is 75 per cent Welsh. Accommodation is in a pleasant room with a convenient balcony, a magnificent sea view, and a striking draught when the wind is in the west.
The troops are: Section Leader F.C.B. Latham, H.C.O., who feels he is already too well known to too many. It should, however, be recorded that Army 'Q' experience in both wars enables him now to distribute nine rabbits between 20 would-be purchasers each Thursday.
Others are: John Morris, C.O., genial ex-gunner of World War I; had many years experience in several Departments before arriving at the Aberystwyth haven. Particularly apt, when worthy Welsh workman wanders in wailing "Ble dd -- I gai rhoi y pum’ dynell o goke?" to reply "Yn y twll - y Twp!" Otherwise copes vigorously with H.M.S.O., M.O.W. and other sources of trouble. Deals with stationery, tyres, etc.
Miss Eira Richards, Clerical Officer, Ex-G.P.O., young, efficient and (unusual combination) attractive. Keeps a small but firm hand over the petrol coupons; joyfully deals with Traffic Accident Reports, bills, 'rockets' and other bad news reaching the Section. Issues F.C. machinery identification plaques, designed in the Section for general use; controls local battery service depot, which provides almost any type of battery on demand.
Gwyn Williams, T.C. II. Ex-R.A.F. character, with both feet now firmly on the ground. Patiently straightens out the manifold stupidities which so prolifically develop in tractors and such-like which cannot think or act for themselves. Obtains at higher levels everything pronounced 'not available'.
Question is: "I have brought the coke, where do I put it?" The answer: "In the cellar" - is followed by a designation which can hardly be described as an endearment. Readers may be able to interpret for themselves.
Table Tennis
Recently the table tennis enthusiasts at HQ. emerged from the gloom of Basement B, their lunch-time rendezvous, to entertain a team from Alice Holt. Play took place in the room normally used by the Typing Pool, involving re-arrangement of lights and furnishings. The HQ. players achieved a flattering victory which did not reflect the close margins which decided most of the games. The Alice Holt pair J.E. Jeffers and Miss J.M.A. Sharpe - triumphed in an exciting final in the doubles competition, left undecided at the Alice Holt Social. The teams were: Alice Holt - Messrs Jeffers (Captain), Harper, Wood and Irvine, the Misses McMahon, Sharpe, Hopkin and Turner. H.Q. - Messrs Brook (Captain), Smith, Hermon, Gubby and Baldwin, the Misses Priest, Moss, Allan, Hodder and Frost.
Flash from Alice Holt
Mrs Seaman has left. District Officer G.D. Holmes and Miss E. Donaldson (clerical) have arrived.
True story - A Diary entry reads: "November 3rd Office work. Child arrived 7.30pm train." The stork is not outmoded; the Child in question is a robust Census surveyor.
Nature Notes
Forester B.R. Hammond, Collingbourne, SW(E), refers to an unusual habit acquired by his dog. The animal, a black Labrador, accompanies the Forester in the woods almost every day and until lately had behaved in a normal manner. Now he has developed a mole-catching propensity which has to be seen to be believed, for sometimes he has caught as many as five in a day, "I have watched with some interest how he goes about this business," writes Forester Hammond, "He appears to hear the moles working, although I have stood by him and heard not the slightest sound. Sometimes he will stand as long as five minutes, his head moving from side to side; then he will spring and bring out a mole. I should be interested to hear of anyone with a dog similarly gifted, I would mention that, as I have no nursery, I would consider hiring him out to any Forester who has, and who happens to be plagued with moles therein. But, needless to say, the fee will necessarily be high!"
From Alice Holt comes a report that it is known that herons are nesting in the Forest; the Greater Grey-back Shrike was recently seen in the vicinity, and the Cuckoo was heard on April 11, a week earlier than last year. On April 12 an Orange-tip butterfly was seen.
The Forestry Commission Journal
Publication of the Forestry Commission Journal is expected by the end of June, For future issues, it is hoped that April will be the month of publication and the Editor, R.G. Broadwood would welcome early contributions.