Slasher Magazine Summary: Publication No. 33 - September 1950
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.
Causes of Forest Fires - £1,150,000 Spent on Protection in 20 Years
Mr Haldane Charters of the Finance Branch has investigated causes of fires over the past 20 years in State forests.
Nearly 75 per cent of the 13,000 fires which were reported causing or threatening to cause, damage in the Commission's woodlands occurred between 11am and 5pm - a fact which may not surprise those who are actively concerned with forest operations. About 50 per cent of the fires occurred between 1pm and 4pm, the peak being at 3pm. Outbreaks were most frequent (65 per cent) in the months of March, April and May; the "fire season" starts a little earlier in Scotland and Wales than in England, but lasts longest in England.
In the period reviewed (1929-48) the planted area burnt was over 30,000 acres, and the estimated financial loss was more than £550,000. During the 20 years, it was necessary to spend more than £1,150,000 on protection.
As is only to be expected, the survey has emphasised that the general public, mainly through carelessness with cigarette ends, matches, pipe tobacco and picnic fires, has been responsible for many fires and for a big proportion of the total loss.
The public is known to have started some 1,500 fires, involving a loss of 5,250 acres of trees and a financial loss of about £90,000 while there is little doubt that of a further 1,600 fires which are classified as having originated on adjoining land, and which caused a loss amounting to £150,000, most were due to thoughtlessness on the part of visitors to the countryside. The origin of nearly 1,900 fires, which caused a loss of more than £111,000, is unknown, but it is reasonable to assume that members of the public were largely responsible for these outbreaks.
Eighty-eight fires caused damage in excess of £1,000, and of these 24 occurred outside the "fire season". 35 were at units where fires were infrequent and 12, although at units where fires were numerous, were the first outbreaks of the year.
A not inconsiderable number of fires was caused by the Commission's own employees, for example by allowing ride burning to get out of hand.
Sparks from railway engines were a major cause of fires.
Sciurus Carolinensis and Something About Sciurus Vulgaris
Mr G.D. Kitchingman, the Librarian at the Alice Holt Forest Research Station has produced a bibliography on the squirrel - the common Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the American Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The standard book on the subject, he says, is "The Grey Squirrel", by A.D. Middleton (Sidgwick and Jackson, 1931).
Puzzle Corner
The following conundrums have been posed by Forest Clerk G.C. Cook, of Brecon Forest, South Wales.
1. Can you plant 10 trees in 5 rows, placing 4 trees in each row?
2. A mile of wire exactly encloses a 40-acre field. What area will two miles of wire enclose?
Answers in next month's issue.
Wildlife at Tentsmuir
Tentsmuir Forest, East Scotland, is of great interest to naturalists. The ecology is enriched by the estuaries and seashore which gird the forest. According to Forester D.B. Crawford, the bird list is well over 100 and 200 plants have been recorded.
One local naturalist has visited Tentsmuir almost weekly for more than 30 years. Material for nature illustrations for many publications, some of them of a national character, is obtained at Tentsmuir, and most of the trees featured in a forest tree series in The Bulletin were sketched there. The rare little orchid the 'Coral Root' has just been added to the forest office collection of specimens, and study of bird life has resulted in a Head Forester being bitten by a young heron! This incident occurred during an attempt to induce a nest of young herons to pose for a photograph.
Storm Damage in a Welsh Forest
A phenomena unique in the experience of the Forester and others, occurred at Margam Forest, South Wales, during storms in the first two days of last month. A cloud-burst, writes Forester T. Morris, confined its deluge to a small area of a Sitka Spruce plantation which was formed in 1931 at an elevation of 900 feet, the trees therein being about 15 ft. high. Within the area, which covered about 100 square yards, trees and the soil beneath to a depth of two feet were "torn out" as by a giant claw and hurled downhill, cutting a "swathe" 10 yards wide and nearly 200 yards long through other plantations. Part of a plantation of 19-year old Japanese larch, containing trees 30 - 35 feet high with butts of 6 inches, was uprooted and the trees, broken, splintered and stripped of their bark, were swept into a stream at the base of the hill. In many places, the soil was eroded to a depth of 3 ft. and a good deal of it was carried via the stream into the Port Talbot reservoir.
Well-Kept Gardens at Santon Downham
In the forest village of Santon Downham, Thetford Forest, East England, the Tenants' Association recently organised a garden competition and invited States Forest Officer G.F. Balance to act as judge.
There are 40 new houses and nearly 30 older cottages in the village, strung out through the precincts of the old, now demolished, Downham Hall. During the judging, many miles had to be walked in visiting and re-visiting and checking and re-checking points. The standard of horticulture was extremely high, especially when one remembers that most gardens have been cultivated for only 18 months or less. The judge was assisted by Nursery Officer Paterson.
The prize-winners were: -
New houses, 1st was Lorry Driver Bert Thomas; 2nd was Mechanic W. Cleaver; 3rd was Forest Worker E. Matthews; 4th was Forester A. Birkitt.
Old houses, 1st was Keeper A.E. Adams; 2nd was Forest Worker S. Marsh; 3rd was Retired Forest Worker R. Turner.
S.F.O. Ballance presented the prizes. The ceremony took place during a social and dance held some time later under the auspices of the Santon Downham branch of St. John Ambulance, which is comprised of Forestry Commission employees
Forest Worker S. Rawlings, Secretary of the Tenants' Association, and Despatch Rider W.A. Harper, the Chairman, introduced Mr Ballance to a gathering of over 100 people.
Cricket
A cricket match was played recently at Challock, South East England, between the village and a Forestry Commission team. In the first innings, the Commission team, were all out for 48, the villagers replying with 56 all out. In the next innings the Commission scored 74 for 4 declared and the opposition were all out for 14. It was a great achievement for the Commission team considering only 16 men are employed at Challock Forest.
The Alice Holt Cricket Club has played a number of matches. In a recent match against New Forest there was a remarkable happening - a bowler on each side took 4 wickets with 4 consecutive balls. For such a feat to be performed once in a match is rare, but twice ……!
The Cambridge Office has formed a cricket team. There is strength on the batting side, with J.B. Sell, J. Allen and D. Morley, outstanding. A Civil Service Hostel team has twice been handsomely beaten.
Transfers
R. Carnell, District Officer, Rushden, E(E), transferred to Bristol, SW(E);
W.J. Watt, Forester, Clashindarroch, E(S), transferred to Glendoll, E(S);
G.W. Claydon, Forester, Coed-y-Brenin, N(W), transferred to Glanllyn, N(W);
J.W. Middleton, Forester, Smales (Kielder), NE(E), transferred to Ferndown, New;
R. MacDonald, Forester, Ferndown, New, transferred to Smales, NE(E);
V. Mitchell, Forester, Pelena, S(W), transferred to Coed-y-Rhaiadr, S(W);
R. Schofield, Foreman, Margam, S(W), transferred to Fineshades, E(E);
R.S. Lewis, Foreman, St. Asaph, N(W), transferred to Myherin, N(W);
J.R.C. Dashall, Foreman, Challock, SE(E), transferred to Orleston, SE(E);
S.J. Law, Foreman, Slindon (Goodwood), SE(E), transferred to Andover, SE(E);
A.G. Pyman, Foreman, Andover, SE(E), transferred to Lyminge, SE(E);
H.O. Armstrong, Foreman, Wauchope, S(S), transferred to Mabie, S(S);
R.M. Edward, Foreman, Mabie, transferred to Wauchope, S(S);
R.O.L. Thomas, Foreman, Brynmawr, N(W), transferred to Kerry, N(W);
R.J. Reid, Foreman, Research, Dean, transferred to Research, West Norwood.
Appointments
N.E. MacIntyre, Foreman SW(E);
J.H. Watters, Assistant Engineer to Director, Wales;
C.V. Simpson, Executive Officer, NW(E);
J.M. Fuller, Clerical Officer, E(E);
J. Dolby, Clerical Officer, Finance, H.Q.;
J.V. McIntyre, Clerical Officer, E(E);
J. Fyfe, Clerical Officer, Finance, H.Q.;
A. Tobin, Clerical Officer, SW(E);
E.J. Carter, Clerical Officer, E(E);
R.P. Beagley, Clerical Officer, Establishment, H.Q.;
J.E. Carter, Clerical Officer, SE(E);
Mrs. R.E. Hoper, Clerical Officer, Establishment, H.Q.;
Mrs. K.M. Mevison, Clerical Officer, E(E).
Benmore Dinner and Dinner
Mr J.R. Maxtone is organising a re-union dinner and dance on Friday, 28th September 1951 for former students who attended the Benmore Forester Training School between August 1942 and July 1944.
Seeing For Themselves
Members of headquarters staff visited Bedgebury Forest, South East England, on 5th September to see the Commission's operations in the field.
Retired
Forester W. Cottenham, Apethorpe Forest, East England, has retired through ill health.
Engagement
Miss Edna Farratt, shorthand typist at Alice Holt, and John Jeffers, Forester at Alice Holt, have become engaged.
Marriages
Miss Leslie Firth, previously Clerical Officer, at the Cambridge Office and soon to join the staff of the Dumfries office, has married Mr Jack Varrie, of Dumfries, South Scotland. Miss Mary Longley of the Cambridge Office, was bridesmaid.
Executive Officer W. Ettles, of Inverness Office, North Scotland, has received a presentation from colleagues to mark the occasion of his marriage.
Birth
A son was born to Mrs Lambie and Mr H. Lambie, Forester, Port Clair, North Scotland.
Obituaries
Mr W. Forsyth (Willie Forsyth), Divisional Officer, has died aged 39 years.
Mr W.C. Williams, Clerk of Works in the North East England Conservancy, has died. He joined the Commission in 1947 taking charge of road-work in the North Riding of Yorkshire.