‘No rivalry but different’
The third in a series of Touchwood History publications (2010) this one highlighting the story of forestry in the Glenmore and Rothiemurchus areas in the 20th century written by Mairi Stewart and published by the Forestry Commission. The booklet is now out of print and is produced below in a PDF.
The foreword in the booklet is written by Hugh Insley (former Chief Executive of Forest Enterprise, Scotland) and is copied below:
‘It is now widely recognised that native woodlands are vitally important for the conservation of biodiversity and need to be preserved and sustained. Scotland has all too few such forests - but among them are the native pinewoods of Strathspey including Glenmore and Rothiemurchus.
All too often we fail to recognise and record the importance and future historical interest of our current day to day activities and decisions. This project seeks to correct that by capturing the anecdotal record of the lives of those who have depended upon this forest area over the past 100 years - a period when the forests and landscape of Strathspey have seen more change than at any other time in their recent history.
The testimonies gathered here paint a picture of how the 20th century has treated this part of Scotland - from the aftermath of the Great War to the impact of the Second World War, from the days of rural isolation to the years of tourist influx.
There are fascinating stories of the families and workers who have managed and maintained the Rothiemurchus estate in often difficult and occasionally harsh conditions.
And - in sharp relief - there are stories that show how the focus of the Forestry Commission in Glenmore has shifted over the years in response to changes in Government forestry policy. The original imperative of timber production at all costs driven by the two World Wars gradually gave way to a planned zoning of Glenmore ranging from conservation to timber production areas. Finally in the early 21st century this view has matured to a realisation that such areas are too rare and important for biodiversity and the plan now is to restore the whole area to native Caledonian pinewood once more.
This collection of memories, anecdotes, experiences and observations offer us a glimpse into the lives of the people of Strathspey who depended on and moulded these forests into what they are today, one of the jewels of the Highlands.’
Hugh Insley
People featured who contributed information for the booklet include and:
Ina Brash
Peter and Mary Bruce
Billy Collie
John Grant
Col J P Grant
Katherine Grant (Countess of Dysart)
Willie and Irene Grant
Hilda Laing
Johnnie MacDonald
Ian McInnes
Walter Dempster
Mary, Duncan and Peter Ferguson
Ian and Elsie Fraser
Jack Fraser
Jim Gillies
Jimmy Gordon
Alasdair MacLeod
Finlay MacRae
George Milton
Rita Robertson-King
Ann and Edwin Wakeling
Miranda Whitcomb
Ian McInnes
Jakey Fraser
Hamish Reid
Ian Fraser
Aeneas Cameron (Eenie)
Lewis Robertson (Louie)
Kompany Linge (Norwegian)
Perry Ortavik
James Fraser
Willie Grant
Mikel Utsi
Ethel Lindgren
Nicolaus Labba
Kenneth MacLennan
Adam Thom
Ted Saunders
Jimmy Reid
Eddie Matlock
Elsie Fraser
Some written terms used in the booklet:
Glenmore Forest
Rothiemurchus Estate
110 and 121 Company of Canadian Forestry Corps
Badaguish
Loch Morlich
Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit
Women’s Timber Corps
Advie Camp
Pityoulish Camp
Muckrack
Inshriach Forest
Reindeer
Cairngorm Plateau
Coire Cas
Skiing
Forest fire
Finnish style wooden houses
Steel houses
Bothy and Hostel
Lairig Ghru
Other Touchwood History booklets available are:
‘The smell of the rosin, noise of the saw’ - the story of forestry in Mid Argyll in the 20th Century (See Forestry Memories picture No 988)
‘The forest is a beautiful place to be’ - the story of forestry in The Great Glen in the 20th Century. (See Forestry Memories picture No 989)
‘The forgotten forest’ – the story of Whitelee Forest in the 20th Century. (See Forestry Memories picture No 991)
Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Forestry Records, Booklets and Reports, Glenmore Forestry, Groups of people