1929-1939:
Recession hits, the forests advance

Despite a global recession in the 1930s,
the Commission's estates continued to grow

Highland & Agricultural Show, 1931

Early photograph taken in 1931 at the Edinburgh Show (now the Royal Highland Show). Provost Donald Munro (seller of tree), Mr Spiers (Buyer of tree), Sir Harry Lauder (Arbitrater). The Forestry Commission appears to have had some exhibitions at this show, but the surviving photographs concentrate on some personalities and around the selling and buying of a complete but sectioned large Douglas fir tree that was placed on site. (Image: Forestry Memories)

W McIntosh, Glenurquhart Forest, 1931

An underplanting experiment in Glenurqhuart Forest initiated in 1927, possibly by Frank Oliver who was District Officer for the area from 1927-1936. The gentleman in the picture is almost certainly Willie MacIntosh, who was forester in charge at Glenurquhart from 1928 to sometime in 1935. (Image: Forestry Memories)

Students, Benmore Forestry School, 1936

The class of 1936 at Benmore House Forestry School. (Image: Forestry Memories / Don McLeman)

Ploughing at Clashindarroch, 1936

Side view of a Caterpillar 28 at Clashindarroch, which has acquired a cab. Note the starting handle tied up in front. Plough furrows are still very close with what appears to be one furrow on top of unploughed strip and the second furrow lying against the edge of the unploughed strip. (Image: Forestry Memories / Davy Anderson)

Land acquisition at Corrimony, 1937

Identified only as Wood No 7, there is a later note to say this site was replanted in 1958-1960. The man is presumed to be forester George Munro. (Image: Forestry Memories)

Ploughing with early Caterpillar model, 1937

The team are producing a very robust ploughed furrow much to the interest of the various observers. The tractor is a Caterpillar Twenty Two, and appears to be pulling what could be a Ransomes Solotrac ploug. Features that are visible include: a large diameter wheel on the furrow side; no obvious sign of a tail wheel; relatively large mould board. (Image: Forestry Memories / Glenn Brearley)

Sungrade Disc horse plough, 1937

Taken in October 1937, this trial of the plough on a Culluna/Scirpus heathland at Millbuie is not going to plan! There are at least three people lying on the ground working at the plough in addition to the four onlookers. (Image: Forestry Memories)

Balnagowan Sawmill, 1937

There is reference to Balnagowan sawmill in some of the Nethybridge names but equally this could be at other Balnagowans, such as Easter Ross, where Scots pine also grows well. This is quite a large team of men and one assumes this is at least a double bench outfit. Note the well made and tidy roofing structure and also the chimney of the steam engine used to power the whole setup. (Image: Forestry Memories / Robbie Bruce)

Jessie Gordon at Findon, 1939

Jessie is holding bridle of a Forestry Commission horse. Her husband was James Gordon, forester at Findon Forest in the Black Isle before and during WWII, and she worked in the forestry nursery at Findon. In war time conditions, labour to work in the forest and the nursery would have been very scarce and employing women and older children may have been the only way to grow the young trees and to achieve any planting programmes. (Image: Forestry Memories / Sandy Gordon)

Findon nursery workers, 1939

Here Jessie Gordon is on the left sitting with an unidentified lady. The two young lads have been named as Don Dingwall and Geordie Maclean (on the right) who in later years drove dozers and other machines in the Forestry Commission Roads section. (Image: Forestry Memories . Sandy Gordon)

The land looked after by the Forestry Commission became known as the National Forest Estate, and by 1934, it consisted of 909,000 acres. The relatively cheap cost of land at the time, and the growth of demand for timber meant that the Estate expanded quickly during the 1930s.

By 1939, World War Two was looming. On the day war broke out, the Commission was divided in two: the Forest Management Department, to carry on its normal activities, and the Timber Supply Department to deal with war demands. Big changes lay ahead…

Click each image to find out more.
remember this era? share stories with us at
Forestry Memories.

The Caterpillar 28 was one of the new machines brought in during the 1930s. (Image: Forestry Memories) — *The Caterpillar 28 was one of the new machines brought in during the 1930s. (Image:* *Forestry Memories*)

FROM HORSE-POWER TO ENGINE-POWER

As the 1930s progressed, motorised ploughs, tractors and other equipment began to replace the more traditional, horse-drawn vehicles and tools which had been used in the early parts of the twentieth century. Throughout the decade, experimental trials of new machinery took place on the Estate, while more traditional methods were still being used.

Many of the new technological innovations in forestry originated in Canada, with frequent exchanges of staff, knowledge and technology happening between there and Scotland in this era.

SEE MORE AT THE CATERPILLAR ARCHIVE

Forestry Commission employees examine a fir tree at the Highland & Agricultural Show, 1931 (Image: Forestry Memories) — Forestry Commission employees examine a fir tree at the Highland & Agricultural Show, 1931
(Image: *Forestry Memories*)

THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW

The annual Royal Highland Show has taken place in Scotland since 1784. Set up by the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland, the event attracts thousands of visitors each year.

This rare photo of an early appearance by the Forestry Commission at one of the shows in 1931 shows how much the event has grown! The gentlemen present are examining the trunk of a large fir tree, felled and brought for sale.

THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW 2019: 20-23 JUNE

1929-1939:Recession hits, the forests advance

Despite a global recession in the 1930s, the Commission's estates continued to grow

Click each image to find out more. remember this era? share stories with us at Forestry Memories.

FROM HORSE-POWER TO ENGINE-POWER

THE ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW

1929-1939:
Recession hits, the forests advance

Despite a global recession in the 1930s,
the Commission's estates continued to grow

Click each image to find out more.
remember this era? share stories with us at
Forestry Memories.