Forestry villages in the Scottish Highlands

Abstract

Britain embarked upon a massive programme of afforestation in post‐World War II years, with an original target of 2 million ha of potentially productive forest by the year 2000. To meet its responsibility the Forestry Commission rapidly built up its work force and decided that this should be housed in clusters of varying size (forestry villages') rather than in single, scattered buildings. The concept was extended into Scotland from England and Wales. It was considered especially important in the Highlands as part of the general effort to check the population drain to the south and to cities. It also was felt it would make for greater permanency of workers in remote Highland forests. In the long run the villages did not achieve their original goals because of a combination of factors: locational disadvantages, worker dissatisfaction, mechanisation and rationalisation in forestry operations, and changing government policy.

Keywords:

• Forestry
• Forestry Commission
• Forestry villages
• Scottish Highlands