| Popis: |
SUMMARY Joint planning of forestry and agriculture on a 5,000 acre estate in the western highlands of Scotland has increased livestock production on a dilapidated sheep farm from 200–300 lambs and 30 calves to 500 lambs and 33 calves by using one fifth of the area. This has been achieved by pasture improvement, expert stockmanship, and considerable investment. The two shepherds employed previously have been retained, while overall employment has increased six-fold. The remaining 4,000 acres have been afforested with Sitka spruce, Scots pine, Lodgepole pine, Hybrid and Japanese larch and Douglas fir whilst retaining old hardwoods for amenity purposes. Tree planting began in 1955 and has continued ever since. The interdependence of farm and forest is illustrated by the occasional use of the forestry workers on the farm, the sharing of specialist machinery, and using the plantations for shelter and grazing in the winter. |
