Agricultural History Review, Volume 58 Part 1 (2010), p. 142

This book is a significant one for four reasons. First, it researches the social and ecological history of forestry development in Scotland, subjects that have not received any noteworthy attention in Scottish rural history. As the author notes,

no one has ever asked these people who planted the new forests – who afforested 12 per cent of Scotland in less than a century – how they did it or what they thought about it. Neither have the people who sold or lost their land or their livelihood, been asked what happened to them or how it affected their lives (p.7)

Second, these questions, as well as other related ones about the transformation of the landscape, are discussed through a case study of the Whitelee Forest, an area of 6,000 hectares of coniferous forest, owned by the Forestry Commission and located on the Whitelee Plateau where Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire meet. This is a geographical area that has received little attention for either rural or forestry research. Third, it provides a case study of aspects of the impact and work of the Forestry Commission, of which there are few studies. Fourth, the book is an oral history, a methodology that is not readily associated with the social and ecological history of forestry development, though the Welsh Oral History of Forestry Project (Hanes y Goed) has already demonstrated that this is a valuable approach for such research. As Tittensor notes, oral history is an important methodology for ‘learning the dynamics of what happened in the past’ (p.8) and for providing fresh perspectives and new information. She suggests that ‘the history presented here [in her book] is an “alternative” history, provided by living people who experienced up to 50 years of change for themselves’ (p.9).

The book clearly sets out its methodology for gathering and transcribing the oral and written testimonies. The book ‘is written entirely from the orally-derived material … or from participants’ written contributions’ gathered for the Whitelee Forest Oral History Project which ran from 2004 to 2007 (p.9); photographs of many of the informants are included in Appendix 1. Documentary sources play only a minor role. As Tittensor notes: ‘documentary sources from the Forestry Commission or elsewhere have not been used to provide information: printed sources have been used sparingly, only where a context is needed’ (p.9). Tittensor has employed one of a number of approaches to the use of oral history. While some researchers may be concerned at this approach, which has nevertheless been widely used, the book shows that it can be used to produce rigorous and accurate research.

The book gives a vivid and detailed account of the transformation – from the early 1960s onwards – of the Whitelee Plateau, from an area of heather and grassy moorland to commercial coniferous forest and, in the 2000s, to an extensive wind-farm. The impetus for that change was the UK Government afforestation programme, which aimed to produce more home-grown timber, reduce rural unemployment and provide incentives to private landowners to invest in trees and timber. The programme led to significant changes to the Scottish landscape over a few decades.

The Plateau presented many challenges to the Forestry Commission: the land is a peat landscape on which it is difficult to drive heavy machinery; it is remote and rises to 376 metres; it is exposed and has a high rainfall. As one informant noted, ‘it could be hard, lonely, cold and frightening up on top of the Plateau in winter’ (p.92). Although the ecological factors were difficult, there were others that ‘made it the right place for timber production’ (p.87) and for the ‘factory farming’ of trees over a wide area (p.88): a landscape that was ‘of no great relevance’ with very little archaeology; a lack of political constraints; and a willingness of farmers to sell their land.

The transformation brought significant changes to the use and management of the land as well as the species of flora and fauna that were found. Some changes brought positive benefits, while others were considered to be negative. As Tittensor says:

the species described by local people were important in their lives. It is not surprising that the observed decline of animals such as grouse, blackcock, snow buntings and skylarks, were a source of dissatisfaction. The newly-arriving species like roe deer and siskins, and the increase in raptors do not seem to give equivalent satisfaction. Nor do foxes or grey squirrels! (p.181).

The testimonies are skilfully transcribed, edited and arranged according to the subjects in the fifteen chapters of the book. The author has expertly woven the transcriptions from the different informants together into a coherent and well-structured narrative. The tables throughout the book helpfully pull together and summarize information gathered in the testimonies and allow the reader to assess the changes that took place on the Plateau. For the reader interested in the natural history of the area, there are lists of flora and fauna, though the list of flowering plants and conifers only records a limited range of species that are generally associated with the habitats found on the Plateau.

The book is lavishly illustrated throughout. Although this wealth of visual material is one of the strengths of the book, it is also its greatest weakness. The illustrations could have been more selectively chosen. Some (such as those showing fencing and damage by wildlife on pp.93, 94, 95, 136 and 137) are used to illustrate minor points in the text. Their omission would not have detracted from the book. There are also multiple images to illustrate a point where one would have sufficed (such as the three illustrations of wind-blown trees on pp.141 and 142). The numerous illustrations sometimes distract the reader from the text of the book. Some pages, especially those that have illustrations inserted over part of the two-column text layout, are difficult to read. The book has the appearance of a consultancy report rather than a well-illustrated oral history. A more sympathetic design layout would have benefited the book. It is hoped, though, that it will inspire others to undertake further research into the social and ecological history of forestry, subjects that Tittensor has shown enrich our understanding of the significant changes in the Scottish countryside during the twentieth century.