the Forth Naturalist Historian - Forth Naturalist and Historian ...

94 John G. Harrison
comprehending Aikens glen on the east syde of the burne. Oak was the prime
produce but it also mentions ‘common timber’ such as birk, arne, eash and hizell
[birch, alder, ash and hazel]. The 1687 contract specifies that the cutters were to
leave in everie hagg uncutt yeirlie the number of ane hundred young oaks betuixt
fyfteen and eighteen inches [say 40 to 50 cm] in greatnes about. The wood was to be
cut in eight haggs and work to be completed within nine years (6).
In 1740 parts of the wood were feued (7). The division refers to parts north
and south of the road from Larbert to Stirling and to the wood dykes. The
division seems to have given rise to confusion and by 1791 the new march was
to apply only for cutting grass whilst the ‘ancient’ boundaries applied when
cutting timber (8).
Also in 1740 Lady Forrester sold the timber in specified sections of the wood,
north and south of the highway. The dykes and other boundaries involved are
carefully specified but there is now, also, mention of planted trees and of the
Firrwood. The planted fir trees could be thinned but, where needful, the firs
were to be replaced with oaks, ashes and elms from the estate nurseries and the
haggs were also to be ‘thickened’ by replanting. Parts of the adjacent muir were
to be new planted (9). Some years earlier than this, in 1723, Johnstoune had
commented that “The Tormuir which in old time was a part of this wood is
inclosed and planted which will make that wood as beautiful as ever” (10).
Deliberate planting was rare prior to the eighteenth century and this
represents a very significant change of woodland management; but otherwise,
the cutting by haggs, fencing and so on are very traditional.
Finally, in 1787, William Wilson bought the right to cut the wood of
Torwood, consisting of 120 aces (11). The conditions are traditional. The wood
was to be cut in haggs over an eight year period; the trees were to be carefully
cut, the haggs fenced. Charcoal could be made in the wood so long as no
damage was done. Three old oak maidens were to be left in each of the first
three haggs and four in each of the others and a total of 2176 young seedlings,
from six to nine inches round at a yard [roughly 15-25 cm at 1 metre] above the
ground were to be left in the whole wood. No small seedlings (less than halfbarrel
size) were to be cut. The owner would supply the cutter with materials
for fencing where the walls were inadequate. Bark and other produce were to
be removed by three, specified gates.
These contracts suggest that the traditional management system was based
on a number of recognised divisions, some separated by earth banks, some by
stone dykes and elsewhere by roads or tracks. The 1687 tack allowed the
tenants to cut the oak but not the other trees growing on these wood dykes,
specifically for the better strenthning and fixing of the said fence. An agricultural
tack of Todhills, the Wandless and Greingait of Torwoodhead dated 1657
obliged Duncan Robein to assist in building and maintaining wood dykes and
in bringing in the wood hay and also granted him grass for two horses within
the wood (12). The 1687 tack further refers to the house within the laigh forresters
fauld and the forester’s fauld itself; these might either be ploughed or kept in