Pilgrimage from Oz to Oban to see family trees

The Barcaldine forest Sutherland’s Grove received a special visit recently, from the great, great granddaughter of Sir John Sutherland, the man who gave the popular woodland its name.

 

Lesley Milligan and her husband Alan travelled nearly 10,000 miles from their home in Adelaide, South Australia, on a pilgrimage to see Sutherland's Grove, which is looked after by Forestry and Land Scotland.

 

Sir John Sutherland, who worked at his uncle’s firm of Hosack and Sutherland, bank and law agents in Oban, became the first holder of the office of Assistant Commissioner  for Forestry in Scotland. His services as a forestry expert to the country, and to the Allies during the First World War, brought him many honours.

 

His obituary explained: 'The enormous demands on home-grown timber made by the war, when about half a million acres of British woodland had to be cleared of timber for the armies in the field, and for the maintenance of the coal mines at home, made the question of increasing the home supplies imperative, and in 1919 the Government appointed the Forestry Commission with very extensive powers.

 

'Sir John Sutherland was an obvious choice for the post of Assistant Commissioner for Scotland. To his new work he brought an open, enlightened mind and when he retired in November 1934, many tributes were paid to his work. French, Belgian and American honours were bestowed on him, and in 1935 he was knighted.'

 

On their visit to Sutherland's Grove earlier this year, Lesley and Alan met with members of the Forestry and Land Scotland team that manages it, and presented them with a collection of personal documents that give incredible insight into Sir John and forestry practices in Scotland in the post-World War One era.

 

Lesley said: ‘I’ve grown up knowing of my great, great grandfather’s achievements, and his passion for forestry. It’s wonderful to be able to visit the forest that has been named for him and to walk its paths.

 

'I was very happy to hand over some of his personal records to Forestry and Land Scotland, who are now charged with managing Scotland’s forests and increasing its supply of home-grown timber, an issue so key to Sir John.

 

‘It was a pleasure to drive around Scotland and to see evidence of my great grandfather’s vision all around. After approximately 100 years, it is reassuring to know that his tightly held views on climate change remain current.’

 

Robbie Layden, from Forestry and Land Scotland, added: ‘It was an honour to meet Lesley and Alan, and gain more insight into Sir John Sutherland, who has left his mark on the forestry practice in Scotland and the UK even over 100 years later.

 

'After he died, a tribute to him noted that no other man had made a greater part in founding and guiding early forestry practices.

 

'We now have a ledger full of press clippings collected, and some authored, by Sir John, which give an insight into the early years of state forestry in Scotland.

 

'Of course practices have evolved and adapted over the years, but the principle of needing a sustainable supply of home-grown timber remains.’