The value of RSFS membership an investor's perspective

摘要

Is a little knowledge a dangerous thing or do I know enough to ask intelligent questions? This is the constant dilemma faced by a woodland owner with no professional background in forestry. The story began in the mid-1980s when my late father, MalcolmNorgate, purchased a 520ha hill farm at Glenshimmeroch, near St Johns Town of Dairy in Dumfries and Galloway. An accountant by training he was attracted by the tax efficient investment potential of commercial forestry at that time. FIM Services providedthe investment advice whilst Scottish Woodlands set about creating a productive forest extending to about 350ha, planted predominantly with Sitka spruce and some Norway spruce and larch (Picture 1). A man with a huge thirst for knowledge and an avid book collector he soon found that there was no shortage of published material covering forestry! However, he felt that to master the practical art of growing trees (profitably) required something more. This led to several decades of active membership of both the Royal Scottish Forestry Society (RSFS) and the Royal Forestry Society in England (RFS). North of the border his interests were mainly commercial and coniferous whilst south of the border amenity and hardwoods featured more heavily. Excursions withScottish foresters were an enjoyable highlight in the forestry calendar including a number of overseas ones.