Tonight Monday 12 February, sees the final episode of the highly popular BBC One Scotland documentary “The Forest” That was filmed in Dumfries and Galloway last summer.
In tonight’s episode – The Galloway Hills Rally draws crowds of visitors to the Forest Park. To make sure spectators have the best and safest view, John ‘Cool’ Coughtrie and his Recreation Team boss Archie McNeillie spend the days leading up to the race preparing safe places for them to stand along the route.
Local Rally Ace and reigning champion Jock Armstrong hopes to defend his title. On the day of the rally, a troop of the Event’s Safety Marshalls are on duty and Archie too keeps a watchful eye over proceedings.
At Penninghame, tree planter Alastair Livingstone is restocking a recently felled site with sycamore and oak. The Forestry Commission plant 4.5 million trees a year. Alastair – who is known locally by his nick-name Ozzie – says: “I would guess, in my near 20 years in this profession, I must have planted surely a million easily…So my carbon footprint is saved I think.”
Having worked for as a forester for 44 years Jim Burns has seen many changes. He is seen in this last episode of the series behind the wheel of a Harvester, one of the most sophisticated tree felling machines being operated in the forest.
As narrator Mark Bonnar notes: “This powerhouse can fell, strip and stack for collection a 40 year old tree…all in under a minute.”
You can see tonight’s episode at 7.30pm on BBC 1 Scotland, you can catch up with the previous episodes HERE
