Page 20 • The HERALD • 6th August 2026 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v DECORATING Interior and Exterior Established 1985 07867 528307 mark.blake.decorating@gmail.com New Forest Scaffolding All aspects of scaffolding undertaken • Extensions • Chimneys • Re-Roofing • New Builds etc For a friendly, local, reliable service and a free quotation Telephone: 07734 476855 www.newforestscaffolding.co.uk Full Liability Insurance Lychette Cottage, Roughdown, Blackfield SO45 1XG FLAT ROOFING SPECIALISTS All Roof Repairs Tel: 023 8184 5632 Mobile: 07880 508415 Email: steve@braithwaiteroo ng.co.uk THE FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST Wet clean or Dry clean • Carpets • Rugs • Upholstery • Cushions • Mattresses • Caravans & Motor Homes Contact Chris for a free estimate and advice. We have full liability insurance 023 8104 0185 07770 792361 clean-u-up@hotmail.com We provide one of the best professional Carpet & Fabric cleaning Systems To advertise your business in The Herald, contact Sue on 023 8084 0815 or email: sjones@herald-publishing.co.uk New Exhibition Tells The Untold Story Of The Lumberjills is summer, visitors to the New Forest are invited to step into the boots of some of the remarkable women who helped keep Britain supplied with timber during the Second World War. e new exhibition supported by Forestry England celebrates these unsung heroes who lived and worked in forests across the country. Women in Forestry: The Lumberjills’ Story is open at the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst until 17th August. e exhibition celebrates the little-known story of the Women’s Timber Corps, a ectionately known as the Lumberjills, including the key role they played in the New Forest. Around 18,000 women worked in Britain’s forests during the war to supply vital home-grown timber when the country’s resources were severely disrupted. is vital workforce felled trees with axes and crosscut saws, hauled timber, worked in sawmills and measured timber production. DuringwartimeintheNewForest,Lumberjill’sharvested timber here, producing an incredible 12.5 million cubic feet of timber during the con ict. Members of the Women’s Land Army focussed on restocking the area by planting and looking a er seedlings and young trees. Curated by author and historian Joanna Foat, the exhibition includes many rare photographs, personal testimonies and local stories to tell the story of these trailblazing young women. Arriving in the forests from across Britain, they challenged expectations of the era and proved that women could do work traditionally reserved for men. Charcoal was in high demand during the war for “Forestry England is proud to support this exhibition celebrating one of the last overlooked stories of the Second World War. The Women’s Timber Corps played a vital role in sustaining Britain’s wartime timber supplies, yet their contribution remains under-recognised. We are delighted that visitors to the New Forest will have the opportunity to discover their remarkable legacy and how right here in the New Forest they paved the way for women to become a key part of forestry today.” Jasmine Fry, Head of Collections, New Forest Heritage Centre, said: “The Lumberjills are part of the New Forest’s story. This exhibition combines national history with local heritage, helping visitors understand the contribution these women made both to the war effort and to the landscape we know today. We are delighted to be working with Forestry England and Joanna Foat to bring their stories to a wider audience.” Joanna Foat, author, historian and curator of the exhibition, said: “When I first discovered the story of the Lumberjills, I couldn’t believe how few people had heard of them. These women swung seven-pound axes, felled huge trees by hand, drove tractors and worked in dangerous sawmills, yet they were largely forgotten after the war. Having met many of them I am in awe of the work they did and their huge contribution during the war.” To coincide with the exhibition, a brand-new historical novel - e Lumberjills Under Suspicion - by Joanna Foat will be launched. For more information visit: www.thelumberjills.uk use in gas mask lters. Lumberjill Ann Mo at explains that she and many women in the New Forest worked long hours at Linwood to cut, burn and cool local wood to ensure a steady supply of this much needed product. New Forest Lumberjills were also involved in D-Day landings preparation, making trackway from chestnut palings tied together with wire. Esta Mion, Communications and Marketing Manager at Forestry England, said: Lumberjills in the New Forest (Credit: Women in Forestry exhibition)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=