The Robinson Memorial (c.NY675815)

(with kind permission of Norman E Haighton/Northumbria Biker)

To the memory of
Roy Lister Robinson OBE
Baron Robinson of Kielder Forest and Adelaide
A member of the Forestry Commission from its
inception in 1919 and its chairman from 1932-1952
Born 8th March 1883 died 5th September 1952
His ashes are scattered in this forest which owes
its existence to his creative energy and vision

The Robinson Memorial stands in a fire break in a remote spot within Kielder Forest, about 3 miles south of Kielder Water. It is a fitting tribute to the life and works of Lord Robinson (otherwise known as Sir Roy Robinson), who, though born in South Australia in 1883, spent a sizeable chunk of his existence dedicated to the forestation of Britain.

Arriving in England in 1905, he followed an academic course which led him, eventually, to become the guiding light of the formation of the Forestry Commission in 1919. He spent the last 20 years of his life as its chairman, leading the charge for an extensive government plantation programme and the establishment of our National Forest Parks. He was handed an O.B.E. in 1918, knighted in 1931 and raised to the peerage in 1947.

He seems to have had a special attachment to Kielder Forest, and even returned there in 1948 to fell the first tree! He also spearheaded similar campaigns throughout the Commonwealth, and even died abroad whilst leading a delegation to Canada in 1952. The following year his ashes were scattered in Kielder Forest, and the Robinson Memorial cairn now marks the spot.

More info on this seldom-visited landmark can be found here and here.

Kielder Water & Forest (reservoir centre at NY686876)

Kielder Water:

• Sits astride the River North Tyne in NW Northumberland;
• Planned in the 1960s and constructed 1975-81 at a cost of £167million;
• Opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1982, and took a further two years to fill;
• Largest man-made lake in the UK (by capacity of water – some 200 billion litres, or 44 billion gallons), being about seven miles long and 170ft at its deepest point;
• Shoreline of more than 27 miles;
• Site of England’s largest hydro-electric plant;
• Water supply feeds the River Tyne and Tyneside, with connections to the Wear, Derwent and Tees, too, ensuring plentiful supply to the whole of North-East whatever the climate;
• 250,000+ visitors per annum for leisure purposes;
• The Kielder Marathon, organised by Steve Cram, runs around the reservoir’s circumference.

Kielder Forest:

• The largest man-made woodland in England (250 square miles);
• Planting begun by the Forestry Commission in the 1920s;
• Approximately half a million cubic metres of timber are felled each year for a variety of uses – to be replaced by three and a half million new trees;
• The conifer, Sitka Spruce, covers 75% of the planted area;
• The forest’s boundary also contains England’s largest area of blanket bog;
• Red squirrel and many birds of prey thrive in the forest, including osprey – and lynx may be released there soon.