Our second forester and it shows the badge which was awarded in the late 1930s.
In fact this badge still remains, though it no longer shows an axe, and it is now called the Forester Activity badge. I could say that it also has a more ecological theme, but I am delighted to say that if you read the text on this card you will see that even then there was an emphasis on not just cutting them down, but the recipient of the badge needed to know how to rear young trees, prepare the soil, transplanting, ways to treat diseases and damage, and also understanding the danger of fires in forests, which you may think is a more recent phenomenon.
The list of skills you must study in order to be awarded this badge today shows the key notes of preparing soil and successfully transplanting and growing a sapling still remain., However it now involves forestry management skills, and includes the awareness of early signs of ecological and weather damage. There is one definite change, for it has a more regional theme, including the knowledge of local conditions and soil types, and also you have to be able to identify at least eight trees from your own location.
And tellingly, the only time that tools are mentioned is regarding the knowledge of safe ways to use and store them.
This set is listed in our World Tobacco Issues Index as simply :
BOY SCOUT SERIES. Sm. Nd. (25)