Strong roots in woodlands and forestry championed at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2024

Local groups, farmers, foresters and large estates were all recognised at the national event, held by Scotland’s Finest Woods to coincide with National Tree Week.

Jean Nairn, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, said: “After tireless work from our dedicated team of judges, we are proud to have such a fantastic group of winners.

“The production of high-quality timber in an environmentally-sustainable way, and the use of woodland by farmers to help them improve their yields as well as creating biodiversity, are just some of the great examples of how woods and forests can boost both the climate and the economy. When you add in the work of communities, schools and hard-working smallholders, you have a superb range of work to champion.

“Here’s to the future of Scotland’s wonderful woodlands and forests – they are certainly showing strong signs of growth.”

Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2024 saw 11 trophies awarded in six categories – Quality Timber, Farm Woodland, New Native Woods, Community Woodlands, Climate Change Champion, and Schools and Early Years.

Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform & Islands, who presented many of the Awards, said: “This year’s Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards is a fantastic way to celebrate the very best in forestry in Scotland and to pay tribute to the many people and organisations that devote so much time and effort into creating and caring for woodlands.

“The sheer variety of awards, including farming to communities and schools, to native and productive woodlands, really demonstrates the breadth and depth of forestry in Scotland.

“Congratulations everyone involved and especially the winners who have had their hard work recognised in this prestigious way.”

The James Jones Trophy for New Commercial Woods went to Dalnavie, Alness, Highland, owned by Potanow Forestry LLP and managed by Tilhill Forestry. The award was presented to Tilhill Forest Manager Rob Baker at the presentation ceremony at at the Scottish Parliament.

The woodland creation scheme was designed to create a sustainable, productive timber resource that protects and enhances key habitats, whilst promoting other benefits such as public access, landscape character and amenity value.

The judges were very impressed with the outstanding quality of early growth and said the site has used machine planting well, and to allow better access and enable a “dramatic” reduction in the use of chemicals. They added: “Dalnavie has fitted well into a wooded landscape and is well placed to provide high quality timber to a number of local sawmills and to the wider forest industry.”

The Dulverton Flagon, a special prize for the successful balance between commercial forestry and competing objectives, was won by David Shepherd and Annie Griffiths for Craggach Woodland, Inverness-shire.

The pair have transformed a 1950s conifer plantation into a site growing high quality broadleaf timber within a biologically and structurally diverse native wood.

The judges said Craggach is an “excellent example of a native woodland that has both high environmental value and the potential for high economic value”. They added: “The owners’ desire to demonstrate that a living income can be made from Craggach is inspiring.

“Their hands-on approach covers a wide range of activities – such as rearing ground vegetation transplants, deer management, re-spacing, pruning, thinning, sawmilling and solar kilning.”

A plan to improve timber quality while maintaining tree cover to protect the soil from erosion, and provide shelter and food for wildlife saw the award for a Single Stand, Compartment or Small Wood and the Hunter Blair Trophy for Silvicultural Excellence go to Forestry and Land Scotland for East Loch Ard Forest – Lochan Spling in the Trossachs.

The judges said: “It was heartening to see the switch to crown thinning in this stand and the upskilling required for both supervisors and machine operators.  The outcome is excellent: a more open stand retaining deep-crowned and more stable trees; an enhanced visual experience along the recreation routes; increase in light to initiate natural regeneration; on track to ensure a higher yield of sawlogs.”

A large estate in Moray was rewarded for its work to provide quality timber, as well as maintaining good-practice conservation.

The judges awarded the John Kennedy Trophy for Multi-purpose Woodlands for Whole Forest or Estate to Cawdor Estates, Nairn.  They said they came to their decision because “the long-term forest planning ensures regular and sustainable production of timber and the use of competitive tendering maximises economic returns for the owners”.

“This is balanced by work to significantly increase the area of native woodland, conserve key habitats and species, as well as providing safe access for visitors.”

In farming, Matthew Imrie from Hillhead Farm, Torrance, Glasgow, took the much sought-after Scottish Woodlands Trophy and Farm Forestry Award for Young People for some innovative work.

The judges commended the farmer for implementing and encouraging a woodland creation project on a poor part of the farm, improving both the farming activity, the biodiversity value of the farm and the future financial resilience.  And they encouraged him to do more: “The applicant should be encouraged to explore other woodland creation projects that might deliver similar synergies.”

Managing existing farm woodlands in an “exemplary” fashion won the Fountains Forestry Award & Lilburn Trophy for Farm/Croft Woodlands for Nicholas Marshall at Baddinsgill Farm, West Linton, Scottish Borders.

The judges said: “Baddinsgill is a fine example of diversified land management in the Pentland Hills … the commitment, enthusiasm, knowledge and experience of the Marshall family give Baddinsgill the best opportunity to thrive into the future.”

Scott and Hannah Farquhar for Constablewood Estate, near Largs, Ayrshire, transformed their traditional sheep farm with planting which complements existing woodland, winning the Woodland Trust Scotland Trophy for New Native Woods.

The judges were impressed with the owner’s enthusiasm for the project. They added: “Hannah Farquhar accompanied the judges with the agent during the visit and displayed an impressive knowledge of the site and a willingness to learn from her agent.

“In short, a lovely woodland created by passionate people to improve their environment whilst taking advantage of the benefits it provides. An improvement to the livestock on the farm and future integration of woodland grazing in the future.”

Community woodlands are a key part of the Awards and Westmuir Community Development Trust for Westmuir Community Woodland, Angus, was the worthy winner of the Small Community Woodland Group competition.

It might be a small wood but the judges had high praise, calling it “impressive”. They added: “The group’s engagement with its community and the in-kind support it benefits from is impressive.”

The prestigious Tim Stead Trophy for overall Community Woodland Award Winner went to Highland Perthshire Communities Land Trust for Dùn Coillich, Perthshire, who won the Large Community Woodland Group competition.

The Trust bought 423 hectares in 2002. What had been a heavily browsed deer park was transformed to provide public access, increase biodiversity and provide education and training for young people and adults.

The judges said: “Overall, this is an excellent project delivering many benefits for the communities of Highland Perthshire within the local catchment area. In particular, the judges were impressed by the rural skills training being delivered onsite by the project.”

At a time of rising temperatures and threat of environmental catastrophe, the Climate Change Champion Trophy is an important award and this year it went to The Future Forest Company for Carston, Ayrshire.

After extensive public consultation on the 66-hectare site in East Ayrshire, the team designed a new woodland and surrounding habitats that equally addresses climate change and biodiversity collapse while also contributing to local people and communities.

A diverse range of species were used to mitigate the main effects of future climate scenarios in Scotland, including an increased risk of drought, increased frequency of extreme weather events and a higher risk of pests and disease.

The objectives of the woodland are to balance carbon sequestration with creating a habitat that enhances biodiversity, while also ensuring an aesthetically pleasing woodland for local people to use for recreation and education.

The Awards for the Schools and Early Years categories had been announced earlier in the year but both winners were at the ceremony to receive their trophies. The Alba Trees Early Years’ Trophy went to NewCroft Childcare and Forest School near Keith, Moray, and Selkirk High School took the Crown Estate Scotland Schools’ Trophy.

Emma Harper MSP, member of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee and the Awards ceremony’s sponsor MSP, said: “Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate our trees and woodlands, and especially, all the inspiring people who care for them, including from Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, in my South Scotland Region. I’d like to congratulate the award nominees and everyone involved.

“I am thrilled to be sponsoring the Awards reception in the Parliament and look forward to speaking with, and hearing from everyone who is passionate about Scottish woodlands and the economic and environmental contribution they make to our communities and country as a whole.”