FORESTRY took centre stage as a bumper year of entries saw excellence in all sectors, showcased during a grand ceremony at the Scottish Parliament.

Innovative and high-quality work in the forestry sector was recognised at the national event, held by Scotland’s Finest Woods to coincide with National Tree Week.

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In the Quality Timber categories, the prestigious prize of the Dulverton Flagon, for the successful balance between commercial forestry and competing objectives, was awarded to David Shepherd and Annie Griffiths for Craggach Woodland, Inverness-shire. It is not awarded every year, which shows the importance the judges placed on their work.

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

David Shepherd said: “We are growing high quality timber within a biologically and structurally diverse native woodland.” Put simply, timber production comes from trees planted in the middle of native woodland. Mr Shepherd added: “Getting the award is important for us because it validates that system.”

The judges said: “The owners’ desire to demonstrate that a living income can be made from Craggach is inspiring.”

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In the Quality Timber Awards, the James Jones Trophy for New Commercial Woods went to Dalnavie, Alness, Highland, owned by Potanow Forestry LLP and managed by Tilhill Forestry.

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.

Rob Baker, from Tilhill, said: “We are supporting a huge amount of local employment and we are creating a timber resource for the future. And, we are creating a place for people to enjoy, as well as a habitat for wildlife.”

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Woodland Invest’s Knowes & Keltie near Dunning, managed by Scottish Woodlands Ltd was highly commended for the New Commercial Woods Award.

Originally two separate farms, one new woodland was created to establish a productive woodland of quality timber.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.”

Matthew said: “This award is for the whole Imrie family – it is a family farm; dad is the boss but all of us have an input. We are trying to do things on the farm which will make sure it is always there and the forest is part of that strategy.”

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

FULL LIST OF 2024 AWARDS AND WINNERS

Climate Change Champion

Winner of the Climate Change Champion Trophy: The Future Forest Company for Carston, Ayrshire

Commended: Forestry and Land Scotland for Barnhill, Perthshire

Community Woodlands Awards

Winner of the Small Community Woodland Group competition: Westmuir Community Development Trust for Westmuir Community Woodland, Angus

Highly commended: TreeLink Stirling

Winner of the Large Community Woodland Group competition and of the Tim Stead Trophy for overall Community Woodland Award Winner: Highland Perthshire Communities Land Trust for Dùn Coillich, Perthshire

Highly commended: Urban Roots for Malls Mire Community Woodland, Glasgow

Farm Woodland Awards

Winner of the Scottish Woodlands Trophy and Farm Forestry Award for Young People: Matthew Imrie at Hillhead Farm, Torrance, Glasgow

Winner of the Fountains Forestry Award & Lilburn Trophy for Farm/Croft Woodlands: Nicholas Marshall at Baddinsgill Farm, West Linton, Scottish Borders

New Native Woods Award

Winner of the Woodland Trust Scotland Trophy for New Native Woods: Scott and Hannah Farquhar for Constablewood Estate, near Largs, Ayrshire

Quality Timber Awards

Winner of the James Jones Trophy for New Commercial Woods: Dalnavie, Alness, Highland – Potanow Forestry LLP, managed by Tilhill Forestry

Highly commended: Knowes & Keltie, Perthshire – Woodland Invest, managed by Scottish Woodlands Ltd

Winner of the award for a Single Stand, Compartment or Small Wood and the Hunter Blair Trophy for Silvicultural Excellence: East Loch Ard Forest – Lochan Spling, Trossachs – Forestry and Land Scotland

Winner of the John Kennedy Trophy for Multi-purpose Woodlands for Whole Forest or Estate: Cawdor Estates, Nairn

Winner of the Dulverton Flagon as a special prize for the successful balance between commercial forestry and competing objectives: David Shepherd and Annie Griffiths for Craggach Woodland, Inverness-shire

Early Years Award

Winner of the Alba Trees Early Years’ Trophy: NewCroft Childcare and Forest School near Keith, Moray

Runner up: Johnston Nursery in Kirkcudbright

Schools Award

Winners of the Crown Estate Scotland Schools’ Trophy: Selkirk High School

Runner up: Leader Enhanced Provision @ Duns, which is based at Duns Primary School