Awards celebrate Scotland's Finest Woods

The winners of Scotland's 'Tree Oscars' have been announced.

Winners of Scotland's Finest Woods Awards 2019 include a large public woodland steeped in forestry history, two innovative young crofters and a nursery where children can spend their entire session in the woods.

A special Centenary Award to mark 100 years since the 1919 Forestry Act went to Fort Augustus Woodlands, part of which includes the first site acquired by the Forestry Commission in Scotland after the 1919 Act. 

Judges said:

"Covering almost 10,000 hectares, these woods are steeped in the history of 20th century forestry, up to the present day. Evident within the forest area is the full spectrum of challenges faced by forest managers over the last 100 years, along with their efforts, responses and initiatives to overcome those challenges."

Another new award for the 2019 – the largest Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards programme ever run – was the Farm Woodland Award for Young People, won by Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer for Lynbreck Croft, near Grantown on Spey.

Judges said they had made an impressive impact in a few short years on an abandoned croft, using the woodlands as shelter for livestock and fuel for the croft.

Lynn Cassells said:

"We have tried to achieve full integration of trees and woodland into the business. They are a valuable asset in terms of shelter for animals and fuel for us – as well as everything they do for biodiversity and soaking up carbon. That three-legged stool of sustainability – the economic, environmental and social benefits of woodlands – is at the heart of everything we are trying to do in our community."

Earthtime Forest School Nursery in Duffus, north of Elgin, was presented with the Schools Award by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a ceremony at the Royal Highland Show. Judges were impressed by the “huge enthusiasm” of staff and the support of the landowner (Duffus Estate) to create a forest kindergarten in a previously unused areas of woodland.

They added: "The aim is to ensure children are allowed to spend their whole nursery session in the woodlands, providing unlimited, uninterrupted play and learning opportunities in nature."

Runner-up in the Schools Award was Levenmouth Academy in Buckhaven, Fife, where Secondary pupils have planted more than 8,000 trees on a site next to the school.

The First Minister said:

"It's wonderful to see young people in Scotland - from nursery through to secondary school - engaging with trees and our natural environment in such a positive way. We have a committed and enthusiastic next generation ready to take up the climate challenge - including planting tens of millions more trees."

Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy, who presented the awards, said:

"This is a huge year for forestry, with full devolution and the smashing of our ambitious planting targets. We are achieving on both quantity and quality as these annual Awards so clearly demonstrate - and it is an enormous pleasure to recognise the exceptional quality on show at Scotland's Finest Woods Awards."

For more information and full list of winners visit the Scotland's Finest Woods Awards website.