Forestry tent returns to Royal Highland Show

Building on last year’s success, Forestry Commission Scotland is again hosting the area at the show - attended by 190,000 visitors over four days in 2017 - alongside Confor, the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) and Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT). The popular virtual reality forest experience will also return to the tent. 

Woodland Officers from Forestry Commission Scotland and agents will be on hand to offer expert advice on the grant options available, while Confor and ICF members can discuss forest design and management and offer guidance on grant applications. 

There will also be a dedicated skills section to help promote the forestry industry to future talent. 

Shireen Chambers, ICF Executive Director, said: “The Institute is delighted to again be supporting Forestry Commission Scotland with a dedicated forestry stand at the Royal Highland Show and working in partnership with others in our sector.” 

Stuart Goodall, CEO of Confor, said: “There are very significant benefits in the current climate for famers thinking about planting trees on their land. The Forestry Tent is a great opportunity for anyone interested to find out more and discuss the potential with the experts.” 

Visitors to the tent will be able to explore how grant schemes, including Sheep and Trees, as well as the CSGN Uplift, can diversify farm businesses through woodland creation – to provide bioenergy, shelter belts for livestock, flood alleviation, carbon and biodiversity benefits, and bring under-utilised ground into productive use for secure longer-term incomes. 

They can also discover how the timber might be used for everything from Scotland’s future housing to its emerging bioeconomy. And with UK timber prices reaching record highs this year, they can find out how much the trees they are already growing might be worth. 

Visitors can also try out a Virtual Reality forestry career tour, try to fell a tree with a harvesting simulator, and tweet a selfie with our big machines or mini forest. 

To find out more and ask questions in advance, tweet us using #RHSForestry.

The Forestry Tent is a collaboration between Forestry Commission Scotland @fcscotlandnews, Confor @forestsandwood, Institute of Chartered Foresters @TheICF, and Central Scotland Green Network @csgreennetwork.