Scotland's Finest Woods Awards 2018

Applications have opened for Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2018, an annual opportunity to reward and showcase the contribution of our woods and forests to the health and wealth of communities across Scotland.  

Confor is a supporter of the Awards programme, and a number of its members are also partners and supporters.  

Last year’s Awards winners came from a huge geographical area, from the Borders Forest Trust Carrifran Wildwood Group in the south to the Airor Common Grazings in Knoydart in the north west.  

There was also an enormous spread in the types of winners, from Scotland’s largest productive planting scheme of the modern era (at Jerah, near Menstrie, Clackmannanshire) to a primary school in South Lanarkshire.  

“We have some of the world’s finest-quality forests and woods in Scotland and our annual programme sets out to find them and reward them for their excellence,” said Angela Douglas, Executive Director of Scotland's Finest Woods. 

“That involves showcasing everything from educating children about the wonder of woodlands to rewarding highly-skilled forest management, excellent community woodland projects, superb new native and commercial woodland creation and the production of quality timber. 

“There is wonderful work going on across Scotland – but it is often done by modest people, away from the public gaze. The Awards aim to seek out our woodland stars and to shine a light on their work and give them the recognition they deserve.” 

The winners are honoured at an annual Awards presentation at the Royal Highland Show in June. Applications are now open for 2018, with striking trophies and almost £7,000 of prize money to be won.  

Presenting the 2017 Awards, Fergus Ewing MSP, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, said: “Forestry and timber is worth £1 billion annually to Scotland’s economy and employs more than 25,000 people, but its wider social, educational and environmental value to communities and individuals is incalculable.  

“The people who win these Awards are passionate and united by a desire to sustain, maintain, expand and most importantly enjoy our forests and woodland. It is fantastic that Scotland’s Finest Woods recognises and celebrates the contribution that people from across Scotland make in their hard work to support their local communities and the environment.” 

There are seven awards in four categories. For a full list of 2017 winners, commended and highly commended entries – and to find out how to enter the 2018 Awards  (including criteria and entry forms), go to www.sfwa.co.uk 

The Awards' key delivery partners are: BSW Timber, Egger Forestry, Forestry Commission Scotland, Iggesund Forestry, James Jones & Sons Ltd, Outdoor & Woodland Learning Scotland, Scottish Woodlands Ltd, Tilhill Forestry and the Woodland Trust Scotland. . Supporters are: Alba Trees, Caledonia Play, Central Scotland Green Network Trust, Community Woodlands Association, Confor, Institute of Chartered Foresters and Royal Scottish Forestry Society.