SCOTTISH 'CARBON capture' pioneers, Forest Carbon, have been 'highly commended' in the UK Sustainability Leaders Awards.

The 'micro-business', founded by Borders farmer, James Hepburne Scott and former headteacher, Steve Prior, was 'highly commended' in the carbon management award behind the winner, supermarket chain Sainsbury's, and ahead of other category finalists including Tesco.

Since 2006, Forest Carbon - which is run from Lauder, Berwickshire - has brokered 65 UK-based carbon capture woodland creation projects, with almost 4m trees planted. It was also the first company in the UK to gain accreditation for a new woodland under the government's Woodland Carbon Code.

Commenting on the award, the chief executive of the 'Grown in Britain' forest industries initiative, Dougal Driver, said: "Forest Carbon has been at the forefront of the British woodland carbon market and this recognition of their work is well deserved. It has made very significant contributions to the 14,000 ha of woodland now registered with the Forestry Commission's Woodland Carbon Code, and their success is part of a wider renaissance that British forestry and British wood is now enjoying."

Co-founder Mr Hepburne Scott added: "UK woodland carbon is an exciting, fledgling market, and we recognise benefits in being a small and agile enterprise, but conversely it is challenging to get commercial recognition with larger businesses as potential clients. Sainsbury's is a deserving carbon management winner and we are extremely pleased to be highly commended."

From 2008 to 2012, Forest Carbon projects accounted for over 5% of all woodland creation in Scotland, contributing towards the government's aims of reforesting the country and to the UK's international climate change obligations.