Farming and forestry - a celebration of Scotland’s Finest Woods

Ardnakille, Scalpay.

The deadline for applications for this year’s Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards is fast approaching, and farming is expected to play a significant role.

Last year, the farming sector was championed from large scale operations, to young farmers working with forestry colleagues, and a special commendation for crofters in the Western Isles.

Their work showed how trees can be used for a range of environmental benefits – appropriate in 2023 as we see the return of the Climate Change Champion Award – including shelter for livestock, flooding mitigation and increased biodiversity.

In many ways it is best to let the winners explain what made them enter, and why so many others should think of doing so this year.=

Joint winners of the 2022 Farm Woodland Award and the Lilburn Trophy - Michael Clarke, Williamwood near Lockerbie and Richard Lockett, of Knockbain near Dingwall.

Michael Clarke said: “We are livestock farmers and we recognised the importance of integrating trees into the farmscape. The farm has a lot of ancient and semi-natural woods and we can see the benefits they provide to our livestock in terms of shelter, shade and biodiversity.

“So, we have expanded our woods with young broadleaf, native species which we have planted in association with local school children and members of the local community.”

Richard Lockett, of Knockbain Farm, Dingwall, said: “I like trees! And, all the benefits that they can provide from a farming and wildlife point of view. It was the wildlife benefit that kicked it off but there is also the benefit of shelter, producing timber, storing carbon and biodiversity.”

Woodland at Allanfauld, near Kilsyth.

The Scottish Woodlands Ltd Trophy for Young People in the Farm Woodlands category was carried off in 2022 by John MacGregor (farmer) and Andy Maclachlan (forester with Scottish Woodlands Ltd) for Allanfauld Farm, Kilsyth.

Andy Maclachlan said Scottish Woodlands Ltd had built up a relationship of trust and mutual respect with John MacGregor and his dad Archie.

“At the start of the process, it’s so important to build trust. Some benefits are a long way into the future and that needs to be explained carefully. Scottish Woodlands did that and the MacGregors saw significant potential benefits to planting at Allanfauld, especially in bringing more marginal areas of the farm into productive use, so we went ahead.

“The main focus was not on the trees per se, but what those trees could deliver in terms of tangible business benefits. How would they add to the bottom line and long-term resilience of the farm business?”

Mike and Fiona Coulthard of Ardnakille, Scalpay, off the Isle of Harris took home the Woodland Trust Scotland Trophy for the New Native Woodland Award last year. Mike said: “Historically the islands were full of trees before the Vikings cleared them.”

Fiona: “Sheep on the land stops anything. We didn’t have many but clearing them off allowed indigenous growth – we saw creeping willow emerging on the hillside.”

At the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards we strive to showcase the best in the management of Scotland’s woods and forests, and highlight the ways they contribute to the wealth and well-being of our nation. Magnificent trophies and cash prizes are available to be won and we welcome your entries for the 2023 Awards Programme which is now open.

The 2023 line-up consists of the return of all six Awards. That includes the highly topical Climate Change Champion Award, available for direct entry from across Scotland with the competition open to any forest, woodland or a school / pre-school climate change related learning project.

Scotland's Finest Woods Awards 2022 at the Royal Highland Show. From left Michael Clarke, Williamwood, Environment Minister Mairi McAllan and Richard Lockett, Knockbain – © Julie Broadfoot.

We are excited to have three awards for quality timber production:

– one for new commercial woods where the James Jones Trophy and £1,000 are available to be awarded to the winner.

– one for a single stand of trees or a compartment or a small wood with the Hunter Blair Trophy and £1,000 available to the winner.

– one for whole estates or forests with the John Kennedy Trophy and £1,000 for the winner.

The Farm Woodland Award was introduced in 2018 and has two competitions:

– one for an active farmer/crofter anywhere in Scotland with the magnificent Lilburn Trophy and £1,000 ready to be won.

– one for a young, active farmer/crofter and/or their forester/woodland manager with the Scottish Woodlands Ltd Trophy for Young People and £1,000 cash to be awarded.

The New Native Woodland Award is one competition:

– new native woodland natural regeneration or planting: the Woodland Trust Scotland Trophy and £1,000 are available to be awarded to the winner.

And if that’s not enough there are also two awards each for community woodlands and schools / early years.

There are 11 competitions in all, providing lots of opportunities to enter with a category for everyone of any age involved in managing woods and forests anywhere in Scotland. You may enter one or more competitions if you meet the entry criteria for each.

We are very grateful to our team of volunteer judges who will visit all short-listed entrants in each prize category in May/June to find the very best entries. We would also like to acknowledge our generous supporters, from public, private and third sectors, without whom the Awards programme would not be possible.

Go to www.sfwa.co.uk to find out more and enter. But hurry as the deadline is March 31.