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Awards which celebrate the best of Scotland\u2019s woods and forests are marking their 40th year.<\/p>\n
Scotland\u2019s Finest Woods started at a time when many of the large estates employed their own foresters, and they focused on growing quality timber.<\/p>\n
And in the awards\u2019 first year Ardgartan Forest (managed by the then Forestry Commission, now Forestry and Land Scotland) won the John Kennedy Trophy for Multi-purpose Forestry.<\/p>\n
Nowadays the awards celebrate the people involved across all types of Scotland\u2019s woodlands who through their dedication make them the finest examples of a key national natural resource.<\/p>\n
Commercial forests cover about 1 million ha of Scotland and contribute \u00a31.1bn GVA, employing more than 10,000 people.<\/p>\n
Scotland\u2019s Finest Woods\u2019 Quality Timber category has three awards to reflect the importance of good forest management.<\/p>\n
But the awards are unique because they demonstrate the broad range of forestry across Scotland, with the strong origins in productive forestry as well as other great examples of woodland management across society.<\/p>\n
The Tim Stead Trophy, awarded to the best community woodland in the country, is an integral part of this.<\/p>\n
And this year also marks 25 years since the sculptor, whose main medium was wood, passed away.<\/p>\n
Tim Stead helped set up the Wooplaw community woodland near Lauder in 1987. It was the first of its kind in Britain and he is laid to rest within its peaceful setting.<\/p>\n
His widow, Maggy Stead, said: \u201cPeople have latched on to it and been inspired to create community woodlands across Scotland. Now, Scotland can be proud of what has been achieved over the past 40 years or so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nShe added: \u201cWhat I witnessed was that for Tim, planting hardwood forests, managing woodlands, making children aware of the importance of planting trees, these aspects of man\u2019s husbandry with nature, were as important to him as making art.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In 1985, a notice in Royal Scottish Forestry Society\u2019s Journal announced: \u201cA new scheme of forestry awards is being instituted by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland with the support of the Forestry Commission, Timber Growers U.K. (Scotland), the Royal Scottish Forestry Society and the Institute of Chartered Foresters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose of the scheme is to focus public attention on the increasing importance of the forestry industry in the rural and national economy; to give credit to the best achievements of forestry management for the production of timber; to encourage owners to make provision for the enhancement of the landscape, conservation of the natural habitat, recreation, public access and integration with other land use.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first competitions were held in 1986.<\/p>\n
Then, in 1999, a fuller partnership developed to include a number of forestry and environmental organisations to better reflect contemporary woodland management and Scotland\u2019s rapidly developing forest industry. Finally, an independent charity was established in 2005 to run the awards.<\/p>\n
Simon MacGillivray was a director when the Scotland\u2019s Finest Woods was set up as a standalone charity in 2005. He saw this as a point where the focus had to broaden from not just timber production and farming to schools and the community, including the Tim Stead Trophy.<\/p>\n
The Gardening Scotland Show at Ingliston was chosen as the new venue for the awards ceremony, with some added celebrity. Simon said: \u201cWe wanted a public audience for forestry, using the RSFS stall.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cJim McColl from the (BBC) Beechgrove Garden gave the awards and when you get that celebrity it mixes well with the public. They got involved and were able to ask for advice about trees in their gardens.<\/p>\n
\u201cJim McColl was a star for us and would go out with me to schools as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
For 2025, there is a new category of urban forestry, as well as the existing categories of quality timber, farm woodland, new native wood, community woodland, climate change and schools and early years.<\/p>\n
Jean Nairn, executive director of Scotland\u2019s Finest Woods, said the future looks bright: \u201cThe Trustees remain committed to encourage the good management of all types of woodland in Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur roots in recognising the best practice and importance of Quality Timber have grown to champion all forms of woodland and forestry, whether a school or urban wood, a farm woodland, new native wood or community project \u2013 all with the underlying importance of trying to mitigate the climate emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n