Scotland's Finest Woods Awards

Roll of honour

Winners 2010

Winners' profiles in full >>

Schools Award >>

Community Woodlands Award >>

Silver Jubilee Competition >>

Schools Award

Winner: Charleston Academy, Kinmylie, Inverness

Joint runners up: Craigievar School, Craigievar, Aberdeenshire

Joint runners up: Crossroads Nursery, Durris, Banchory, Kincardineshire

Winner's Profile

Charleston Academy was singled out by the judges for the way it was effectively engaged in developing learning opportunities through a Forest School programme, rural skills training and conservation work all using woodlands in the school's catchment area.

Tim Stead Trophy for Community Woodlands

Winner: Forres Community Woodlands Trust for Sanquhar Woodlands, Forres, Moray

Runner-up: Woodroad Regeneration Forum for Templand Wood, Cumnock, Ayrshire

Highly Commended: Mr Simon Jackson for Birkenhill Wood, Elgin, Moray

Commended: Cardenden Wood Access Project, Cardenden, Fife

Winner's Profile

The Forres Community Woodlands Trust was formed in 1999 to purchase a woodland threatened with development on behalf of the local community; Sanquhar Woodlands was purchased in 2002. The FCWT's mission is 'making the woodlands of Forres relevant to the local community'.

The judges considered that the project is the 'gold standard for community woodlands' with 'an astonishing and professional approach'. They say more should be done to encourage others to visit and learn. Local Chartered Foresters freely giving of their time combined with committed volunteers from across the community plus thinking outside the box provide for what the judges described as 'an outstanding and professional approach'.

Silver Jubilee Competition

Overall Winner of the Silver Jubilee Prize

Glenmore Forest Park, Aviemore, Inverness-shire
submitted by Forestry Commission Scotland

Hunter Blair Trophy for Silvicultural Excellence

Winner: Newbyth Oak Wood, East Linton, East Lothian
submitted by Dr James Bryce

Dulverton Flagon for Innovation and Diversity

Winner: Glenlivet Estate, Tomintoul, Banffshire
submitted by The Crown Estate

John Kennedy Trophy for Multi-purpose Woodlands

Winner: Glenmore Forest Park, Aviemore, Inverness-shire
submitted by Forestry Commission Scotland

Runner-up: Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park, Kinnoull, Perth
submitted by a partnership of Forestry Commission Scotland, The Gannochy Trust, Perth & Kinross Council and St Mary's Monastery

Highly Commended: Abriachan Forest, Loch Ness, Inverness-shire
submitted by Abriachan Forest Trust

Commended: Achray Forest, Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire

submitted by Forestry Commission Scotland

Summary Profiles

Glenmore Forest Park, Aviemore, Inverness-shire
managed by Forestry Commission Scotland (Inverness, Ross & Skye Forest District)

The winner of the John Kennedy Trophy in 1992, Glenmore was the first of the Forestry Commission's declared Caledonian Forest Reserves.

The judges considered Glenmore to be an outstanding forest; they said that 'the scale of change to achieve objectives in Glenmore has been dramatic and the importance of the forest within the Cairngorms National Park has increased significantly since it won the John Kennedy Trophy. The estate now combines biodiversity conservation, timber production and high quality access in an impressive way, handling 350,000 visitors across the forest park each year'.

Newbyth Oak Wood, East Linton, East Lothian
managed by Colin MacBrayne

The winner of the Hunter Blair Trophy in 2007, the objective at Newbyth is high quality hardwood timber production, with amenity and recreation also important but secondary.

The judges described the oak wood as 'an exemplar of broadleaf silviculture'. The quality of crop management was singled out for praise with the thinning, brashing and monitoring an excellent demonstration of what is sadly a dying art in Scotland and 'a window on the past'. Whilst the production of hardwood timber is the main objective, the judges note that nature conservation and amenity benefits are largely provided by default but are no less valuable for that.

Glenlivet Estate, Tomintoul, Banffshire
managed by The Crown Estate

The winner of the John Kennedy Trophy in 1993, Glenlivet Estate includes 3,500 ha of commercial forests which have been managed by The Crown Estate since 1985. The aim is to produce a sustainable crop of commercial timber for the future and long term employment in the area, while maintaining and improving the benefits for shelter, diversity for wildlife and facilities for recreation.

The judges described Glenlivet as a dynamic, well run estate which is continually innovating. The changes since the original award in 1992 are substantial and continue to progress. The small staff team is praised for its efforts to engage with those who can benefit, ranging from schools to businesses. The quality of forest management was considered high and well planned with recreation facilities of a high standard - the adventure playground at Tomintoul was considered particularly noteworthy. The judges felt that the estate's keen and enthusiastic focus on innovation and drawing in partners and resources to contribute to and benefit from the estate was particularly worthy of recognition and reward hence their decision to award a special prize for innovation and diversity.