About SFW
Learn more about Scotland's Finest Woods, and the history of the awards.
Our history
The Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards - run by independent charity, Scotland’s Finest Woods - celebrate the contribution that woodlands can make to the people of Scotland and to its environment and economic prosperity.
The underlying principle of the Awards is that people from across Scotland work hard to support their local communities and the environment, and the Awards provide a way to recognise and reward their achievements and so identify exemplars for others to follow.
The annual Awards programme was first established in 1985. Since 2005 the Awards programme has been managed by a charity which operates as a not-for-profit company. Over time it has expanded to recgonise a wide range of woodland types and initiatives, including schools, new native woods, communitu and commercial woodlands, farm woodlands, climate change and early years projects, and most recently Urban Forestry in 2025.
A special Silver Jubilee Competition held in 2010 to mark the 25th anniversary of the awards attracted a record number of entrants. 2020 marked the 35th year of Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards. In 2025, Scotland’s Finest Woods is celebrated the 40th anniversary since the original partnership was set up.
Corporate Information
Scotland’s Finest Woods is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland (SC294388) and a Scottish Charity (SC039099). SThe Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards – run by independent charity, Scotland’s Finest Woods – celebrate the contribution that woodlands can make to the people of Scotland and to its environment and economic prosperity.
Scotland’s Finest Woods was established in 2005 as an independent not-for-profit company to run the awards with the first competitions run in 2006. The company is a registered charity and is funded by a range of partner organisations and supporters.
A partnership to run an annual awards programme was first established in 1985 by the Forestry Commission, Scottish Woodland Owners’ Association and the Royal Scottish Forestry Society with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland joining later; the first competitions were held in 1986. In 1999 a fuller partnership developed to include a number of forestry and environmental organisations so as to better reflect contemporary woodland management and Scotland’s rapidly developing forest industry. Finally, an independent charity was established in 2005 to run the awards.
Registered Office
Scotland’s Finest Woods
c/o 1 Ravelston House Loan
Edinburgh
EH4 3LY
Board of Directors
Alison Chisholm
Dr Alicja Dzieciol
Stuart Glen
Wilma Harper (Chair)
Sam Best
Tim Liddon
Guy Watt
Peter Whitfield
Company Secretary
Jean Nairn
Ready to enter the awards?
Entries are now open for the 2026 awards. Explore the different categories.
Enter Now