Hunter Blair Trophy for Silvicultural Excellence

About

This Award is for a stand or compartment of trees where the exemplary use of silvicultural techniques, practice and management results in high quality timber production. The silver salver was originally presented by Sir James Hunter Blair of Blairquhan Bt. to the Royal Scottish Forestry Society as a prize for an ‘annual Competition for Woodland Management’. Sir James was a keen forester serving as a District Officer with the Forestry Commission in the 1920s before returning to Ayrshire to manage the family estate at Blairquhan. Here he pursued his enthusiasm for silviculture and took great delight in testing forestry students and more experienced foresters on the identification of the more unusual specimens to be found at Blairquhan. The Hunter Blair Trophy was first awarded in 1964 and Scotland’s Finest Woods has run the competition since 1986 and it is now run as part of the Quality Timber Awards category.

Current Winner

Forestry and Land Scotland for Braeval Forest, Aberfoyle, the Trossachs

Previous Winners

2024 - Forestry and Land Scotland for East Loch Ard Forest – Lochan Spling, Aberfoyle, the Trossachs
2023 - No Award
2022 - No Award
2021 - Aylsa Leslie for Auchintender, Near Huntly, Aberdeenshire
2019 - David Shepherd and Annie Griffiths for Craggach Woods, Kirkhill, Near Inverness
2018 - Sandy Paterson (Senwick Wood, Kirkcudbright Bay)
2017 - No Award
2016 - Forest Enterprise Scotland, Tay Forest District (Allt Charmaig, Errochty Forest, Perthshire)
2015 - No Award
2014 - Virginia Fraser (Fanellan & Ruttle, Inverness-shire)
2013 - Mr Billy Martin (Curr Wood, Morayshire)
2012 - No Award
2011 - Lady Balgonie (Dalnahaiglish, Glenferness Estate, Nairnshire)
2010 - Dr James Bryce (Newbyth Oak Wood, East Lothian)
2009 - Forestry Commission Scotland – Lorne Forest District (Strone Oakwoods, Glen Orchy, Argyllshire)
2008 - Bolfracks Estate (Aberfeldy, Perthshire)
2007 - Dr James Bryce (Newbyth Oak Wood, East Lothian)
2006 - Not Contested
2005 - Not Contested
2004 - No Award
2003 - Novar Estates (Evanton Wood, Ross-shire)
2002 - Birse Community Trust (Finzean Community Woods, Aberdeenshire)
2001 - The Gannochy Trust (Quarryhill Woodland Park, Perth)
2000 - Scottish Wildlife Trust
1999 - R D G Clarke (Edderton Woodlands, Tain, Ross-shire)
1998 - Scottish Wildlife Trust
1997 - F & D Tindall (Straarvie Woods)
1996 - Forestry Commission Scotland (Faskally Forest, Perthshire)
1995 - Lothian Regional Council
1994 - National Trust for Scotland
1993 - Mr C Davison (Fairburn House, Urray, Ross-shire)
1992 - Moray District Council (Millbuies Country Park, Elgin, Morayshire)
1991 - Prof Kenneth Murray (Drumchork,Perthshire)
1990 - Mrs J C Arthur, UA Forestry Ltd (Mains of Milngavie, Glasgow)
1989 - Lady E Barrington
1988 - Andrew Mylius (Saint Fort Estate, Fife)
1987 - Fountain Forestry (New Kelso, Ross-shire)
1986 - The Duke of Buccleuch (Drumlanrig, Dumfriesshire)