Schools and Early Years Awards
We are delighted to be running Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards in 2023 again – entries are now closed. We will provide any updates about the Awards’ programme here on the website or through our social channels – Twitter and LinkedIn.
Scotland’s Finest Woods and the Outdoor & Woodland Learning Scotland (OWLS) team up to run the annual Schools and Early Years Awards in Scotland. The Awards are to encourage and reward schools and pre-schools that increase young people’s understanding and appreciation of the environmental, social and economic potential of trees, woodlands and forests and of the link between trees and everyday wood-based products. You may also be able to enter the Climate Change Champion Award.
Teachers and helpers, as well as pupils, can take part and fun can be had by all!
We would love you to enter next year’s competition! Remember, YOU need to be in it to WIN it!!
Who can enter?
Entry is open to nursery, primary, secondary and special schools anywhere in Scotland.
What sort of project is eligible?
Entries can be practical or desk projects involving forestry, woodlands or trees. Here are some examples of projects that can be entered:
A programme of learning in a woodland or forest environment or in a forest industry setting.
A classroom-based study of woods and forests or the forest industry.
Practical tree planting or woodland improvement projects in school grounds or in the local community.
The entry can be for an ongoing forestry or tree related project, or one that is already completed. For more ideas explore the OWLS website: www.owlscotland.org
Prizes
There are cash prizes of £250 for each of the winning school and early years entries plus winners receiving a Mag Post kindly provided by Caledonia Play and and all four (winners and runners up) a special Tree Pack kindly donated by Alba Trees Nursery containing trees for planting or tree growing kits! Each prizewinning school and early years entry also receive a certificate and a special commemorative wooden display plaque recording their achievement. In addition, the beautiful Crown Estates’ Schools ‘squirrel’ trophy and the Scottish Forestry Early Years’ ‘acorn’ trophy will be awarded at the discretion of the judges with custody by the winning school and early years entry for one year. See the fantastic photograph to the right below taken by the ‘squirrel’ trophy sculptor who kindly lets us use this remarkable photo!
The Crown Estate Scotland and Scottish Forestry each kindly commissioned the fantastic ‘squirrel’ and ‘acorn’ trophies for the Schools and Early Years’ Award and these are shown below:
How you can enter
A simple, short entry form is to be completed and returned by email – see link below:
- download Schools and Early Years Entry Form and Information (Word) version or
- download Schools and Early Years Awards’ Entry Form & Information (PDF version)
Closing date for entries: now closed for 2023. Any late entries will not be considered.
More info …
See list of past winners here >>
Contact person:
Eilidh Malcolm
Education Programme Manager
Scottish Forestry
Silvan House
231 Corstorphine Road
Edinburgh
EH12 7AT
Email: eilidh.malcolm@forestry.gov.scot
Award partner:
Outdoor & Woodland Learning Scotland
