Commendation for Coupar Angus woods

An outstanding Perthshire community woodland has been recognised in an annual awards ceremony.

The 2017 Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards showcase the outstanding contributions made by woodland to people, the environment and the economy.

And Butterybank Community Woodland by Coupar Angus was one of those commended in the presentations at the Royal Highland Show.

The woodland officially came into being in December 2015. What was once a field was transformed with hundreds of trees and shrubs, with Coupar Angus Primary School pupils also getting their hands dirty in the planting sessions.

Since then it has become a community asset, with primary school pupils using it as an outdoor classroom and many other social activities being held there.

Fergus Ewing MSP who presented the accolades, said:“Forestry and timber is worth £1 billion annually to Scotland’s economy and employs more than 25,000 people - but its wider social, educational and environmental value to communities and individuals is incalculable.

“The people who win these awards are passionate and united by a desire to sustain, maintain, expand and most importantly enjoy our forests and woodland. It is fantastic that Scotland’s Finest Woods recognises and celebrates the contribution that people from across Scotland make.”