Awards forbest woods

Nominations are now being sought to find Scotland’s finest woodland.

Applications have opened for Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards and annual prizegiving to recognise and showcase the woods and forests of Scotland, and the health benefits they can bring to communities.

There are seven awards in four different categories, including for new native woods, crown estate schools trophy, large community and small community woodland, and for quality timber, where the last small woods award went to Forest Enterprise Scotland in Errochty Forest near Tummel Bridge.

Angela Douglas, executive director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, said: “We have some of the world’s finestquality forests and woods in Scotland and our annual programme sets out to find them and reward them for their excellence.

“That involves showcasing everything from educating children about the wonder of woodlands to rewarding highly-skilled forest management, excellent community woodland projects, superb new native and commercial woodland creation and the production of quality timber.

“The awards aim to seek out our woodland stars and to shine a light on their work and give them the recognition they deserve.”

The winners will be announced at the Royal Highland Show in June next year. Visit www.sfwa.co.uk