Help celebrate Scotland’s Finest Woods
With one month to go until the closing date, Scotland’s Finest Woods (SFW) is inviting nominations for the 2014 SFW Awards.
Now in its ninth year, the awards highlight all that is best in the management of Scotland’s woods and forests and showcase their contribution to the health, wealth and wellbeing of Scotland’s people
Scotland’s Finest Woods’ Executive Director, Peter Wilson, said:
“This year we have seven awards in four main categories so there is plenty of scope for all sorts for projects to be entered in this year’s competition.
“It’s open to communities and schools as well as professional forest managers and forestry businesses but in each case our judges will be seeking out and rewarding the pursuit of excellence.
“It is more keenly fought each year, with entries coming from across Scotland so, with nearly £7,000 of prize money to be won, we’re urging anyone who has a woodland project to put forward to get their skates on, enter the competition today and be part of it!”
Seven awards over four categories recognise and reward those who use, promote or manage Scotland’s woods and forests to deliver economic, environmental and social benefits.
There are four category awards – featuring seven competitions!
The Schools Award is open to secondary, primary, pre-school and special schools that have been involved in fun-packed woodland projects (practical or desk-based). This award includes a trophy, certificate and plaque, cash prizes of £500 and £250 as well as special tree growing kits.
The Community Woodlands Award is for community-based projects and features two separate competitions – one for projects with a ‘health and wellbeing’ focus and a second for those focusing on ‘economic development and regeneration’. The Tim Stead Trophy and £2,000 of prize money is to be won.
The New Native Woods Award is for new native woodland projects – and is rewarded with the Woodland Trust Scotland Trophy and £1,000 of prize money.
The Quality Timber Awards focuses on growing quality timber and has three competitions – newly-planted commercial woods; small woods, single stand or compartment; or whole estates managed as multi-purpose forests. Three trophies and £3,000 of prize money have to be won.
Full details, including entry criteria and entry forms, are available at www.sfwa.co.uk. You can also follow SFW on Facebook
Entries must be received by 31st March and the prize-giving will be held at the Royal Highland Show, Ingliston, on 20th June.
