The Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards ceremony will be moved to November to give the chance to celebrate National Tree Week at the same time, the charity’s Trustees have announced.
The decision was made after the Scottish Parliament was secured as a venue to showcase the best of woods and forests across Scotland. It also means the deadline for entries can be extended to the end of May – allowing even more of the best practice from farms to forestry to communities, and of course the battle against climate change, to be championed.
Jean Nairn, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, said: “Finding a new home for the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards is a great opportunity for us. Climate, community, forestry and farming are at the heart of what we do and we are excited to take the celebrations to the Scottish Parliament.
“And, what could be a better time for all this than National Tree Week when the focus will be on the woodlands and forests of the country?”
The awards ceremony will be on November 27 with the new deadline of May 31 for entries.
However, in order for judging to fit into the school year, the Schools and Early Years Awards deadline remained at March 31 and has now passed.
There are 11 trophies on offer in six categories at the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2024 – New Native Woods, Farm Woodland, Quality Timber, Community Woodlands, Climate Change Champion, and Schools and Early Years.
Because of this breadth of awards, anyone with a high-quality project can still enter, whether that be a forestry business – small or large – an expert forester, farmer or crofter, or a community woodland group.
Guy Watt, Chair of Scotland’s Finest Woods, the charity which operates the programme, said: “This year was already looking set to be a great success and because we have secured the Scottish Parliament during National Tree Week it only promises to be even better.
“Celebrating and championing the environment as well as the community and commercial work which contributes to a wonderful diversity of woodlands in our country is really important and it is great we continue to do this.
“The work of the judges, sponsors and supporters and of course the entrants, means we can enjoy this fantastic celebration of trees, woodland and forestry in all its forms, so huge thanks go to all of them.”
For full details, criteria and entry forms see: www.sfwa.co.uk
