FWN38 Autumn 2022 – Finest Farm Woodlands Rewarded in Scotland’s ‘Tree Oscars’

Scotland’s finest farm woodlands have been recognised in the annual ‘Tree Oscars’ for their role in providing shelter for livestock, diversifying farm incomes – and much more.

Allanfauld Farm, near Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire, was a double winner in Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2022. Fourth generation family farmer John MacGregor and forester Andy Maclachlan jointly won the Young People’s Farm Woodland Award and family farm owners A MacGregor (Allanfauld) Ltd were highly commended in the ‘all age’ award. Independent expert judges said it was an excellent example of integrated farming and forestry.

The ‘all age’ Farm Woodland Award and Lilburn Trophy was shared between Williamwood, Lockerbie and Knockbain Farm, Dingwall in Ross-shire. Williamwood, judges said, was “striving to improve woodland habitats in complete fusion with food production and taking these mission statements to the public via their holiday accommodation”.

They continued: “A wind that hails from the Solway Firth gathers momentum but the woods and hedges of Williamwood allow stock to graze unhindered and benefit unquestionably from them.

Specific fields are used for keeping stock out longer with shelter and shade, grass growth has an extended growing season with improved herd health.

Without the woodland, the farmers Michael and Shirley Clarke said, “the farm would be exposed to the strong winds which blow from the Solway, the grass would not grow as well and we, our livestock and the wildlife would shiver.”

Joint winner Knockbain Farm was also praised for the shelter provided by trees, which “undoubtedly increased the farm’s capital value”. Firewood provides heating through a biomass boiler for the farmhouse and income is generated through timber sales. Judges described it as “an outstanding example of what can be achieved in environmental, social and business terms by expanding woodland connectivity through new planting and establishment of hedgerows”.

At Allanfauld, judges said John MacGregor, who still works closely with his father, Archie on the 623-hectare farm, and Andy, Scottish Woodland Ltd.’s Regional Manager for South West Scotland, had developed mutual respect and trust after almost a decade working together on planting.

They said: “Andy is primarily a forester with some limited knowledge of farming but a recognition of the importance of working closely with farmer clients and respecting their needs and interests.

“John is a farmer through and through with little interest in the details of forestry per se but with a very strong interestin knowing how new plantings can be designed to ensure they integrate well with his livestock interests. Andy and he have worked closely on all aspects of design, planting and follow-up management.”

The judges described John MacGregor and his father Archie as forward-thinking, adding: “Historically, this has been reflected in their focus on the improvement and marketing of their premium livestock enterprises. But, they also recognise the importance of diversification for improving the overall farm viability and have shown a willingness to incorporate new approaches.”

A Highly Commended prize in the ‘all-age’ Farm Woodland category was collected by Andrew and Jayne Adamson, of Netherurd Home Farm, Blyth Bridge, West Linton, Scottish Borders, owned by W Laird & Sons. Almost 40 hectares of the 253-hectare farm is woodland.

The judges said: “Andrew takes a keen interest in the management of the woodlands and is clear in his own mind what he wants to achieve within each woodland. The main benefits are providing shelter as well as shade around landscape/aesthetics and alternative income, for example from saw logs and firewood sales.”

The Farm Woodland Awards are sponsored by SAC Consulting and Scottish Woodlands Ltd. The winner of the overall award receives the beautiful Lilburn Trophy, a silver salver donated by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. The Young People’s Award receives a striking trophy created by Scottish Woodlands Ltd when the award was introduced in 2019.

The awards were presented at the Royal Highland Show. Angela Douglas, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, said: “We had a strong group of entries for the two Farm Woodland prizes this year and we were very pleased to be able to honour them in person for the first time since 2019. The judges were again impressed by how skilfully and successfully the winners and commended entries had integrated woodlands into their farm enterprises to deliver multiple benefits.”

Other winners at the Awards included a couple who planted 14,000 trees on a rocky peninsula in the Western Isles and a primary school which moved 80% of its learning outdoors during the pandemic.

Judges also made a rare award of The Dulverton Flagon, a special prize last handed out in 2016, to the large Cormilligan planting site in Upper Nithsdale, Dumfries & Galloway – “an excellent example of modern Scottish forestry, delivering multiple objectives, focusing on quality timber and climate change mitigation” – and praised the winners for their “ambition, vision, and ability to take on board others’ views and criticism in its development.”

Màiri McAllan, Minister for Environment and Land Reform, who presented the Awards, said: “Scotland boasts a strong woodland heritage that is admired by many countries and its international reputation for good woodland management is well deserved.

“The Awards celebrate the achievements and hard work of all those who create and care for our forests and woodlands, and instil a love of trees in our young people.

“I’d like to congratulate all the winners who are keeping Scotland’s woodlands the finest they can be.”

Full list of awarded entries Early Years Award

Winner of the Scottish Forestry Early Years’ Trophy: Johnston Nursery, Kirkcudbright Runner up: Balgreen Nursery, Edinburgh

Schools Award

Joint Winners of the Crown Estate Scotland Schools’ Trophy: Grandtully Primary School, Perthshire and Priorsford Primary School, Peebles

Farm Woodland Award

Winner of the Scottish Woodlands Ltd. Trophy for Young People: John MacGregor and Andy Maclachlan for Allanfauld Farm, Kilsyth

Joint Winners of the Lilburn Trophy for Farm Woodlands

Michael and Shirley Clarke for Williamwood, Lockerbie and The Lockett Family for Knockbain Farm, Dingwall, Ross-shire.

Highly Commended: W Laird and Sons for Netherurd Home Farm, Blyth Bridge, West Linton and A MacGregor (Allanfauld) Ltd. for Allanfauld Farm, Kilsyth

New Native Woods Award

Winner of the Woodland Trust Scotland Trophy for New Native Woods: Mike and Fiona Coulthard for 1, Ardnakille, Scalpay, Isle of Harris

Quality Timber Awards

New Commercial Woods category Winner of the James Jones Trophy for New Commercial Woods: The Forestry Partnership 2008 LLP for Succothmore, Strachur, Cowal

The Dulverton Flagon

Winner of the Dulverton Flagon as a special prize for the successful balance between commercial forestry and competing objectives: Mrs J C Hands for Cormilligan, Dumfries and Galloway

Community Woodlands Award Winner of the Small Community Woodland Group competition and of the Tim Stead Trophy for overall Community Woodland Award Winner: Taliesin Community Woodland, Near Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway

Highly Commended – Small Community Woodland Group competition: Cormonachan Community Woodlands, Carrick Castle, Argyll

Commended – Large Community Woodland Group competition: Dronley Community Woodland, Auchterhouse, Angus

in the Western Isles and a primary school which moved 80% of its learning outdoors during the pandemic.

Judges also made a rare award of The Dulverton Flagon, a special prize last handed out in 2016, to the large Cormilligan planting site in Upper Nithsdale, Dumfries & Galloway

– “an excellent example of modern Scottish forestry, delivering multiple objectives, focusing on quality timber and climate change mitigation” – and praised the winners for their “ambition, vision, and ability to

take on board others’ views and criticism in

Màiri McAllan, Minister for Environment and Land Reform, who presented the Awards, said: “Scotland boasts a strong woodland heritage that is admired by many countries and its international reputation for good woodland management is well deserved.

“The Awards celebrate the achievements and hard work of all those who create and care for our forests and woodlands, and instil a love of trees in our young people.

“I’d like to congratulate all the winners who are keeping Scotland’s woodlands the finest

cropping and grassland fields, increasing the

who planted 14,000 trees on a rocky peninsula

its development”.