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The award was presented on Friday 21 June at the Royal Highland Show, by Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy in the Scottish Government, following an introductory speech from Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland.
Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2019 | © Julie Broadfoot / Juliebee – www.juliebee.co.uk
Fergus Ewing explained the importance of forestry to Scotland, in terms of creating sustainable resources in the ‘low-carbon age’ and of creating opportunities for young people in an industry which generates £1bn a year in Scotland.
Mr Ewing read out the Judges Summary by saying;
“This an excellent example of what can be achieved in a new commercial woodland. Everything about it is impressive from the improved Norway Spruce to high-quality machine planting of Sitka. Planning and design have been very effective, and the team have clearly worked closely with archaeological interests given the adjacent Roman road and scheduled Iron Age hill fort.
A great deal of care has gone into appropriate cultivation and the establishment of what will become a commercial forest of consistently high-quality. The owners have invested in a quality internal road network and are working hard to achieve the best option for access onto the public road.”
The award was received by Jason Sinden, Investment Director (Acquisitions & Forestry) at Gresham House and by the woodland manager, Andy Dunsmuir of Tilhill Forestry Ltd who implemented the operations.
Jason Sinden was delighted to receive the award, saying:
“I am very proud of our role in achieving the objectives of our client, Mr Mervyn Harrison. In this project, we have successfully combined growing quality timber, with achieving environmental objectives. It is proof that financial returns can be achieved in an environmentally sustainable way and provides a model for land-use in Scotland.”
The award has been running for eight years and Gresham House projects have received top prizes in five of those years.
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