A MULTIPURPOSE Cumbrian woodland and a social enterprise bringing nature to young people were among the winners of 2023’s Royal Forestry Society (RFS) Excellence in Forestry Awards.
A total of 10 forestry-related projects from across the north of England were recognised at a recent ceremony at Durham’s Ushaw House – placing gold or silver in one of the five categories.
RFS president Ben Herbert said: “These awards have uncovered some truly remarkable projects from which others around the country will be able to learn.
“From an estate in Cumbria encouraging a local economy where more people work in forestry than farming, to a Community Interest Company in Gateshead which is supporting young people into careers they never thought possible, these awards are revealing how new thinking can transform woodlands and lives.”
Nicholas Stanley’s Witherslack Woodlands was named the gold winner in the Duke of Cornwall’s Award for Resilient Multipurpose Forestry category, with the Hovingham Estate, Hovingham, York, owned by Sir William Worsley and managed by Tilhill, taking silver.
The Bede Howell Award for Excellence in Silviculture went to Snowden Close near Brampton, Cumbria, owned by Ash Moss and managed by Pryor and Rickett Silviculture, while Sir William’s estate claimed another silver-placed finish in that category.
Unable to attend the presentations, the Forestry Commission chair said: “I have enjoyed spending time in the woods at Hovingham ever since I was a child, and I hope that they will continue to be an attractive place for many years to come.
“As well as producing quality timber, I have maintained the strong emphasis on amenity and biodiversity.
“The woodland has evolved over many years and we have aimed to create a balanced and resilient environment by planting in mixtures and leaving specific areas undisturbed. I am thrilled to accept the Silver Duke of Cornwall Award for Resilient Multipurpose Forestry.”
Romola and Edward Acland’s Oaks Wood, Kendal, claimed the Small and Farm Woodland of the Year Award, with Hale Moss Wood and Meadows, owned by Roger and Nancy Cartwright, a close runner-up.
Stomping Grounds Forest School, which brings North East communities together to reconnect them with nature, earned the Education and Learning Award gold, with silver going to Canopy Learning.
Elsewhere, Gibside (National Trust), Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear, took home the Community Woodland of the Year Award, with York Community Wood earning silver.
The Excellence in Forestry Awards rotate around the country over five years. In 2024 they will be held across the Midlands and Eastern England.
RFS also thanked sponsors: Forestry Journal, FSC, PEFC, Savills, Tilhill, Trees Please, and the Woodland Trust.
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