A FARM which successfully incorporates a rare breed of pig into its existing woodland was honoured during a prestigious award ceremony.
Brodoclea Woodland Farm picked up the Best Agroforestry Award at the Scottish Agriculture Awards 2024 this week, which celebrated the heroes of the country’s rural industries.
Overseen by David Carruth and Ken Porter, Brodoclea's Mangalitsa pigs roam pockets of the 430-acre woodland, boosting its soil health and controlling dominant species such as bracken. Better known as the Woolly Pig Company, the farm sells its bacon produce on to customers across the UK.
“It’s amazing, we only really started with agroforestry a couple of years ago," David said. "It means a lot to be accepted by the wider agriculture society considering we are doing something new, something weird."
The Woolly Pig Company – itself runner-up in 2023 – fought off tough competition from Cantyhall Farming Partnership in Fife and Perthshire's Mains of Fincastle, with the winner announced during a lavish gala ceremony at Glasgow’s DoubleTree by Hilton hotel.
The Agroforestry Award was judged by Forestry Journal’s experts, who visited each site and were left in awe of each of the nominees. Any of the three finalists could have claimed the top prize.
Managing editor John McNee said: "This was our toughest decision yet. Each of the three finalists demonstrated a remarkable passion for integrating trees onto their farmland – and each was unique in how it achieved this.
"But the Woolly Pig Company stood out for taking an existing woodland and integrating a rare breed of pig onto the land. Aiding nature while providing a haven for its Mangalitsa was testament to the efforts of David and Ken.
"Not only this, but the site had successfully used its own timber and had plans for its existing productive plantations."
FJ will have features on all three woodlands in future editions of the magazine.
If you are interested in sponsoring or wish to be part of the 2025 awards, contact Dali Dahmane on: 0141 302 7759 or email: dali.dahmane@forestryjournal.co.uk
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