The transformation of a wood near a primary school and learning in a local forest saw success in the Schools and Early Years categories at the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2025.
Hardgate Primary School in Haugh of Urr, near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, was the winner of the Crown Estate Scotland Schools’ Trophy.
A pupil-led Eco Committee decided they needed to improve the use of Daniel’s Wood, close to the school, and enhance its biodiversity.
With the help of the Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands initiative they planted 40 native trees – hazel and hawthorn – which created a windbreak / sitting area which offers increased shelter for their activities, including a fire circle. Work to manage the space, including cutting back canopy is continuing, with parents involved.
There are have been weekly sessions for school classes and Dumfries & Galloway Outdoor & Woodland Learning Group has delivered four school and one family outdoor maths session in the woods.
Selkirk High School was the runner-up in the Schools award, just a step away from the win they enjoyed last year.
Pupils helped conserve a protected grassland habitat in Selkirk and planted a mile-long hedgerow of native plants, to help create new habitats for wildlife and reduce the risk of soil erosion.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Alba Trees Early Years’ Trophy was West Johnstone ELCC, in Johnstone, Renfrewshire.
They use a local forest as a learning space where children are encouraged to immerse themselves in nature.
The nursery fosters a great connection to the wider family network by promoting family forest bags and family forest days. This allows learning, exploring and many other positive impacts of being in local woodlands to extend into evenings and weekends and involve the wider community.
The children are encouraged to play adventurously, tapping into a rich potential for imaginative, creative and stimulating symbolic play. Their forest experiences develop a rich and intimate personal relationship between each individual child and nature.
The aim is for the children to “develop a sense of wonder” for their natural world and value their place in it.
Glenburgh Nursery in Rutherglen, Glasgow, was the runner-up in the Early Years’ category.
Due to limited garden space within their setting, and most of the children living in flats with little or no garden, the nursery recognised that outdoor learning had to be a strong focus.
They then used a renovated area of derelict land near the nursery to set up a Forest School where children are encouraged to plant, enjoy fires and even view a foxes’ den.
As well as the trophies, there was £500 for each of the winning school and early years entries, and the winners received a magnifying post provided by Caledonia Play. A special Tree Pack for winners and runners-up was also donated by Alba Trees containing trees for planting or tree growing kits. Each winning school and early years entry also received a certificate and a special commemorative wooden display plaque recording their achievement.
Another six categories – New Native Woods, Farm Woodland, Quality Timber, Community Woodlands, Urban Forestry and Climate Change Champion – will be awarded later in the year when we anticipate the main Awards Ceremony will take place during National Tree Week. Winners and guests will be invited nearer the time.
In order for judging and the presentation of awards to take place within the current school year, the Schools and Early Years Awards announcements were made this week.
Jean Nairn, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, said: “The range of entries for Schools and Early Years categories was astounding this year and our winners had some tough competition.
“A love of trees, woodland and forestry in children is vital if we are going to win the fight against climate change. The little roots we see in these awards will hopefully grow strong branches as we all approach the future.
“We now look forward to December and the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards at the Scottish Parliament during National Tree Week, when we hope to welcome the Schools and Early Years winners, along with those who have shone in all the other categories.”
Learn more about Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards at https://www.sfwa.co.uk/
