Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards is once again celebrating excellence in woodlands and forestry across the country, with youngsters leading the way.
Entries have opened for the Schools and Early Years categories in the 2026 Awards, with a deadline of March 31. Entering is straightforward and can be done via the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards website – www.sfwa.co.uk
Entries for all other categories will open shortly, with a deadline of May 31.
In recent years Schools and Early Years winners have had their prizes presented in June in a special day at their school. They also attend the main award ceremony later in the year where the next generation of tree people receiving their trophy has won the hearts of the audience.
In 2025, The Alba Trees Early Years’ Trophy went to West Johnstone ELCC, in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, and the Crown Estate Scotland Schools’ Trophy was awarded to Hardgate Primary School in Haugh of Urr, near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway. In addition, Selkirk High School was the Climate Change Champion.
Jean Nairn, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, said: “Scotland’s Finest Woods is all about championing outstanding achievement in woodland management and creation across schools, farms, forestry, community and urban woodlands
“Winners enjoy recognition and publicity for their hard work and care of trees and receive a cash prize in addition to the trophies on offer. If they are visited by judges, this is often a very worthwhile and inspiring experience for all involved. So, will you enter your project this year and be in with the chance of winning?”
There are 11 competitions at this year’s Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards covering Urban Forestry, Quality Timber, Farm Woodland, New Native Wood, Community Woodland, Schools and Early Years, and Climate Change.
Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform & Islands, presented many of the Awards last year. She said: “The Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards provide an outstanding platform to showcase the very best of our woodlands.
“Each year, the awards celebrate a wide range of achievements – from community and school projects to farming, native woodlands, urban and productive forests.
“This event is a true celebration of the dedication and hard work that goes into managing woodlands across the country. I would encourage all those with a passion for their woodlands to take part and submit an entry.”
In 2025, the awards went to a diverse range of work from forestry to farming, community groups to a new prize for urban forestry.
Wilma Harper, Chair of Scotland’s Finest Woods, the charity which operates the programme, said: “We are looking forward to seeing this year’s entries, building on 2025’s superb array of excellence, innovation and best practice in caring for and expanding Scotland’s woodland resource.
“Each year brings new stories of the excellent work going on in woods across Scotland and through Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards we are able to give them and the people involved the recognition they deserve.”
Enter now
Schools and Early Years entries are open and must be made by 23:59 on Tuesday March 31, 2026. All other entries must be submitted by 23:59 on Sunday May 31, 2026 – the entry process for these will be announced in the coming weeks.
For full details, criteria and entry forms see: www.sfwa.co.uk
