A Highland crofter whose family has worked the same land for centuries has been recognised at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2025 for a transformation that judges described as inspirational and a model of how farming and forestry can thrive together.
Rhanich Croft at Edderton near Tain, cared for by crofter Norman Laing in partnership with forestry agent Dietrich Pannwitz of Sylvestrus Ltd, won the F and W Forestry Farm Woodland Award and the Lilburn Trophy for All Farm or Croft Woodland, highlighting how a traditional Highland holding can be adapted for a changing climate and economy.
The croft has been in Norman’s family since at least the 1800s and today more than a third of it is woodland, a shift that has strengthened livestock condition, improved shelter and reduced grazing costs while helping biodiversity flourish and contributing to carbon sequestration.
Native pinewoods, productive conifers and carefully planned shelterbelts now sit alongside cattle and sheep, and the croft generates income through carbon rights, timber production and woodland payments while supporting local employment.
Judges praised the work as “true integration of farming and forestry” and said the long term partnership had achieved something notable for both the land and the wider community.
Rhanich Croft was also Highly Commended in the New Commercial Woods category as part of the Quality Timber Awards.
Forestry and Land Scotland also earned recognition after winning the Woodland Trust Scotland Trophy for New Native Woods for its work at the Rest and Be Thankful where native woodland creation is being used to complement engineering in stabilising the notoriously fragile slopes above the A83.
Operations forester James Hand and partners at Transport Scotland have planted a mix of native species chosen for slope stability, water quality and conservation value while encouraging natural regeneration and using helicopters and new planting techniques to work across the steep ground.
Judges said the project showed how ancient woodland practices could assist modern civil engineering and help protect one of Scotland’s most high profile infrastructure routes.
This year’s awards saw 10 trophies presented across seven categories with organisers describing 2025 as an exceptional year for entries.
Executive director Jean Nairn said the breadth of projects showed how woodland and forestry now play vital roles in community life, climate action, education and rural economies.
Entries ranged from Highland crofts to schools, urban planting schemes and large commercial woodlands, each telling a story of commitment and imagination.
Selkirk High School was named Climate Change Champion for its work engaging pupils in tree planting, seed propagation and a curriculum designed to explore climate impacts at a local level, building on last year’s success when it won the Schools Award.
TreeLink Stirling won the first Urban Forestry Award for delivering nut and fruit trees to households in areas with low tree cover, a project judges praised for bringing people together and putting trees where they can have the greatest benefit.
The Quality Timber Awards recognised Rosebery Estates for its new commercial woodland at Moorfoot in Midlothian and Forestry and Land Scotland for Braeval Forest in Aberfoyle, while Quinlochmuir Forest near Strathblane was honoured for multi purpose woodland management.
The Awards mark their 40th anniversary this year, and chair Wilma Harper said every entry reflects collective effort and the growing importance of forests in Scotland’s future.
