This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Royal Highland Show hosts woodland awards
25/06/2004
TheScotland's Finest Woodlands Awards were presented by Forestry Minister Allan Wilson at the Royal Highland Show inEdinburghtoday.
A Highland forest and a farm woodland near Dunblane won top honours in the awards, which are made annually by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland in partnership with the Forestry Commission Scotland, The Royal Scottish Forestry Society, Scottish Woodlands Ltd and the Forestry and Timber Association.
TheforestofGlen Affric, Cannich andPloddaFalls, which includes the entire Glen Affric National Nature Reserve, won the large woods category.
Mr Wilson said that the Executive was giving priority to bringing woods and forests closer to where people live. He said:
"I welcome the fact that several of the award winners are the kind of multi-benefit woods close to towns and villages that we want to encourage.
"We want to ensure that town-dwellers have access to the benefits of woodland.Scotland's forests offer magnificent places to exercise and reduce stress, and they also benefit local tourist industries."
Reviewing activity by the Executive and Forestry Commission Scotland, Mr Wilson welcomed the closer partnership working following the Forestry Devolution Review, adding:
"This will have long-term benefits across sectors, such as rural development, education, recreation, health, community involvement and tourism."
TheScotland's Finest Woodlands Awards is an annual competition run by the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society. Further information about it is available on the website www.rhass.org.uk.
The full list of winners in theScotland's Finest Woodlands Awards were announced in a press release from the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society on June 7, which is available on the above website.