Sparky young forester among award winners at Confor dinner

Mima Letts, founder of Tree Sparks and a trainee forester at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, won the Changing Attitudes Award, ahead of fellow finalists Cheryl Lundberg of Lockhart Garratt and Andy Baker of Tilhill. Her nomination said: “Tree Sparks is a student-led social enterprise, started in 2018 by Mima as an undergraduate, to show young people that working with trees can be exciting and awesome. It increases awareness of forestry careers and offers first-hand experience in a business setting."

Andrew MacQueen of Tilhill won the Future Forestry Leader Award, with Laura Charles of Forestry England and Huw Lloyd of Lockhart Garratt also shortlisted. Andrew's nomination said: "Very occasionally, one comes across someone with star quality – Andrew definitely has this.”

The third new award, for Innovation & Research, went to long-serving James Jones & Sons haulage manager Jon Ritchie, for his long-standing efforts to improve the health, safety and welfare of hauliers in the industry. Finalists were staff at Forest Research's Northern Research Station and Tom Barnes of Vastern Timber.

The Dedicated Service to Forestry Award was presented to Martin Gale, Chairman of BSW Timber, by Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism with the Scottish Government.

Mr Gale said the industry had a bright future because "wood was the raw material of the 21st century" and added: "I have had a great career. I think you should look to put as much back into an industry as you get from it - and I am comfortable I have done that."

Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of Confor, said: “Martin has been a senior figure in the industry since his appointment as Managing Director of Shotton Paper Company in 1998. He was one of the driving forces in the establishment of Confor in 2005 and has always provided his time generously to support industry bodies.”

A special award went to Sir Harry Studholme, who recently stepped down after seven years as Chair of the Forestry Commission. Mr Goodall said: “Sir Harry served as chair during a period of great change in the Forestry Commission, and throughout that time provided a calm presence. I have always found him to be a gentleman, generous with his time, hugely knowledgeable and truly passionate about forestry.”

More than 150 guests attended the awards dinner at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh - and Mr Goodall said he was delighted with the increased turn-out after the three new awards were added. There was also a special presentation, made by Fergus Ewing, to David and Dorothy Sulman, who have retired after what Mr Ewing described as "outstanding" service to the forestry and timber industry.

Mr Goodall said: “We wanted to celebrate the importance of strong leadership, brilliant innovation and great communication in creating a thriving 21st century forestry and timber industry ,” he added. “We were very pleased with the quantity and quality of the entries in all three new categories - and I’m delighted to honour young foresters like Mima Letts and Andrew MacQueen as well as a great servant of our industry like Jon Ritchie. I’m very optimistic about the coming years for our profession as forestry moves up the political agenda and its environmental and economic benefits are more widely recognised.”

Mr Goodall thanked the award sponsors - Forestry Commission, Forestry & Land Scotland, James Jones & Sons Ltd and Scottish Woodlands - and said he hoped the expanded awards programme would continue in 2021 and beyond.

And the winners are:

• Dedicated Service to Forestry Award: Martin Gale, BSW Timber
• Changing Attitudes Award: Mima Letts, Tree Sparks
  Finalists: Andy Baker, Tilhill; Cheryl Lundberg, Lockhart Garratt
• Innovation & Research Award: Jon Ritchie, James Jones & Sons 
  Finalists: Northern Research Station (Forest Research); Tom Barnes, Vastern TImber
• Future Forestry Leader Award: Andrew MacQueen, Tilhill.
  Finalists: Laura Charles, Forestry England; Huw Lloyd, Lockhart Garratt
• Special Award: Sir Harry Studholme, former Forestry Commission Chair.
• Special Presentation: David & Dorothy Sulman, former Trada, UKFPA and Confor.

Picture shows the Award winners and finalists celebrating their success.

Left to right (back) - Mariella Marzano & Ian Macleod, Forest Research (Finalist, Innovation & Research); Laura Charles, Forestry England (Finalist, Future Leader); Andy Baker, Tilhill (Finalist, Changing Attitudes), Huw Lloyd, Lockhart Garratt (Finalist, Future Leader); Cheryl Lundberg, Lockhart Garratt (Finalist, Changing Attitudes)

Left to right (front) - Jon Ritchie, James Jones & Sons (Winner, Innovation & Research); Andrew MacQueen, Tilhill (Winner, Future Leader); Mima Letts (Winner, Changing Attitudes); Darren Moseley (Forest Research)