Woodlands: Best of the Best in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

And if you’re able to get out in to the woods this weekend are you at one of the best?

Woodlands: Best of the Best in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - Royal Forestry Society

Three people and two dogs standing in a clearing in woodland — In Shere Manor Estate's award winning woods (English Woodlands Forestry Ltd)

Four special woods and two educational programmes have been named by the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) as the Best of the Best in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Following five years of regional Excellence in Forestry Award competitions the winners in five different categories went head-to-head this year.

Winners include: Shere Manor Estate in Surrey, England, an extensive area of pine plantation being converted to continuous cover forestry alongside management for biodiversity; Bramshill Plantation – a restored quarry in Hampshire; the remarkable Slieve Gullion Forest Park now one of the premier countryside attractions in Northern Ireland and a small farm woodland in Wales doing big things to promote timber culture.

Tying for Best of the Best education projects were Hill Holt Wood in Lincolnshire and Coleg Glynlifon in North Wales. Hill Holt Wood is an Environmental Social Enterprise providing education, training and employment for young people, many of whom have special needs. Coleg Glynlifon offers hands-on practical experiences within their Level 2 & 3 BTECs Countryside and Forestry courses.

RFS Chief Executive Christopher Williams said: “All these woodlands are beacons of excellence. They are examples of how different types of woodland needs to be managed and developed in the future. Woodlands like these help tackle the challenges of climate change. They provide benefit to communities and help our environment and local economies. By shining a spotlight on what they are doing we can help others adapt their woodlands."

Silviculture Award: Tom Compton, Director at English Woodlands Forestry Ltd said: “Shere Manor Estate, and their land agents Batcheller Monkhouse, have provided us with a fantastic opportunity. We have evolved our management processes with the estate for over 15 years. That has meant responding to site conditions and to developments in resilience and sustainable management. The estate offers a mosaic of habitats. It supports some rare protected species. It also provides fantastic recreation opportunities for the local community. Moving to continuous cover forestry whilst respecting these features is a very rewarding journey. It has been dependent on a fantastic team of skilled contractors from Powell Forestry.”