Scottish Forestry partners with Trust

A new partnership with Scottish Forestry will strengthen people's engagement with and care for trees, woods and forests across our wild places, with new and diverse audiences.

The Trust's environmental award scheme - John Muir Award - encourages people of all backgrounds to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places. It helps develop and practice core skills for life, learning and work and improves health and well-being.

With a significant amount of John Muir Award activity including links with trees, woods and forests across Scotland,  a partnership with Scottish Forestry will enable us to better support and increase these links particularly with diverse audiences.

The partnership will also promote links with Scottish Forestry's recently launched Scottish Junior Forester Award, which focuses on woodland management and forestry careers. In line with Scotland’s National Forestry Strategy, it will provide more opportunities for children and young people to play and learn in forests and woodlands, particularly in urban areas.

The John Muir Trust brings good practice and links across national nature-based awards including progression and pathways.

^ Pictured left to right holding a poster depicting nature awards are Chief Forester Dr Helen McKay with Scottish Forestry's Bonnie Maggio and the Trust's Rebecca Logsdon.

The Trust’s Scotland Education Manager Rebecca Logsdon said: "Some of our network of Award providers helped pilot the new Scottish Junior Forester Award, which works well when run alongside the John Muir Award. As two nature-based awards, the they complement each other.”

Teacher Alison Wilson from the Royal Douglas Memorial School confirmed that the awards work in harmony: “There are some parallel activities so it’s easy to cover the criteria in both awards. The Scottish Junior Forester Award has enabled us to develop more practical skills and raise awareness of career opportunities in forestry, while the John Muir Award has taught pupils how to nurture the woodland area for the benefit of the school and the community.” 

Scottish Forestry’s Education and Skills Policy Advisor, Bonnie Maggio is delighted to be working in partnership with John Muir Trust to integrate two national awards. She said: “It will multiply the outcomes for us, wild places and the young people – our foresters of the future.”

The partnership with Scottish Forestry will also provide access to resources, training and support through the Outdoor and Woodland Learning Scotland (OWL Scotland) Network.   

Find out more

• See how the John Muir Award links with the Scottish Junior Forester Award.
• The  Scottish Junior Forester Award is managed by the Royal Forestry Society.
• The Achieving awards in, through and for nature resource helps practitioners navigate and connect diverse nature-based award opportunities available in Scotland.
• Outdoor and Woodland Learning Scotland Network (OWL Scotland) has free resources, training and networks.

Photograph at the top shows Scottish Junior Forester Award at Royal Douglas Memorial School, Perth courtesy of Chief Forester Dr Helen McKay.