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New award for children seeks to create 'foresters for the future'


By Alan Hendry

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Dr Helen McKay, chief forester for Scotland, joined a group of primary school pupils in Perthshire to launch the award. Picture: Alan Richardson / Pix-AR.co.uk
Dr Helen McKay, chief forester for Scotland, joined a group of primary school pupils in Perthshire to launch the award. Picture: Alan Richardson / Pix-AR.co.uk

A new award has been launched with the aim of giving children an insight into a career in forestry.

Aimed at those aged four to 14, the Scottish Junior Forester Award will equip young people with theory and practical skills so they can help manage woodlands in their schools or communities.

The Scottish Government agency Scottish Forestry has worked in partnership with the Royal Forestry Society to develop the initiative.

Dr Helen McKay, chief forester for Scotland, said: “This is such a positive and exciting move to get our young people connected with forestry.

“It’s so important that we increase the knowledge of trees and woodlands in the younger generation.

“We are facing a global climate emergency and trees can be part of the solution. If we get this message across to people at an early age, and build up their knowledge and understanding, we can build the foresters for the future.

“I’m very pleased that this new award provides a mechanism to bring forestry into the curriculum and will give young people a taster of how fantastic forestry really is. It’s a worthwhile career with great long-term prospects.

“We are keen to attract more young people into the sector to play their part in creating and managing Scotland’s forests, woods and trees.”

The Scottish Junior Forester Award is aimed at anyone in school, youth work or community settings in Scotland. It can be delivered by teachers, educators or community organisations.

Participants complete six sections with practical tasks which will enhance their knowledge of trees, woodlands and forestry.

Scottish Forestry has worked in partnership with the John Muir Award to offer the option of completing the awards jointly.


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