Young forester sparks success at awards

Mima Letts, Founder of Tree Sparks, won the Changing Attitudes Award, ahead of fellow finalists Cheryl Lundberg (Lockhart Garratt) and Andy Baker of Tilhill.

Andy’s Tilhill colleague Andrew MacQueen won the Future Forestry Leader Award, with Laura Charles of Forestry England and Huw Lloyd of Lockhart Garratt also shortlisted. 

The third new award, for Innovation & Research, went to long-serving James Jones & Sons haulage manager Jon Ritchie, with Tom Barnes of Vastern Timber and the Northern Research Station (Forest Research) the other finalists.

Tom Bruce Jones, Chairman of James Jones & Sons, said the company was very keen to support the Future Forestry Leader Award in memory of his father Tom A Bruce Jones, who died in 2019. Mr Bruce Jones said: "My father was a great supporter of developing talent and leadership, not just at James Jones, but across the whole industry. Our business is therefore delighted to recognise future leadership in the forestry and wood sector in his memory."

Read Jamie Farquhar's article in The Scotsman on the importance of leadership, innovation and communication - as well as collaboration - here. 

Winners of the new Awards (L-R): Andrew MacQueen, Tilhill (Future Forestry Leader); Mima Letts, Tree Sparks (Changing Attitudes); and Jon Ritchie, James Jones & Sons (Innovation & Research). 

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. 

“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.”

The finalists celebrate. L-R (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). L-R (front) - Jon Ritchie, James Jones & Sons (Winner, Innovation & Research); Andrew MacQueen, Tilhill (Winner, Future Leader); Mima Letts (Winner, Changing Attitudes); Darren Moseley (Forest Research)