THE GOLDEN PLOVER AWARD 2017

THE GOLDEN PLOVER AWARD 2017

The Heather Trust and Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) have announced the finalists for 2017’s Golden Plover Award for Moorland Management, sponsored by Lindsays.

The Award is presented annually to recognise progressive, practical and sustainable moorland management in Scotland, and the process is open to estates, farms, individuals and syndicates who have “gone the extra mile” for our hills

This year, the award has focused on the north and west of Scotland, appealing to landholdings that have shown a dedicated level of commitment to integrated land use, and this has taken the award into new and exciting terrain. After several years in the eastern Highlands, 2017’s applicants embraced diverse issues such as upland fisheries, rural employment, conservation, peatland, deer management and crofting.

There was a great deal of interest in 2017’s award, but the judges have identified three finalists who will now progress to the next stage. Ardnamurchan is a ten thousand hectare sporting estate on the west coast with a balanced approach to deer management, agriculture and tourism, while Reay Forest lies in Sutherland and has established a strong reputation for carefully integrated work between interests such as conservation, deer stalking and renewable energy. The third finalist is Fearann Eilean Iarmain, a stunning estate on the Isle of Skye which links traditional land management with crofting, a distillery and support for a thriving gaelic culture.

Speaking about the next stage of 2017's Golden Plover Award, Heather Trust Director Simon Thorp said “We had some really positive interest in the Award this year from estates and projects in the north highlands and up and down the west coast. We believe we've chosen a strong, diverse spread of applicants to go forward as finalists, and we look forward to learning more about their work in the next few weeks".

Head of Rural Services at Lindsays Michael Yellowlees added: “We are delighted to be supporting the Golden Plover Award again this year and to see such progressive work being recognized on estates across this area.

“We are particularly interested in the focus of this years’ award given our longstanding relationships with clients in the Highlands and Islands.  Before the Second World War Lindsays acted as factors and solicitors for numerous landed estate clients in that area and in the post-war era served these clients through the West Highlands Estates Office in Fort William.  The firm continues to provide legal services to many of the same estates.”

Site visits will take place in May and June, and judge Adam Smith, Director Scotland, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust added was looking forward to heading out on the road. He said “All those on the shortlist have a strong case to be the Golden Plover winner this year, but there can only be one that takes the prize. This award continues to go from strength to strength and we look forward to announcing the result for 2017 on 30 June”.

The 2016 Award was won by the Hopes Estate in the Lammermuir Hills, and previous winners have included Finzean Estate near Banchory, Mar near Braemar and Edinglassie on Donside.