A HIGH school team from Edinburgh has been named the first-ever UK winner of the Young People in European Forests (YPEF) awards with a heart-warming video on forestry in Scotland.

The short film from Boroughmuir High School was produced by students Hari Pranavam, Izzy Pickard and Raphael Uddin. The Young People in European Forests (YPEF) awards are held annually in 11 countries across mainland Europe. This was the first year the UK had entered.

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Project co-ordinator Becky Wilkinson said: “All the entries were inspiring. What made this one stand out above the others was the effort the team had gone to edit together footage from a wide range of local locations. Their enthusiasm is truly heart-warming.”

Helen McKay, chief forester for Scotland, presented the award, and said: “It is enormously encouraging to see the young people’s enthusiasm for woodlands and forests."

Forestry Journal: The Warriner School finished in second placeThe Warriner School finished in second place (Image: RFS)

Mr Shiv Das, geography teacher at Boroughmuir High, said: “I am absolutely delighted to learn that Raphael, Hari and Izzy have won the YPEF Schools competition not just for Scotland, but for the entire United Kingdom." 

A team from Banbury, Oxfordshire were winners of the England heat, and came in a close second overall with a thought-provoking essay. Why Trees are our Friends was written by three young science students from Year 12 at The Warriner School in Bloxham near Banbury, Oxfordshire, Rebekah Allam, Rachael Bosch and Amy Rowlands.

Becky said: “We were impressed at the level of detail in their research and their clear understanding of the importance of forestry for our world’s future.”

In the UK, YPEF is supported by the by the Royal Forestry Society, Royal Scottish Forestry Society, Lantra, Scottish Forestry, Natural Resources Wales and Youth for Trees