A FORMER estate manager with six decades of forestry experience has received a long service award from the Royal Forestry Society (RFS). 

Michael Scott-Bolton oversaw Enville Estates from 1953, managing a team of five as they carried all aspects of forestry work, from planting to saw milling.

Michael was running the Staffordshire estate when Dutch Elm disease struck and had to cut down around 3,000 trees.

Although Michael was the estate manager, his passion was forestry. He would spend much of his free time on evenings and weekends planting trees and tending young plantations.

After Michael retired from the full-time estate manager job he continued managing the forestry up until 2017 – a total of 62 years.

He was presented with his award by the RFS at its recent 2022 Whole Society Meeting, which also saw Evelyn Sharp and Barry Sumner  - two forest nursery workers - recognised for their long service. 

Evelyn joined Prees Heath Nurseries in 1984 as a nursery worker with no working knowledge but rose to become production manager.

Forestry Journal: David Gwillam, Prees Heath Forest Nurseries, left, with Evelyn Sharp and Barry Sumner and RFS President Sir James Scott, rightDavid Gwillam, Prees Heath Forest Nurseries, left, with Evelyn Sharp and Barry Sumner and RFS President Sir James Scott, right

Evelyn’s mother Edna Clive had also worked at the nursery from 1984-2014, retiring at the age of 87.

Meanwhile, Barry retired in April this year after 34 years’ service. Barry had joined Prees Heath Forest Nurseries as a general worker in 1988 and became the tractor driver and Foreman in charge of despatch.