Wester Ross estate, Pat Wilson Farms Lochrosque, in line for repeat awards success

A Wester Ross estate could be in line to repeat its awards success at the Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) Helping It Happen Awards.

Pat Wilson Farms Lochrosque is one of five Highland businesses shortlisted for this year's Helping It Happen Awards, which will be announced in a live virtual ceremony on October 27.

The family-owned estate is nominated for the Enhancing our Environment through Land Management category, sponsored by NatureScot.

If successful, this would be the second win in the category in two years. The estate collected the Enhancing our Environment Award in 2019, when it also won the Iver Salvesen Green Business Award for creating multiple green energy sources across its 35,000 acres.

The award citation describes Lochrosque Estate as a pioneer in land management diversity in Wester Ross.

"Through the extensive restoration of over 1000ha of degraded peatlands, a broad range of native woodland projects and a willingness to work alongside authoritative bodies to cap sheep densities and reduce deer numbers, Lochrosque Estate is focussed on tackling climate change and eliminating the threat of biodiversity loss. By harnessing the power of carbon finance, a sustainable business model is being developed, rooted in a diverse and wide-reaching array of activities which help to enhance the environment," it states.

Now in its fifth year, the Helping it Happen Awards have become firmly established in recognising the role of estates, businesses and community groups who are helping rural Scotland thrive. The awards are managed by SLE and sponsored by GLM.

Also representing the Highland Council area at the awards final will be two finalists from the Aviemore area, Communities Housing Trust and Rothiemurcus Estate, as well as Sutherland's Scourie Community Development Company, and Bunloit Rewilding Limited, Drumnadrochit.

SLE chief executive Sarah-Jane Laing said: “After another difficult year for many businesses and individuals, the entries in the Helping it Happen Awards have shown how resilient, resourceful and passionate individuals, rural businesses and organisations are in order to make a positive contribution to society.

"With five Highland entries named as finalists, it’s clear that the region is home to people and organisations which benefit those in the area and across Scotland by providing housing, tourism or helping Scotland meet its environmental goals.

“This year’s entries have provided us with so many inspiring stories and we are pleased that the Helping It Happen Awards are firmly established as a way of recognising how Scotland’s diverse people and businesses are making a vital contribution.”

This year, there are 10 award categories including a new business resilience award.

The awards, which begin at 7pm, can be viewed live via the Scottish Land & Estates website.

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