Perthshire forestry champ lands major award

Recipient tipped as future leader in key Scottish economic sector

An outstanding Perthshire advocate for the forestry and farming sectors has won a prestigious award as a rural ‘rising star’.

Jillian Kennedy, daughter of former NFUS President Martin Kennedy, is a Senior Forestry Manager with Scottish Woodlands and has been tipped as a future leader in a sector worth £878m to the Scottish economy.

Raised on the family’s tenant farm at Aberfeldy, she saw off stiff competition from another Perthshire rural advocate, Lauren Houstoun of Glenkilrie Larder in Glenshee, to land the prize at the 10th Helping It Happen Awards in Edinburgh.

Policy advocate

The Awards celebrate businesses, individuals and groups making a difference for Scotland’s rural economy, communities, wildlife and the environment.

Jillian’s qualities as an individual bridging the forestry and farming communities- not always natural bedfellows – saw her impress prize judges.

She leads complex projects and has advocated for both the forestry and farming sectors in various roles, at UK and European policy levels.

Jillian was also a past Young Farmers Chair and is a Director of the Perthshire Agricultural Society, the charity behind the annual 2-day Perth agricultural show on the city’s South Inch.

Scottish Woodlands, for whom she works, deliver 1 million tonnes of timber each year to forestry processors.

Rural economy highlighted

Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of organisers, Scottish Land & Estates, commented: “At a time when rural Scotland faces significant economic, environmental and social challenges, these awards demonstrate the scale of innovation, resilience and leadership being shown by individuals, businesses and community organisations across the country.”

Claudia Rowse, Deputy Director of Green Economy at NatureScot, the awards co-hosts, said: “It has been a privilege to see so many people taking positive action for nature, climate, the economy and communities.”