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Forestry innovators recognised at Excellence in Forestry AwardsForestry innovators recognised at Excellence in Forestry Awards
25th September 2025

The Duchy of Cornwall, alongside PERC sponsored the Education and Learning Award at the Royal Forestry Society’s Excellence in Forestry Awards 2025.

The Education and Learning Award highlighted the critical importance of engaging children and young people with forestry and woodland management.

Children of the Forest earned gold for Lewis Ames’ innovative work near Uffculme, Devon, where a lack of set curriculum particularly supports neurodiverse children. The programme follows the children’s interests intuitively, and hosts an environment where critical thinking, idea-sharing and self-directed engagement thrive.

Ames was commended for his efforts to implement sound woodland management practices, as was his 200-episode podcast which reaches 3,000 listeners per episode internationally.
“It means a great deal to have our work recognised,” said Ames
“We’ve been working in Forest School for over a decade, and we feel very fortunate to combine our in-person sessions here in Devon with our far-reaching podcast. This gives us the flexibility to develop holistic, non-judgemental and authentic communities on the ground, while also sharing our reflections with thousands of listeners every week as we explore what it means to hold space for people in nature.”
Silver was awarded to Duchy tenant Madley Primary School in Herefordshire, which has embedded outdoor learning throughout its curriculum. Judges described the school as an exemplar for how to embed outdoor learning into school teaching, with outdoor learning creatively woven throughout every topic from early years to Year 6. The school’s partnership with The Duchy Of Cornwall has flourished over a number of years allowing its pupils to experience a working woodland, inspiring the next generation of foresters.

Congratulations to this year's winners, who share a commitment to building resilience; in woodlands, communities and the next generation of woodland stewards.
The winners of the education and learning accepting their award
Colleagues from Madley Primary school are presented their award
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