University of Stirling researcher wins prestigious Scottish Forestry Trust award

A University of Stirling researcher has been awarded the prestigious Dr Cyril Hart Memorial Award for 2026

Sarah Watts of the University’s Faculty of Natural Sciences and colleagues were recognised for their research article published in Restoration Ecology, Why the present is not the key to past or future: moving beyond restricted relict habitat conditions to improve outcomes in mountain woodland restoration.

Sarah received the Award from Dr Helen McKay OBE FICFor CEnv, Chair of The Scottish Forestry Trust’s Projects and Research Committee at the Confor Dinner and Awards 2026 on Wednesday, 11 March. 

The Award is given to the best article or paper, based on Trust-funded research, published within a two-year period. And for the 2026 Award those published between January 2024 and December 2025 were eligible.

It is presented in memory of Dr Cyril Hart (1913-2009), known to many through his invaluable book, Practical Forestry for the Agent and Surveyor, and other publications. Amongst his other proud professional moments was his receipt of Gold Medals from the Royal Forestry Society and from the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

The Award aims to recognise invaluable research which delivers the widest practical benefit to the widest forestry community, and the Scottish Forestry Trust are proud to offer this Award in Dr Cyril Hart’s name.

Building on inspiring action

Speaking at the Awards Dinner, when presented with the Award, Sarah said: “I’m absolutely delighted to receive the Dr Cyril Hart Memorial Award 2026 from The Scottish Forestry Trust as recognition of the contribution that my research is providing to evidenced-based woodland management.

“It is particularly encouraging to have mountain woodland restoration highlighted in such a meaningful way demonstrating that our high-altitude trees are gaining much wider interest and support across the wider forestry sector.

“My research builds on decades of inspiring action by National Trust for Scotland staff and volunteers to protect and expand threatened montane willow populations.

University of Stirling researcher Sarah Watts speaks after receiving her award.

“The study challenges the assumption that the places where these populations survive today represent the most suitable environments for planting. Instead, present-day habitats may be refugia reflecting historical pressures such as long-term overgrazing, rather than the full range of opportunities available for recovery.

“By guiding practitioners across Scotland towards even more ambitious and effective mountain woodland restoration, we can enhance biodiversity and help build more resilient upland landscapes for the future.”

Dr Helen McKay OBE FICFor CEnv, Chair of The Scottish Forestry Trust’s Projects and Research Committee who reviewed all of the submissions said: “Sarah’s paper records the results of re-survey of a large sample of downy willow (Salix lapponum) 16 years after planting in the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve.

Distinctive contribution

“The results were very clear - the growth and probability that individuals had reached reproductive size were actually much greater for individuals planted in sites that are poorly represented among those of the current relict distribution of the species, justifying a much broader selection of sites for restoration.

“This is an excellent study, based on rigorous sampling in a difficult location. The framing of the study is excellent and the paper makes a distinctive contribution from a strong evidence base.”

Ms Watts added: “I’d like to thank my PhD supervisors Professor Alistair Jump and Professor Kirsty Park of the University of Stirling, and Dr Nadia Barsoum of Forest Research for supporting my study, and I am extremely grateful for project funding from The Scottish Forestry Trust, University of Stirling, Woodland Trust, Corrour Estate, Macaulay Development Trust, National Trust for Scotland, Forest Research, and Future Woodlands Scotland.”

The winner of the Award receives a striking trophy created by Angus Clyne of Perthshire. This living trophy will be held by the recipient for two years before being returned in advance of the 2028 Award being presented.

Sarah and her colleagues will also be asked to add their paper to the USB stick in the vessel and to contribute to the found objects contained within the trophy.