Tilhill Presents Award for Top Student

Oliver Mackay, a graduate from Harper Adams University has won the Tilhill ‘Top Student’ Award for 2021.

The award was presented at an online presentation to Oliver, a final year student studying Sustainable Forestry and Forestry Products on the BSC (Hons) in Countryside and Environmental Management course with the University.

As part of Tilhill’s work to strengthen links with future foresters, the Company presents awards to top performing students at universities offering degrees in forestry-related subjects across the UK.

Upon receiving the award of £250 prize money and a wooden carved trophy, Oliver said:

” Many thanks for awarding this prize to me. I am grateful for the opportunities I have enjoyed as a student, and I am very happy in my role as a head ranger at Rothiemurchus. A special thank you to Tilhill for the prizes.

Nick Covarr, Lecturer in Forestry & Woodland at Harper Adams University said:

“Well done to Oliver for this achievement and gaining recognition at Harper Adams. Thank you to Tilhill for sponsoring this award and for continuing to engage with our students to bring their studies to life. At a time when we need young foresters more than ever, it is the relationship between universities and industry like that between Harper Adams and Tilhill which provide the knowledge, inspiration and opportunities to make it happen.”

Oliver spent his placement at Rothiemurchus , a beautiful estate in the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland in 2015 and subsequently secured a job there as Head Ranger. David Edwards, Tilhill’s Forestry Director said:

“It is fantastic that Tilhill is able to continue to award talented individuals studying for degrees in Countryside and Environmental Management at Harper Adams. There has never been a more exciting time for graduates to be starting a career in forestry. The industry is, after all, a part of the solution to mitigate the impact of climate change. Congratulations to Oliver, I wish him every success for the future.

“Harper Adams graduates have been particularly successful in obtaining places on Tilhill’s popular graduate training programme. Within Wales we have had more Harper Adams graduates than any other university and we think that is a great reflection on the courses taught there.

“It is therefore most timely to announce that our 2022 Graduate Scheme is open for applications. Just visit our website for details on how to apply.”