Balfour Browne Trophy recognises outstanding contribution to deer management
Forestry and Land Scotland’s Bruce Sewell has been awarded the Balfour Browne Trophy for his outstanding contribution to the management of wild deer in Scotland.
Bruce (who is based in Doune, Perthshire) has been a Forest Management Officer with FLS since 2010 and over the years has worked closely with policy makers and public and private land managers to help government, regulators and practitioners establish a national vision for deer management.
The award - given annually to an individual for their exceptional input to deer conservation – is named after a founding member of the British Deer Society (BDS) Vincent Balfour-Browne, and nominations alternate between BDS and FLS.
Simon Hodgson, FLS Chief Executive, said;
“Managing deer on the national forests and land is an important part of what we do in our role as a leading land management organisation.
“Bruce’s strategic thinking is highly valued by his colleagues across the board. Land Managers across Scotland will benefit for years to come from Bruce’s expertise, which has shaped regulatory changes and enabled the introduction of new tools and methods available to deer managers across Scotland.
“I would like to thank Bruce for his hard work and unique contribution. His receipt of this award is very well deserved!”
Bruce produced the first published Deer Management Strategy (at that time for FES) and is currently supporting the revision of the strategy to ensure FLS deer management activity is fully aligned with the Scottish Government’s response to the recent independent deer working group report. His input to the Scottish Natural Heritage (now NatureScot) Authorisation Review was also hugely influential.
Bruce said:
“I really enjoy working on deer management and supporting FLS staff to maintain the organisation’s reputation as a highly respected deer and land manager.
“It’s nice to know that my work has helped FLS staff to manage deer sustainably as part of their work to manage and expand woodland thus contributing to Scotland’s climate change targets.”
Simon Hodgson presented Bruce with his trophy via an online presentation with colleagues and friends from across the land management sector present.
Notes to editors
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Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
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Media enquiries to Paul Munro, Media Manager, Forestry and Land Scotland Media Office 07785 527590 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.