Estate and lettings Agency Northwood North East has been shortlisted for a prestigious RSPB Nature of Scotland Award for its innovative ‘A Tree for Every Key’ campaign.
Northwood is one of five finalists in the Business for Nature category, in recognition of its commitment to the River Dee Trust’s award-winning One Million Trees campaign.
The Nature of Scotland Awards recognise individuals and organisations making a difference across local communities and businesses to support Scotland’s wildlife and natural environment.
Valuable Conservation Work
In May, Northwood donated 21 ‘bouquets’ of trees after pledging that for every house sold or let in the Deeside area, a bouquet of 25 trees would be contributed to the restoration and biodiversity work that is being carried out by the Trust on the River Dee’s vast catchment area.
Each bouquet comprises trees which are native to the area, including Willow, Rowan, Birch, Alder and Aspen, giving them the best chance of survival, particularly those planted in the upper Cairngorms where they endure the harsh environment of a Scottish winter.
As a Banchory business owner and long-term resident of Deeside, Northwood owner and Director Laura Mearns is passionate about supporting the valuable conservation work of the Trust.
“Being part of the One Million Trees campaign is something we as a team are incredibly proud of,” she said.
“Our ‘A Tree for Every Key’ campaign was a simple idea, but one that allows us to make a tangible contribution every time we help someone buy or rent a home. Knowing that each sale or let can help restore habitats, improve biodiversity and support the long-term health of the River Dee makes it a meaningful initiative for us.
“To be shortlisted for an RSPB Nature of Scotland Award is wonderful recognition of what can be achieved when local businesses get behind projects that make a genuine difference. We’re incredibly proud to support the River Dee Trust and its ambitious vision for the Dee catchment, and we hope our campaign will encourage other businesses to consider how they too can play a part in protecting the natural environment around us.”
One Million Trees
The One Million Trees campaign was launched in 2020 and has become one of the largest nature restoration projects in Scotland. The project quickly gathered momentum with support from communities, landowners and businesses. Young and old alike have gone to work, planting deciduous native trees across the Dee’s upper catchment.
In April 2025, it celebrated the halfway point by planting the 500,000th tree, significantly ahead of schedule. The milestone was marked by a commitment to step up the restoration of the river’s vast catchment, safeguarding nature, homes and businesses.
John Mason, Chair of the Nature of Scotland Awards judging panel and Chair of the RSPB Scotland Committee, said: “The Nature of Scotland Awards shine a spotlight on the people, projects and partnerships making a real difference for nature across the country.
“The standard of entries this year has once again been incredibly inspiring and demonstrates the passion, innovation and commitment that exists in every corner of Scotland. On behalf of the judging panel, I want to thank everyone who applied and shared their stories with us. I look forward to celebrating their achievements together at the awards ceremony in November.”
Northwood will join the finalists of all 10 award categories at a celebratory event at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on Thursday 19 November.
