A Wester Ross estate owner has been recognised for her exceptional contribution to rural skills education in the local community.
Lucy Beattie, who owns Leckmelm Estate near Ullapool, scooped the Scottish Land and Estates’ Highland region Helping It Happen award at an awards ceremony at the Scottish Parliament.
It was presented to her by Fergus Ewing MSP, Scottish Government minister for business, energy and tourism.
The accolade recognises the help Miss Beattie has been giving to pupils from Ullapool High School to gain a Rural Skills Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) since 2007.
Pupils from the school’s additional support for learning department have also been working beside the rural skills learners and have taken part in SVQ modules, as well as achieve John Muir awards.
She now runs the course for West Highland College as part of its schools link programme.
Miss Beattie said: “To gain recognition through this Helping It Happen award is wonderful, but I am even more delighted to see such a fruitful partnership between rural estates and the community being highlighted.
“Ullapool High is a very forward thinking school. They wanted to get the community involved with the curriculum and talked to me about their idea. I was very happy to take part because I had been thrown into running the farm at the age of 21. I was keen to do what I could to help young people in the area.”