Alex MacLennan, Recreation Public Affairs Manager for Forestry England in Northumberland, has received national recognition from the British Horse Society for his longstanding commitment to improving horse access. Forestry England has also been commended for its work enhancing equestrian opportunities across the region.

Forestry England in Northumberland has been showcasing the relationship between forests and horses throughout the year as part of the 100 Years of Kielder Forest celebrations. This has included renewing the story of how Kielder Forest was first established and how timber was historically extracted using horses.

On Sunday 13 September, around 30 horses rode through Kielder Forest from the edge of Kielder Water to the national border at Bloody Bush on the Scottish border. Even today, you can still see where a horse was tethered while someone sat all day collecting dues from users of the drove road. In those days, horses were the main mode of transport for droving, moving coal by horse and cart, and carrying provisions.

Led by Alex MacLennan, engagement activities have been popular throughout the year with the public and, in particular, equestrian users. These have included displays, horse logging demonstrations and three iconic horse ride events, including a fully booked horse and carriage experience at Kielder Castle. This work has not gone unnoticed by the British Horse Society nationally.

Alex received the award in recognition of his dedication to horse access, with the citation acknowledging his tireless efforts and the outstanding work delivered this year.

Alex is well respected for leading the Northumberland Access Forum, having chaired the county-wide forum since the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, the team has worked through barriers to horse access across the county, alongside wider access challenges and opportunities, including strategic issues such as A1 crossing points for access users in Northumberland.

In spring 2027, some of this work will culminate in a webpage on Visit Northumberland providing clear information on parking for horse-carrying vehicles, the locations of mounting blocks, and access to the bridleway network for fantastic days out in Northumberland.

Alex has also worked with many partners and collaborations, including leading Forestry England's involvement in the Reiver Trails project. The project has delivered more than 250 miles of waymarked forest road network in Kielder Forest, connecting to surrounding communities and creating a landscape-scale network that can be accessed by public transport to rural communities on the fringes of England's largest forest.

This is the third award Alex has received for his work on horse access, following recognition in 2011 for work in Hamsterley Forest and in 2014 for achievements at Chopwell Wood. Alex was also commended for his work in the Scottish Borders during the 2000s on the Tweed Trails Project, a trail from Edinburgh to Bloody Bush on the border with Kielder Forest and England.

Forestry England has also been commended nationally for the work of Alex and the wider team in Northumberland, recognising their excellent service in protecting and enhancing horse access across Forestry England forests. The recognition demonstrates how, through clear planning and partnership working, horses and working forests can successfully coexist.

Commenting on the award, Alex said:

"Not often I am speechless, but I was truly humbled and lost for words when the citation was read out.

I try and default to access management for everyone coming into the forests, and it's easy to be seen as leading only the mountain biking and cycling. I am really honoured that our work on horse access seems not to have gone unnoticed either.

One of my fondest memories in my career was at West Woods in Wiltshire, where I led work for the Forestry Commission to create a car park for horse riders in the mid-1990s. It is still there today much as it was built. The project was created to make timber haulage easier while also addressing the issues caused when horse-carrying vehicles blocked forest roads. I still remember the positive reaction, not only from horse riders but also from timber hauliers, who benefited from safer forest roads.

It's funny realising that I have probably done a wee bit with many different teams in different locations over the years for horse access, and I feel very honoured to have been recognised."