Mai Sussex, 25, from Holkham, met Princess Anne as she received the Bishop of Norwich Sustainable Environment Young Employee of the Year Award.
She began working on the Holkham estate as a trainee forester four years ago, attracted to the role by how the estate champions sustainability.
“If there is a young tree on the estate I’m doing my best to keep it alive,” she said.
“I’ve always loved the outdoors and it’s just a natural extension of that to want to protect the environment, particularly when you are aware of the challenges we face, like climate change.”
The award is backed by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham Usher, who is the Church of England’s lead bishop for the environment and president of this year’s Royal Norfolk Show.
He said: “Mai is wonderfully worthy winner. She is acutely aware of our need for more woodland and as she nurtures new saplings she is focusing on how she can contribute towards a better future for the whole planet.”
The award winner, who is the first forester in her family, plans to use the £1,000 prize to further her career development and improve her forestry knowledge.
She has already helped reduce herbicide use at Holkham by analysing data to determine the optimum amount needed to protect young trees.
Holkham head forester Harry Wakefield praised Mai’s “wealth of knowledge and aptitude in forestry”.
“I have found individuals such as Mai to be rare, as she injects enthusiasm, seeks bigger challenges and improves the optics in everything she does,” he said.
The annual award is run with the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and judged by its education arm, the Food and Farming Trust.
