International Women’s Day 2022
International Women’s Day takes place on 8 March every year. We are working to increase diversity of our membership. Women are still underrepresented in our sector and we need to ensure that people from all genders and backgrounds consider forestry and arboriculture as a career that is open to them. Over […]
National Tree Officers Conference 2022 – Invitation to Present
We’re excited to announce the launch of the National Tree Officers Conference 2022! Building on the success of six previous events, we’re delighted that the conference is returning to its roots and will take place physically in Telford on the 9th November. This will be the first face-to-face National Tree Officers Conference in three years […]
Emergency tree work must be handled by experienced professionals
Extreme weather conditions have caused problems across the country recently, with many communities living with the aftereffects of Storm Dudley, Storm Eunice and Storm Franklin. Fallen trees and branches are again causing a lot of disruption. As a member of the HSE’s Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group (AFAG), we want to stress again to members […]
Worker killed felling tree
We regret to let members know of another fatality in our industry. Last week in Shropshire, a worker was crushed and killed when felling a tree. Being struck by a tree, or branches, when undertaking tree work is the most regular cause of death and major injury in forestry, arboriculture and other land-based industries. Tree work […]
Institute awards two Honorary Fellowships
We are delighted to appoint Tony Kirkham MBE and Sue James AA Dipl RIBA as Honorary Fellows in recognition of their service to the advancement of arboricultural knowledge. Before retiring in 2021, Tony Kirkham MBE had a distinguished 43-year career as Head of Arboretum, Gardens and Horticultural Services at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where […]
ICF President chairs webinar on urban reforestation
The Institute of Chartered Foresters President, Sharon Durdant-Hollamby FICFor, chaired the Landscape Institute’s recent webinar on urban reforestation as an effective tool against climate change. Sharon commented, “I was so pleased to see over 330 delegates attend this important topic of how planting trees in urban areas is proven to locally mitigate climate change. Howard […]
Assessing the risks and putting health and safety first
We regret to say that we have been notified of another fatality in our sector. After felling a tree in Kent earlier this month, a worker was crushed and killed, with the circumstances being investigated further. Please see this notice from HSE regarding the recent incident. The number of fatalities in the last year is […]
Ancient Woodland and Ancient & Veteran Trees – James Butler-White
Associate member James Butler-White, Senior Arboricultural Consultant at Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultants, gives us an insight into his final-year dissertation project… I’m currently studying on the final year of the BSc (Hons) in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry at Myerscough College. As part of my final-year syllabus, we are required to undertake a research project and dissertation on a […]
FISA Storm Arwen guidance
Following the recent damage inflicted on trees and woodlands across the UK by Storm Arwen, the Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA) have recently issued guidance on how to safely manage windblow and its aftermath: FISA recognise that Storm Arwen has produced a myriad of new areas of storm damaged trees, windblow, potentially weakened standing and […]
Policy Roundup – November 2021
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute News Our Position Paper on the Forestry Skills Shortage Last month we launched a campaign on the forestry skills crisis that was covered in October’s Policy Roundup. We want to keep the momentum […]
