Looking back on National Conference 2026
Our National Conference 2026: Innovation for a Resilient Tomorrow brought together forestry and arboriculture professionals from across the UK for two inspiring days of learning, discussion, and networking at ICC Wales in Newport. The conference programme explored a wide range of topics shaping the future of the sector, including technological innovation, artificial intelligence, forest resilience, […]
Be a tree champion – Scotland’s Finest Woods opens applications for new Executive Director and trustees
Scotland’s Finest Woods is pleased to announce it is welcoming applications for a new Executive Director, following the decision by Jean Nairn to step down after four years of excellent work promoting the very best of woods and forests in Scotland and the people that care for them. The charity is also looking for up […]
Scottish conference to put nature at the heart of urban design and planning
Highlighting the importance of early and sustained collaboration between planners, designers, developers, arboriculturists and engineers in improving outcomes for trees. Scotland’s built environment professionals will come together on 17 June in Stirling for the Trees and Development Conference 2026, a one-day event focused on why trees succeed or fail in development and what needs to change to […]
Landscape Institute to welcome key speakers to Scotland housing conference
Màiri McAllan MSP (Scottish Government) and Karen Anderson (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland) will join plenary sessions exploring how a landscape-led approach to housing delivery in Scotland is essential for people, place and nature. The Landscape Institute (LI) is pleased to announce the programme and speaker lineup for the Scotland edition of its National […]
Celebrating excellence at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2025
A school which has taken lessons on climate change out of the classroom and into the real world, and a project using trees to stop a notorious flooding problem are among the champions honoured at this year’s Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards. When you add in a project to plant free nut and fruit trees in […]
A look back at our Centenary National Study Tour 2025
The Institute’s Educational & Scientific Trust (EST) funded one Student member to attend the Centenary National Study Tour in October at Windsor Great Park. The selected student was Alice Haylock who currently works for the Forestry Commission (FC) as a Development Woodland Officer, and is in her second year of the degree-level Professional Forester Apprenticeship […]
Highlights from our South West England Member Network agroforestry event
In May 2025, the South West England Member Network hosted their annual spring event focusing on agroforestry and the North Devon Silvopasture Trials. Members were invited to Whiddon Down Village Hall in Devon to hear from the Woodland Trust and a Devon-based farmer before heading out to North Wyke Farm to visit one of their […]
New chair at Scotland’s Finest Woods to champion people, passion, innovation and success
Scotland’s Finest Woods is pleased to announce that Wilma Harper MBE FICFor CEnv has been selected as its new chair. A Chartered Forester and Chartered Environmentalist, Wilma has been a trustee of Scotland’s Finest Woods since June 2017 and replaces Guy Watt FICFor who has been a Trustee since 2009 and served as chair for […]
Hutton research inspires artists behind digital installation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The artist collective behind a groundbreaking new digital installation at London’s Kew Gardens has credited research by The James Hutton Institute as part of their inspiration. Of the Oak opened to visitors on Saturday 3 May, showcasing the story and inner workings of the Lucombe oak with a multi-sensory video installation. The installation is Kew’s […]
Prestigious awards presented at ICF Centenary National Conference 2025
The Institute of Chartered Foresters’ (ICF) Centenary National Conference 2025: Celebrating the Past, Inspiring the Future took place in Edinburgh on 29 & 30 April, with several highly prestigious ICF awards being presented to well-deserving, long-serving members who have played vitally important roles in shaping both the Institute and the sector. The awards were presented […]
40 years of championing a key national resource – Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards
Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards is marking 40 years of celebrating all that is great about the country’s woodlands and forests. The Awards celebrate the people involved across all types of Scotland’s woodlands who through their dedication make them the finest examples of a key national natural resource. The Awards started at a time when many […]
National Tree Officers Conference 2025 – Call for presentations open!
Building on the success of nine previous events, we’re delighted to announce the National Tree Officers Conference will return on 5 November 2025 for its tenth anniversary! Proudly hosted by the Association of Tree Officers (ATO), Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF), London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) and the Municipal Tree Officers’ Association (MTOA), the […]
Professional Forester of the Year 2025 – Shortlist announced
The Institute of Chartered Foresters is delighted to announce the three shortlisted candidates for Professional Forester of the Year 2025, the prestigious award that recognises outstanding service to the profession and the sector. This award recognises the contributions made by Chartered Arboriculturists or Chartered Foresters to the betterment of forestry on a community, regional, national […]
Strong roots in woodlands and forestry championed at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2024
A bumper year of entries saw excellence in all sectors, from community to forestry, conservation to farming and climate to schools. And each was showcased during a grand ceremony at the Scottish Parliament. Local groups, farmers, foresters and large estates were all recognised at the national event, held by Scotland’s Finest Woods to coincide with […]
Read about our NEMN Professional Development Day
On 24 October, our North England Member Network (NEMN) held their AGM and annual Professional Development Day at Fountains Abbey Visitor Centre in Ripon. Tom Coates MICFor, Chair of the NEMN, has shared a write-up of the event. The morning session started with an introduction to Fountains Abbey by Bec Evans (Visitor Operations & Experience […]
Leading UK forestry organisations launch webinar series on the challenges facing UK forest management
Forestry Facing the Future – leading UK forestry organisations launch essential webinar series on the challenges facing UK forest management The Forestry Commission and Institute of Chartered Foresters are bringing together a wide range of leading sector experts for a dynamic series of webinars that will examine in detail the key issues likely to […]
Visit us at the APF Exhibition
We are looking forward to exhibiting at the APF Exhibition, the UK’s largest forestry, woodland, arboriculture, firewood, fencing, trees and timber trade show, from 19 – 21 September on the Ragley Estate in Warwickshire. Members of our team will be on-hand across the three days to answer your questions about membership, or to catch up […]
Read about our Environmental SIG’s Professional Development Day
In June, our Environmental Special Interest Group (SIG) held its first in-person event with two site visits hosted by Network Rail and the City of London Corporation. Gordon Pfetscher FICFor, SIG member and Head of Estate at the Woodland Trust, attended this event and has reported back on the day’s activities. Site One – Network […]
Key takeaways from our Early Career Professionals Study Tour: Carbon and Investment
Our Early Career Professionals Study Tour 2024 took place on 2 and 3 July where a group of early career professionals travelled across various estates and woodlands in Devon. The tour offered practical insights into forestry management, the importance of collaboration, and information regarding existing models for carbon finance, biodiversity net gain, and further investment […]
Institute attends Royal Cornwall Show
Tim Scott-Ellis MICFor, Managing Director of Evolve Tree Consultancy, has been representing the Institute on behalf of the South West England Member Network at the Royal Cornwall Show for many years. This year’s show took place on 6,7 and 8 June 2024 and Tim joined a diverse range of organisations on our stand in the […]
Trees, People and the Built Environment 5 – Post Event Tickets Now On Sale!
Following our fantastic two-day #TPBE5 conference in April this year, we’re delighted to offer post-event access to all conference content for those who couldn’t make it at the time. Accessible through our dedicated online conference platform, Pheedloop, these post-event ticket options offer access to all eight main sessions of the conference […]
Policy Roundup – May 2024
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news From 30 April to 2 May, the Institute’s Executive Director, Louise Simpson, and President, Geraint Richards MVO FICFor, visited Freiburg University Forestry School to explore German urban forestry practices, talk to forestry […]
Bangor University to celebrate 120 years of forestry teaching
One of the oldest “forestry universities” in the UK – and the first to offer a degree in forestry – is celebrating 120 years of forestry teaching. Bangor forestry graduates and staff will be celebrating the 120th anniversary over the weekend of 6 and 7 September 2024. Visit this page for more information and to […]
Chief Plant Health Officer urges increased vigilance to sightings of Asian hornet ahead of summer season
The UK’s Chief Plant Health Officer Nicola Spence has urged UK beekeepers and the public to be increasingly vigilant to the presence of Asian hornet and report any sightings as we move into the peak summer season. The Asian hornet is smaller than our native hornet and poses no greater risk to human health than […]
Read about our Harvesting & Marketing SIG’s 2024 Study Tour
Our Harvesting & Marketing Special Interest Group (SIG) held their first Study Tour in March 2024 in South Scotland. Emma Grey, Operations Manager at Scottish Forestry and member of the SIG, has reported back on the Study Tour’s activities and outcomes. The first Harvesting & Marketing SIG tour began with an introduction from Neil McKay […]
Institute of Chartered Foresters celebrates launch of new Technical membership category
The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) is delighted to announce the launch of its new Technical membership category, aimed at opening membership to skilled arboriculturists and foresters currently working in technical roles across the sector. Institute members voted to introduce the new category at their AGM in May 2021, to support and recognise an under-represented […]
Professional Forester of the Year Winner Announced at Confor Dinner & Awards 2024
The Institute of Chartered Foresters is delighted to announce that Gordon Brown MICFor, Managing Director of TreeStory, has been awarded Professional Forester of the Year 2024. Presented on 12 March at the Confor Dinner & Awards 2024, the award recognises contributions to the betterment of forestry on a community, regional, national or international level. Professional […]
National Tree Officers Conference 2024 – Call for Presentations now open
Building on the success of eight previous events, we’re delighted to announce the National Tree Officers Conference will return on the 6 November 2024. Proudly hosted by the Association of Tree Officers (ATO), Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF), London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) and the Municipal Tree Officers’ Association (MTOA), the conference will take […]
Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2024 – One Month Left to Nominate
There is now just over one month left to nominate for Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards! Jean Nairn, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, gives us an insight into what we can expect this year… The landscape is changing, in more ways than one. Forestry and farming are now working more closely together with agroforestry becoming […]
Leading professional institutes to gather for Trees, People and the Built Environment 5
Early Bird Tickets now available Conference at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham and Online – 23 & 24 April 2024 How can trees contribute to the quality of place for both people and nature? How can they contribute to net zero ambitions for our built and natural environments? Kevin McCloud MBE FICFor (Hon), host of Channel 4’s popular […]
Institute members discuss tree shelters at Castle Howard
The Institute’s North England Regional Group held a one-day conference on 6 July at the magnificent Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, organised by Simon Place MICFor and Jim Smith. The purpose of the day was two-fold: to discuss the prospect of establishing woodlands and trees without the use of tree shelters where possible (plastic or […]
Institute’s Senior Technical Officer speaks at Healthy Hillsides event
The Healthy Hillsides project is a Welsh Government-funded partnership programme designed to reduce the impact of wildfires across the South Wales Valleys. The project is steered by Natural Resources Wales, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and the Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales and demonstrates collaboration with wider partners […]
Prestigious Institute awards presented at National Conference 2023
The Institute’s National Conference 2023: Connecting Trees, Farmers and Foresters took place in Birmingham last month and a number of prestigious awards were presented to well-deserving, long-serving members who have played important roles in shaping the Institute’s operations. Having dedicated his entire career to enhancing and promoting the professionalism of forestry, the Institute was delighted […]
National Tree Officers Conference 2023 – Call for Presentations now open
Building on the success of seven previous events, we’re delighted to announce the National Tree Officers Conference (NTOC) will return on the 7 November 2023. Proudly hosted by the Association of Tree Officers (ATO), Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF), London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) and the Municipal Tree Officers’ Association (MTOA), this year’s conference will […]
Professional Forester of the Year Winner Announced at Confor Dinner & Awards 2023
The Institute is delighted to announce that Jonathan Callis MICFor, Senior Asset Manager at Network Rail, has won the inaugural Professional Forester of the Year award. Presented at the Confor Dinner & Awards 2023, the award recognises contributions to the betterment of forestry on a community, regional, national or international level. Professional Forester of the Year is awarded […]
Trees, Planning and Development in Scotland
How can the planning system, policy and practice help protect and expand our trees and woodlands which make up our Urban Forests? We are delighted to be a Lead Partner on this event hosted by the Trees Design Action Group (TDAG) that will explore how the planning system, policy and practice can help protect and […]