Institute welcomes new Council Members
The Institute of Chartered Foresters’ AGM took place online on Wednesday 4 June and saw six new Council Members elected. Headed up by new President Andrew Sowerby FICFor and Vice President Dr Gary Kerr FICFor, the Council acts as a governing body for the Institute with members elected from within the Chartered membership. Three Fellows […]
New ICF President and Vice President elected
Following the Institute of Chartered Foresters’ Annual General Meeting on 4 June 2025, a new President and Vice President have been appointed. Andrew Sowerby FICFor was elected President as the successor to Geraint Richards MVO FICFor, who has completed two years in the role, and Dr Gary Kerr FICFor succeeds Andrew as Vice President. Andrew […]
Halfway update from Emyr Parker on forestry exchange in New Zealand
Emyr Parker is one of two candidates selected for the Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Programme (2024-2025) and is spending three months in New Zealand working for Juken NZ. Emyr has shared a halfway update on his experience on the exchange programme. Having spent the first half of my exchange at Masterton, I had the opportunity […]
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 […]
New data on skin cancer in the horticulture workforce
Please see below a press release from the Chartered Institute of Horticulture that was published in May 2025. 12% of survey respondents had been diagnosed with some form of skin cancer, according to a survey performed by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and Plant Network looking at awareness of skin cancer and attitudes to […]
Policy Roundup – March & April 2025
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Welcome to the second bi-monthly Policy Roundup of 2025, from the Institute’s Technical Policy Manager, Caroline Harrison MICFor. We have had a full first quarter with a wide range of CPD events and […]
Alex Donaldson MICFor gives halfway update on forestry exchange in Australia
Alex Donaldson MICFor is one of two candidates selected for the Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Programme (2024-2025) and is spending three months in Australia working for the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales. Alex has shared a halfway update on his experience on the exchange programme. I am now over halfway through my three-month placement, […]
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 […]
Healthy trees need healthy people
For Mental Health Awareness Week, we are delighted to announce that organisations from across the forestry sector have come together to tackle the growing issues surrounding mental health in forestry. An increasing number of threats to our trees makes the future of woodlands and forestry in the UK uncertain. However, we do know that trees […]
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 […]
