Host a young professional forester in Summer 2027
Are you interested in hosting a placement on our 2027 Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Programme? We are looking for two organisations who would be willing to host a young professional forester from either Australia, Canada or New Zealand for three months in Summer 2027. This is an opportunity for you to create career-enhancing development experiences […]
Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2026 – entries open!
Entries are now open for all categories of Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2026, and it has never been easier to submit a superb example of excellence in woodlands and forestry. With a new website and easy to use online entry forms it could not be simpler to have your work championed on the national stage. […]
Defra publishes responses from call for evidence on the private sector in nature recovery
Defra received 169 responses to its Expanding the role of the private sector in nature recovery call for evidence that closed in August 2025. The Institute provided evidence for this call to inform policy developments and help deliver the Environmental Improvement Plan commitment to encourage private investment in support of nature recovery goals. The summary […]
National Audit Office report on the Nature for Climate Fund
On 23 March, the National Audit Office published its latest report on the Nature for Climate Fund. The report reviews progress across both tree planting and peatland restoration, examines how the programme was established and delivered, and considers the key barriers that remain. The Institute was pleased to contribute evidence to this review and welcome […]
Silvicultural Prize 2025 awarded to Gardenia Gonçalves de Oliveira
The Percy Stubbs and John Bolton King and Edward Garfitt Prize for Silviculture (Silvicultural Prize) is awarded annually for work published in the Institute of Chartered Foresters’ (ICF) prestigious journal Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research. We are delighted to announce the 2025 Silvicultural Prize has been awarded to Gardenia Gonçalves de Oliveira for the paper ‘Optimizing […]
Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Programme: meet the 2026 candidates
The Institute of Chartered Foresters is delighted to introduce the talented individuals selected for the 2026 Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Programme. This inspiring initiative, delivered in partnership with the Canadian Institute of Forestry, the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, and Forestry Australia, offers emerging leaders in forestry the opportunity to take part in a three-month […]
Read our Annual Review 2025
Our Annual Review 2025 looks back at our centenary celebrations, events, groups, policy work, membership, awards, publications and more, with a message from our President, Andrew Sowerby FICFor.
Tom Coates MICFor announced as Professional Forester of the Year 2026
The Institute of Chartered Foresters is delighted to announce that Tom Coates MICFor, Area Supply Manager at James Jones & Sons, has been awarded Professional Forester of the Year 2026. Presented on 12 March at the Confor Dinner & Awards 2026, the prestigious award recognises contributions to the betterment of forestry on a community, regional, […]
Celebrating excellence: The Hugh Miller Award for Excellence
We are proud to recognise five outstanding professionals as recipients of The Hugh Miller Award for Excellence 2025. Named in honour of Professor Hugh Miller OBE FRSE FICFor (1939–2019), the award celebrates exceptional ability demonstrated through the Professional Membership Entry (PME) process. Professor Miller taught forestry at the University of Aberdeen between 1984 and 2004, […]
Defra publishes deer impacts policy statement for England
We welcome Defra’s recent deer impacts policy statement: managing the impacts of wild deer in England. This policy provides a clear, evidence-led framework to tackle the growing ecological, economic, and welfare challenges posed by rising deer populations. Recent evidence shows that 33% of English woodlands are now negatively affected by deer, up from around a […]