Forestry policy & CPD roundup April – June 2026
Welcome to the Institute’s policy update focusing on key developments shaping forestry and land use policy, upcoming consultations, CPD events, and opportunities for member engagement. Headline updates Between April and June 2026, forestry, arboriculture and timber policy across the UK was shaped by five linked priorities: deforestation due diligence, domestic timber supply, woodland creation and […]
Forestry policy & CPD roundup January – March 2026
Welcome to the Institute’s policy update focusing on key developments shaping forestry and land use policy, upcoming consultations, CPD events, and opportunities for member engagement. Headline updates Forestry Commission leadership and policy tone The outgoing Forestry Commission Chair, Sir William Worsley MICFor, reflected on and reinforced three policy priorities likely to shape 2026–2030: Climate‑resilient woodland […]
Forestry policy & CPD roundup — January 2026
Welcome to the first policy update of the year. This month we look back at the last quarter of 2025 and focus on key developments shaping forestry and land use policy, upcoming consultations, CPD events, and opportunities for member engagement. Headline Updates Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2025 The UK Government published its overarching Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, which sets out a broader […]
Policy Roundup – July, August & September 2025
Our quarterly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Welcome to the third quarterly Policy Roundup of 2025, from the Institute’s Technical Policy Manager, Caroline Harrison MICFor. Special Interest Groups Our Special Interest Groups continue to meet quarterly, including a new […]
Policy Roundup – May & June 2025
Our policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Welcome to the third bi-monthly Policy Roundup of 2025 from the Institute’s Technical Policy Manager, Caroline Harrison MICFor. Special Interest Groups Our Special Interest Groups continue to meet quarterly, including a new Special […]
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 […]
Policy Roundup – January & February 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 first Policy Roundup of 2025 with a newish year, two months in, from the Institute’s Technical Policy Manager, Caroline Harrison MICFor, who is now four months into the role. […]
Policy Roundup – August 2024
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news With Summer drawing to an end, we’re looking ahead to a busy autumn events calendar, with a highlight being the anticipated Horizon Scan series. Read all about this partner webinar series below, […]
Policy Roundup – July 2024
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news UKFS e-learning This month we launched an accredited e-learning programme to help tree professionals get to grips with the latest edition of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS), which comes into effect in […]
Policy Roundup – June 2024
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Trees for People, Place and Nature: Growing Trees for Tomorrow’s Needs As the Royal Chartered body for professionals working with trees in the public, private and third sectors, we represent a broad […]
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 […]
Policy Roundup – April 2024
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Trees, People and the Built Environment 5 From the 23-24 April, all Institute staff attended our annual National Conference, Trees, People and the Built Environment 5. The conference brought together leading professional […]
Policy Roundup – March 2024
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news March has been a busy month for the Institute with many staff getting out and about, engaging with our members and stakeholders. We have also launched ten events, including our Early Careers […]
Policy Roundup – February 2024
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news This month we announced the four shortlisted candidates for Professional Forester of the Year 2024 – Gordon Brown MICFor, Iwan Lloyd-Williams MICFor, Kenton Rogers MICFor and Dr Eleanor Tew MICFor. This prestigious […]
Policy Roundup – January 2024
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news The Institute is delighted that Tom Jenkins FICFor has been awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the Forestry Sector in the New Year Honours […]
Policy Roundup – December 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Emerging Leader Programme A webinar was held on 5 December, showcasing the final presentations of the Emerging Leaders from the Clore Leadership Development Programme. Three groups, as voted for by peers, presented […]
Policy Roundup – November 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Woodland Creation Summit In June 2023, a delivery action plan was announced aimed at ramping up tree planting levels. This included a £1 million investment by Scottish Forestry to provide comprehensive training for […]
Policy Roundup – October 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news On 28 September, the Institute’s Executive Director Louise Simpson attended the Trees and Trains: Growing Green Corridors conference hosted by Network Rail and the Forestry Commission. Louise joined delegates from across government […]
Policy Roundup – September 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news This month we have been busy out networking at various conferences and events. On the 6 and 7 September, the Institute’s Senior Events Coordinator, Ella Smith, and Senior Technical Officer, Shona Smyth […]
Policy Roundup – August 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news This month has again been a busy time for the Institute. We were delighted to announce that the Professional and Educational Standards Committee promoted five more new members to Fellows of the […]
Policy Roundup – July 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news New Head of Policy and Partnerships This month has been one of change and celebration as we said farewell to Jemima Cooper. Jemima looks back at her time with us in a […]
Policy Roundup – June 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Institute’s Council meets On the 6 and 7 June, the Institute’s Council met in Hereford to welcome new trustees, discuss our current five-year strategy’s progress and priorities for the coming years, and […]
Policy Roundup – May 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news New President and Vice President Appointed Following our AGM on 25 April, we welcomed a new President and Vice President. Geraint Richards MVO FICFor, Head Forester for the Duchy of Cornwall, succeeds […]
Policy Roundup – April 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news New Cabinet Secretary for forestry in Scotland The Institute welcomed a Cabinet reshuffle in Scotland that saw Mairi Gougeon MSP take up the new role of Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land […]
Policy Roundup – March 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news The Spring Budget to Parliament on 15 March touched briefly on waste and agriculture but barely mentioned nature and the environment, so despite positive progress on trees and woodlands with Defra and […]
Policy Roundup – February 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news February has whizzed by, with plenty of interesting policy news – not least the resignation of Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, where we will be eagerly observing what comes next. This month […]
Policy Roundup – January 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news It has been a busy start to the year at the Institute. We are particularly excited to be working with the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) on a position […]
Policy Roundup – December 2022
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news There has been a flurry of activity in the run-up to Christmas. Here is a brief run-down of some of our policy and engagement work over the last month. We submitted our […]
Policy Roundup – November 2022
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news The theme of time for change seems to continue, as we’ve had a rollercoaster of parliamentary changes – with Rishi Sunak taking the reins as prime minister, Thérèse Coffey becoming the Secretary […]
Policy Roundup – October 2022
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news We have been delighted to welcome Shona Smyth MICFor to the Institute team as our new Senior Technical Officer. Shona will be working with Jemima on the Institute’s policy positions, as well […]
Policy Roundup – September 2022
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news It has been a time of change at every level – within the Institute, in the sector, in the political landscape and in the monarchy. We have a new Prime Minister, a […]
Policy Roundup – August 2022
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Consultations We are submitting evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee inquiry on supporting the UK timber market and reducing global deforestation. Our main points will be about decarbonisation and circular economy, bringing […]
Policy Roundup – July 2022
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Launch of leadership programme Funded by the Trees Call to Action Fund and in partnership with Clore Social Leadership, this month we were delighted to announce the launch of the Discover Programme […]
Policy Roundup – June 2022
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute News On 14 June we met with Scotland’s Education Minister Jamie Hepburn to talk about the skills crisis and how we can resolve it. We were joined by Chief Forester Helen McKay FICFor […]
Policy Roundup – May 2022
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute News New measures in the Woodland Carbon Code(WCC) have stimulated much debate, not only since their publication but in the many months leading up to it. The Institute is represented on the Woodland […]
Policy Roundup – April 2022
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute News This month our policy work is focussed on two major Defra consultations, on environmental targets and nature recovery, as well as varied work with the sector and ICF representatives. Nature Recovery Work […]