Geraint Richards MVO FICFor, Head Forester to the Duchy of Cornwall and Past President of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF), has been awarded an OBE for services to the Forestry Sector in The King’s Birthday Honours announced on 14 June 2025.
Throughout Geraint’s tenure as President of the ICF, he has overseen the delivery of many notable Institute projects, including the launch of the Institute’s Technical membership category, revamping the Institute’s Member Networks (formerly Regional Groups), and the significant development and relaunch of the Educational & Scientific Trust, a fund aimed at ensuring ICF members have access to professional development opportunities.
Commenting on receiving the OBE, Geraint said:
“It was the most wonderful surprise and, of course, a great honour to learn that I would be receiving an OBE in The King’s Birthday Honours List. Ever since I was a teenager, I wanted to be a forester and throughout my career I have endeavoured to serve the wider sector. I must acknowledge with gratitude the encouragement that both His Majesty The King and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales have given me to do this.
“Amidst all my activities, it was a particular privilege to serve, until very recently, as President of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. Our trees, woodlands and foresters deserve professional care, and I am so proud of our Institute that represents the arboriculturists and foresters who devote their careers to this.”
Louise Simpson, Executive Director of the ICF, commented:
“We were delighted to nominate Geraint for this award with the support of many organisations he has assisted over the years. His job, the connections he seeks to make, and his unbridled enthusiasm make him a fantastic advocate for the forestry sector. Geraint truly gets things done and makes a difference. It has been an honour to work with him during his tenure as the President of the ICF.”
A proud alumnus of Bangor University, Geraint graduated in 1992 with a degree in forestry. He worked for four years at the Forestry Commission in Kent and East Sussex, before applying for the role of Head Forester for the Duchy of Cornwall.
In his role as Head Forester to the Duchy of Cornwall, Geraint is responsible for the management of the trees, woodlands and forests across the Duchy’s extensive land holding in England and Wales. The Duchy’s woodlands extend to around 2,500 hectares and contain a variety of species and forest types, spanning the geographical range from shelterbelts on the Isles of Scilly to coniferous stands in Cornwall, and high quality ancient semi-natural woodlands in Herefordshire. He was also a key figure in The Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting initiative, created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
In addition to his work for the Duchy of Cornwall and his significant involvement with ICF operations, Geraint has fulfilled many significant roles throughout the sector. He has been the Chair of Action Oak since 2018, working to protect oak trees throughout the UK through collaborative research. Geraint has also been a Trustee for the Plant Health Alliance, formed in 2018 as the result of a plant health conference at Highgrove, since its inception. Other notable roles include being a member of the advisory group for the Commonwealth Forestry Association; a member of the CLA’s National Woodland Committee; Secretary of the woodland section of the Royal Cornwall Show for more than 25 years; a director of the International Forestry Network for the Canadian Institute of Forestry, and he was also recently named as High Sheriff of Cornwall.
