As we approach the end of 2025, take a look at some highlights from the Institute of Chartered Foresters’ centenary year.
Celebrating 100 years
300+ attend the Centenary National Conference in Edinburgh
Celebrating the Past, Inspiring the Future
In spring 2025, we published the Centenary Issue of TREES. This edition included an article from Professor Julian Evans OBE FICFor on the first 100 years of the Institute, exploring the challenges and contributions that have shaped the Institute to date.
A special Centenary National Study Tour at Windsor Great Park
Our Member Networks held centenary events across the UK
Our membership
2,350+
total members
257
new members in 2025
65
applications for chartered status in 2025
We welcomed eight Fellows of the Institute in 2025
First Professional Forester Apprentices awarded chartered status
Awards
Professional Forester of the Year 2025
Two members awarded The Institute’s Medal
President's Award
ICF wins Building Industry Resilience Award
We were crowned the winner of the Building Industry Resilience Award at the Confor Dinner & Awards 2025 for the wildly successful Emerging Leader Programme – an initiative aimed at helping forestry professionals build leadership potential, strengthen their networks and drive social, environmental, and organisational change for the long-term benefit of the sector.
Events & CPD
66 events in 2025
20 #MembersHours in 2025
16 Member Network events in 2025
13 Special Interest Group events in 2025
Tree professionals from across the UK returned to Reading Town Hall for the tenth National Tree Officers Conference 2025, celebrating a decade of knowledge-sharing, innovation, and collaboration
Our Member Networks held events on a wide range of topical subjects including decarbonising timber transport, agroforestry, woodland creation assessments, biodiversity net gain and more. Thanks to the Member Network committees for organising these events.
Ancient Woodlands Conference
Developed by our Environmental Special Interest Group, the sold-out Ancient Woodlands Conference took place in Birmingham in November exploring the challenges ancient woodlands face, the work already being done to protect them, and the policy changes needed to ensure their future.
Boost your CPD
Our online Members Area library continues to grow with new content added on a regular basis. Our members have access to more than 200 hours of video content, Chartered Forester / TREES archive, and can access the Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research through the portal.
Partnerships, policy & projects
UKFS for Non-Foresters online course launched
We launched this one-hour online training course to make the UK Forestry Standard’s best practice principles accessible to non-foresters.
The course explains sustainable forestry standards, typically known only within the forestry sector, and aims to guide decision-making involving trees and woodlands. Hosted on the accessible platform Silvestor, it targets professionals such as farmers, landowners, conservationists, environmentalists, climate specialists, businesses, investors in natural capital, local authority planners and policy officers.
Virtual work experience programme launched to attract the next generation of foresters
We were delighted to partner with the Forestry Commission to launch a free Virtual Work Experience programme via Springpod to attract young people (ages 13-23) to forestry careers. Covering tree planting, management, and conservation, it aims to address skills shortages, promote sustainability and inspire future professionals through interactive learning and career advice.
New Special Interest Group for Green Finance launched
A forest-based education platform for the sector
Hosted by the Institute, Silvestor is hub for foresters and arboriculturists to connect, collaborate, and stay informed about what’s happening across the sector. Designed by the sector, for the sector, Silvestor is home to the UKFS e-learning and UKFS for Non-Foresters courses, with hubs from sector partners, and a calendar of upcoming events.
Forestry Sector Skills Plan for England published
Young Professionals Forestry Exchange Programme
This programme, developed with partner organisations in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, is a unique opportunity for rising stars in forestry to share knowledge and gain hands-on international experience through a three-month paid work placement overseas. Two individuals from the UK were selected for the 2024/25 programme:
Alex Donaldson MICFor - Australia
Emyr Parker - New Zealand
Applications are open for the Young Professionals Forestry Exchange Programme 2025/26 until 16 January 2026
Governance
New ICF President and Vice President elected
President
Vice President
Meet the members who were elected onto our Council at our Annual General Meeting this year
Looking forward
We’re looking forward to delivering more CPD events in 2026 on a range of subjects of interest to members. Is there a subject area you would like us to host an event on? Let us know at events@charteredforesters.org
National Conference 2026
19 & 20 May 2026
International Convention Centre Wales, Newport
Strengthening our membership
Building on the momentum of our centenary year, we plan to strengthen both the Institute and the sector’s collective voice by expanding our membership and deepening engagement at every stage of the professional journey. Through continued investment and focus on learning, recognition and career-growth opportunities – alongside championing member stories, raising the profile of arboriculture and forestry, and attracting new entrants – we will grow a vibrant, inclusive community of professionals whose shared expertise and advocacy will elevate the sector’s impact and influence.
Mentoring scheme for forestry professionals
This six-month professionally supported mentoring scheme (launching in 2026) will strengthen retention and progression in the sector, increasing professional confidence and clarity. Chartered Forester/Arboriculturist mentors will be matched with forestry professionals seeking development with structured onboarding and training.
This project has been funded by the Forestry Commission and aligns with the actions set out in the Forestry Sector Skills Plan.
Competency Framework
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
