Cora Pfarre MICFor

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to work with wildlife and nature. As a teenager, I tried to gain as much practical experience as I could and completed several placements, including at a veterinary surgery, an animal shelter, a taxidermist, and a local wildlife enclosure called Wildgehege Moritzburg, which is owned by Sachsenforst, the forestry authority in Saxony.

Those early experiences helped me realise that I was drawn not only to individual animals and species, but also to the wider landscapes and habitats they depend on. Forestry felt like a natural fit because it supports wildlife in their habitat and brings together land management, people and long-term thinking.

I was very lucky to know from a young age that I wanted to pursue a career in forestry and nature conservation. I studied Forest Sciences at the Technical University of Dresden in Tharandt, followed by a Master’s in Forest Sciences specialising in biodiversity and landscape management. After graduating, I moved to the UK, gaining practical experience with Brockholes Nature Reserve, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and the City of London Corporation. I then joined the Forestry Commission to develop my knowledge of English forestry policy and regulation, before taking on my current role as Head Forester at Maydencroft.

As Head Forester at Maydencroft, I lead the company’s forestry consultancy services across England, combining technical delivery, client relationship management, business development and team leadership. My work covers woodland creation, woodland management planning, felling licences, forestry EIAs, harvesting, timber marketing, grant applications and estate-scale forestry strategy. I support clients in making long-term decisions that balance timber, biodiversity, carbon, landscape and resilience objectives. I also mentor and develop the forestry team, contribute to Maydencroft’s GreenSkills Academy, organise international forestry study tours, and represent the company on external industry committees and working groups.

One of the biggest challenges in forestry is the skills gap. It has become increasingly difficult to recruit qualified staff at all levels, including entry-level roles. While I am passionate about investing in training and mentoring my team, it is difficult for employers alone to provide the structure and depth of learning offered by a degree or apprenticeship. This is why I see skills development as one of the sector’s biggest opportunities. New initiatives, such as the Forest Works Manager apprenticeship offered by the University of Cumbria and the Forestry Commission’s Forest Development Officer scheme, are important steps in attracting, training and retaining future forestry professionals.

I am most passionate about creating resilient woodlands and supporting people to grow. I enjoy working with clients and colleagues to find practical, forward-looking management approaches that help woodlands adapt to climate change, pests, diseases and changing land-use pressures. At the same time, I find mentoring and leading a team incredibly rewarding. Seeing colleagues build confidence, develop their technical skills and begin to take ownership of their own projects is one of the most satisfying parts of my role. For me, good forestry is about both long-term woodland resilience and investing in the people who will care for those landscapes in future.

What excites me most is the role forestry can play in responding to climate change. We can already see and feel its impacts, and there is no doubt that the sector will face significant challenges. However, I remain optimistic. Woodlands and woodland creation have a crucial role to play in securing future timber supply, creating and restoring habitat, storing carbon, and making our landscapes more resilient. The solutions will not always be simple, and we may need to adapt quickly as conditions change, but I believe forestry is becoming more important than ever. That makes it a very exciting profession to be part of.

ICF membership has supported my career by helping me build strong professional connections and stay up to date with developments across the sector. It has also opened opportunities to become involved in committees and contribute to wider discussions around professional standards, skills and the future of forestry.

One highlight was organising and hosting a national study tour to Germany, which brought together forestry professionals to share knowledge and explore the value of learning across borders. More broadly, I have found the ICF to be a welcoming professional community where members support, challenge and learn from each other.

Being a Chartered member of the ICF means holding myself to a recognised professional and ethical standard. For me, it is about acting with integrity, being accountable for my decisions, and providing honest, objective advice, even when this requires difficult conversations. It also means understanding the limits of my own competence, continuing to learn, and treating clients, colleagues and stakeholders with respect. Most importantly, it reminds me that forestry decisions carry long-term consequences, and that my work should consider ecological, social, economic and environmental principles for both present and future generations.

I would recommend ICF membership because it offers a strong professional network and a supportive community at every stage of your career. For those starting out, it provides access to guidance, mentoring and opportunities to build confidence and professional identity. For more established professionals, it offers a valuable space to connect with others who understand the pressures facing the sector, from financial viability and climate resilience to social expectations and mental health. ICF membership helps ensure that foresters and arboriculturists are not working in isolation, but are part of a profession that can share concerns, support each other and influence positive change.

I joined the ICF because I wanted to be recognised as a professional forester in the UK and be part of a wider professional community. Having trained in Germany and built my career in England, I felt that ICF membership provided an important professional framework and accreditation.