Who we are

The Professional Body for UK foresters and arboriculturists

The Institute of Chartered Foresters is the Royal Chartered body for foresters and arboriculturists in the UK. It is the only UK body to offer the Chartered Forester and Chartered Arboriculturist titles.

The Institute:

– Regulates standards of entry to the profession.

– Supports members and provides guidance to professionals in other sectors.

– Offers educational advice and training to both students and tree professionals seeking to develop their careers in the forestry and arboricultural industry.

The Institute works to foster a greater public awareness and understanding of forestry
and arboriculture in order to serve a variety of commercial, recreational, environmental
and scientific interests.

A Badge of Professionalism

The Institute has 2,000 members who practice forestry, arboriculture and related disciplines in the private sector, central and local government, non-government organisations, charities and universities and colleges throughout England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Members of the Institute are required to uphold the integrity and reputation of the profession of forestry and arboriculture and to safeguard the public interest in matters of safety and health and are bound by the Instititute’s Code of Conduct. Chartered status (Chartered Forester and Chartered Arboriculturist) is an award that recognises professional competence and adherence to this Code.

Find out more about us

“Being chartered has enabled me to contribute to enhancing the overall status of the arboricultural profession, which is very important to me.”
Tracy Clarke MICFor

Latest news

07/05/2026

A survey of over 500 professionals reveals that stress is a “constant backdrop” in forestry and arboriculture  The Royal Forestry Society (RFS), working with a coalition of leading forestry organ...

29/04/2026

The Institute of Chartered Foresters was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Tom Jenkins MBE FICFor, a long‑standing member whose commitment both to professional standards and the ICF spanned m...

28/04/2026

The Institute of Chartered Foresters is delighted to announce that Richard Stanford CB MBE, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, has been promoted to Professional Member status, acknowledging h...

15/04/2026

The Institute of Chartered Foresters welcomes the publication of the England Red Squirrel Recovery Strategy, an important milestone for woodland stewardship and species conservation across the country...

15/04/2026

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 upda...

10/04/2026

With the initial commentary now settling on the long‑anticipated Land Use Framework for England and Forest Research’s 50‑year softwood availability forecast, attention is shifting from reacti...

09/04/2026

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 foreste...

07/04/2026

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 an...

27/03/2026

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 po...

27/03/2026

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 prog...

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