Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards returns for 2026 – are you a growing success story?
Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards is once again celebrating excellence in woodlands and forestry across the country, with youngsters leading the way. Entries have opened for the Schools and Early Years categories in the 2026 Awards, with a deadline of March 31. Entering is straightforward and can be done via the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards website […]
Institute welcomes newest Chartered members
We are delighted to recognise and celebrate the professionals who have successfully completed the Professional Membership Entry (PME) process in 2025. Achieving chartered status is a significant professional milestone, reflecting not only technical competence and experience, but also a strong commitment to professionalism, ethical practice and continuing development within forestry and arboriculture. The PME process […]
New mapping tool brings emerging urban greening standard to the UK
Treeconomics has announced the launch of Urban Forest 3-30-300, a new mapping and analysis tool designed to help local authorities understand how neighbourhoods perform against the 3-30-300 principle – an emerging standard for healthy, nature-rich urban environments. The 3-30-300 rule, proposed by international urban forestry expert Dr Cecil Konijnendijk FICFor (Hon), sets out three simple […]
A look back at our Centenary National Study Tour 2025
The Institute’s Educational & Scientific Trust (EST) funded one Student member to attend the Centenary National Study Tour in October at Windsor Great Park. The selected student was Alice Haylock who currently works for the Forestry Commission (FC) as a Development Woodland Officer, and is in her second year of the degree-level Professional Forester Apprenticeship […]
New resilience strategy launched by Forestry England
Forestry England today (10 November 2026) launched a new strategy and action plan that will protect the nation’s forests against the multiple threats they face. Three key principles of assessing, diversifying and restoring will guide foresters across the organisation so the 1,500 forests and woodlands in their care are fit for the future. As the […]
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 […]
Institute signs joint statement on Local Nature Recovery Strategies
We recently published a joint statement with Confor and the Royal Forestry Society in support of the development and implementation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) across England, but these LNRS must be developed with a strong foundation in professional forestry expertise, evidence-based standards and collaborative engagement. Please see this statement below. Forestry advice for […]
Highlights from our South West England Member Network agroforestry event
In May 2025, the South West England Member Network hosted their annual spring event focusing on agroforestry and the North Devon Silvopasture Trials. Members were invited to Whiddon Down Village Hall in Devon to hear from the Woodland Trust and a Devon-based farmer before heading out to North Wyke Farm to visit one of their […]
Public opinion of forestry survey results published
Forest Research have today (Thursday 10 July) released the results of the Public Opinion of Forestry Survey 2025 for England and the UK, Scotland and Wales. The survey is carried out biennially, canvassing public attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues. Welcoming the findings, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon commented: “It is really promising to see that […]
Have your say in the British Woodlands Survey 2025
Woodland resilience is perhaps the most important concern for everyone who manages trees and woodlands. It underpins all aspects of management and ultimately affects how trees and habitats will thrive in future. Changes in our environment, whether caused by humans or natural ecological processes, are impacting Britain’s trees and forests with increasing frequency and severity. […]