Update on international approval & endorsement process for UKWAS 5
The international approval/ endorsement process for UKWAS 5 being taken forward by FSC UK and PEFC UK is well underway, with detailed assessment of the UKWAS 5 pre-approval draft being undertaken by the schemes’ international bodies. However, the target effective date for UKWAS 5 of 1 April 2023 is almost certainly not going to be […]
Chartered Foresters champion UK timber industry at Confor conference
Confor’s first major post-pandemic annual conference took place in London on 8 December 2022 and the programme featured a range of Institute members. The conference titled Timber! Why the UK needs the wood – and the trees explored the future of the UK timber industry, the current barriers to progress, changing attitudes and more. With […]
Forest Research hosts workshop on woodlands and climate mitigation
Today the Institute’s Member Services Director, Dr Stuart Glen, attended a workshop on the role of woodlands in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The workshop was hosted by Forest Research (FR), on behalf of the Chief Forester for Scotland, Dr Helen McKay OBE FICFor CEnv, and included a presentation from FR’s Science Group Leader, Robert […]
Louise Simpson speaks at 2022 CLA Rural Business Conference
Addressing the 2022 CLA Rural Business Conference (Overcoming Barriers to Business Success) in London last week, the Institute’s Executive Director, Louise Simpson, stressed the challenges the forestry and arboriculture sector are facing today. Louise spoke on what more we can do to upskill our rural workforce and the skills needed for the future. Speaking to […]
5-year grant partnership to adapt more woodland
A new five-year partnership has been agreed between the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) and the Royal Scottish Forestry Society (RSFS), Trainhugger UK and GreenTheUK. It means £100,000s of new grant money is available to plant and adapt woodland to be resilient of climate change. The Grants for Resilient Woodlands deal follows a pilot scheme which […]
Institute launches Professional Forester of the Year award
The Institute of Chartered Foresters is delighted to announce the launch of the Professional Forester of the Year award, a prestigious new award recognising outstanding service to the profession and the sector. The award will recognise contributions to the betterment of forestry made within the last three years. The Professional Forester of the Year award may […]
Call for apprenticeship assessors
Along with other organisations, the Institute has worked hard to develop a number of apprenticeships across the sector. As they are launched and students enrol, the training providers require external experts who are able to carry out assessment of students’ abilities following the End Point Assessment criteria. If you are interested in becoming one of […]
Forestry and arboriculture fatality notification
We regret to inform members of two fatalities in the sector. Initial fatal notification (2022-04) – worker killed from contact with machinery Initial fatal notification (2022-05) – person struck by tree during felling work Please ensure you are aware of the following health and safety guidance: Risks to users from firewood processing machines (hse.gov.uk) FISA […]
Institute attends CLA Forestry Conference
On Wednesday 12 October, while colleagues were enjoying the National Study Tour, the Institute’s Head of Policy & Partnerships attended the Forestry Conference hosted by CLA, Forestry Commission and Grown in Britain. This annual conference is a great opportunity to meet and speak with not only Institute members and partners but farmers, landowners and policy […]
Forest Plastics Working Group – Plastics, Trees and Woodlands Conference
The Forest Plastics Working Group’s upcoming conference will take place on the 2 November at Leeds City Museum. Focusing on the use of plastic in woodland creation, the conference will build on the Group’s work over the last three years – recapping 2019’s Plastic Tree Guards – Do We Need Them? conference, providing news of alternative guard […]