Scotland’s Finest Woods appoints trio of trustees
The team of tree champions at Scotland’s Finest Woods has been given a big boost with the appointment of three new trustees. Alison Chisholm, a chartered landscape architect with Forestry and Land Scotland, Dr Alicja Dzieciol, an entrepreneur and chemist, and Sam Howard, a forestry lecturer at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), will join the existing […]
Institute welcomes six new Technical members
The Institute was delighted to award Technical membership status to six members who successfully undertook the TME process. The awards were granted by the authority of the Institute’s Examinations Board in October 2024. Technical membership status was awarded to: Daniel Ayrton TechICFor – Network Rail Jake Burton TechICFor – Natural Resources Wales Christopher Callaghan TechICFor […]
Funded programme launched for new entrants in the forestry sector
A new training initiative led by a partnership involving Par Equity, Aviva Investors, Scottish Woodlands and UHI Inverness provides an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to start their careers in forestry. Key highlights of the training programme include: Five-week-long comprehensive training modules covering essential forestry skills and knowledge Funding for accommodation and a stipend for […]
Have your say on community tree nurseries
“Community tree nurseries are invaluable,” says Jackie Shallcross, a project lead for Trees Outside Woodlands at The Tree Council. “They produce high-quality tree stock often growing species which are local or rare.” Run almost-entirely by volunteers, these enterprises are a focus of the Trees Outside Woodlands project, a partnership between the Department for Environment, Food […]
Support for new e-learning programme grows as the new UKFS comes into force
A new e-learning programme designed to provide an alternative way of accessing the latest version of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) which came into effect on 1 October, has been backed by the profession’s government-run agencies. Created and developed by the Institute of Chartered Foresters with funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural […]
Feed into a Forestry Sector Skills Plan for England
To enable forestry to thrive we need many more people and a variety of new skills and knowledge. Over the past year a steering team of key forestry organisations has been working to set the strategic direction for sector skills. Together they aim to create a sector skills plan – a ten-year vision for the […]
Leading UK forestry organisations launch webinar series on the challenges facing UK forest management
Forestry Facing the Future – leading UK forestry organisations launch essential webinar series on the challenges facing UK forest management The Forestry Commission and Institute of Chartered Foresters are bringing together a wide range of leading sector experts for a dynamic series of webinars that will examine in detail the key issues likely to […]
HSE update: forestry and arboriculture fatal notification & prosecution
As a member of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group (AFAG), we regret to inform members of a recent forestry related fatality in Perthshire, and regarding a HSE prosecution related to unsafe tree work. Initial fatal notification – Transport (ATV) We have received an initial notification from HSE about an […]
Share your views on first aid certificates in land-based apprenticeships
Adrow Ltd is seeking members’ views to clarify and improve the first aid qualifications needed in land-based apprenticeships. The agriculture, arboriculture, countryside, forestry, horticulture and landscaping trailblazer groups are checking the approach taken to mandating first aid certificates in apprenticeship standards. Currently some occupational standards limit mandated first aid courses to Nationally Regulated Qualifications (Ofqual […]
Ips typographus found on UK Sitka spruce trees
The Forestry Commission has issued a warning after a number of Ips typographus findings were reported on Sitka spruce trees in the South East of England and urge woodland managers, landowners and the forestry industry to remain vigilant. Eight-toothed spruce bark beetle found on Sitka spruce trees in the UK for the first time Forestry […]