Institute awards four Fellowships
We are pleased to announce that our Professional and Educational Standards Committee has approved the promotion of four new Fellows. Jamie Gargett FICFor – Principal Arboricultural Officer, Havant Borough Council Jamie has over 20 years’ experience in arboriculture and forestry, combining practical expertise with strategic leadership across both the private and public sectors. In senior […]
Institute elects new Council Members
The Institute of Chartered Foresters’ AGM took place online on Tuesday 2 June and saw seven new Council Members elected. Our Council is headed up by President Andrew Sowerby FICFor and Vice President Dr Gary Kerr FICFor and acts as a governing body for the Institute with members elected from within the membership. Following an […]
Justin Mumford MICFor CEnv receives The Institute’s Medal
Presented at our National Conference 2026 in Newport, Justin Mumford FICFor CEnv has been awarded the Institute’s highest award, The Institute’s Medal, recognising more than 25 years of sustained professional excellence, leadership and service to forestry and arboriculture. As Director of Forestry, Arboriculture and Ecology at Nicholsons, Justin has led a respected forestry division delivering […]
Iwan Parry MICFor awarded The President’s Award
Recognising his outstanding and sustained service to the Institute over many years, Iwan Parry MICFor has been awarded The President’s Award. As long-standing Chair of the Wales Member Network, he has provided continuity, leadership and energy, strengthening member engagement and supporting the growth of the Institute’s activity in Wales. Iwan has played a central role […]
Workers reach breaking point as new report reveals quiet mental health crisis in forestry
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 organisations, has published the Breaking Points survey report which shows the forestry and arboriculture sector is experiencing a mental health crisis. Nick Adams, a forestry contractor and a Policy […]
Tom Jenkins MBE FICFor (1959–2026)
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 more than thirty years. Tom gave sustained and thoughtful service to the Institute throughout his career. Most notably, he served for 16 years on […]
Richard Stanford CB MBE achieves Professional membership of the ICF
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 his significant contribution to the forestry sector and his continued dedication to advancing sustainable forestry policy and practice across the UK. Richard Stanford CB MBE joined the […]
Exploring natural methods to protect trees from large herbivores
Student member of the Institute, Alexandros Theodorou, has recently published a methods paper, Natural Methods to Protect Trees Against Large Herbivores: A Systematic Mapping Protocol, and is now conducting an evidence synthesis to collate research on “natural” tree protection methods. These methods, such as nurse plants, brash, debris, hedges, and logs, offer cost-effective, ecologically sustainable […]
Read our Annual Review 2025
Our Annual Review 2025 looks back at our centenary celebrations, events, groups, policy work, membership, awards, publications and more, with a message from our President, Andrew Sowerby FICFor.
Celebrating excellence: The Hugh Miller Award for Excellence
We are proud to recognise five outstanding professionals as recipients of The Hugh Miller Award for Excellence 2025. Named in honour of Professor Hugh Miller OBE FRSE FICFor (1939–2019), the award celebrates exceptional ability demonstrated through the Professional Membership Entry (PME) process. Professor Miller taught forestry at the University of Aberdeen between 1984 and 2004, […]