Policy Roundup – May & June 2025
Our 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 bi-monthly 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 Special […]
Building the future forestry workforce
With the UK Government’s ambitious target to increase tree and woodland cover in England to 16.5% by 2050, the demand for skilled professionals in forestry has never been greater. A Forestry Sector Skills Plan (2025–2035) has been published that sets out the current barriers and challenges, presenting a comprehensive long-term agenda for change. This plan […]
Institute signs letter urging for VAT removal on sunscreen for outdoor workers
A coalition of leading horticulture and landscape industry organisations has today announced the submission of a joint letter to the UK Government, calling for the removal of VAT on SPF 30+ sunscreen. The letter follows a revealing survey by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH) and Plant Network, highlighting the alarming rates of skin cancer […]
Policy Roundup – March & April 2025
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Welcome to the second bi-monthly Policy Roundup of 2025, from the Institute’s Technical Policy Manager, Caroline Harrison MICFor. We have had a full first quarter with a wide range of CPD events and […]
Policy Roundup – January & February 2025
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news Welcome to the first Policy Roundup of 2025 with a newish year, two months in, from the Institute’s Technical Policy Manager, Caroline Harrison MICFor, who is now four months into the role. […]
Defra announces plans for timber use in construction
At the Timber in Construction (TiC) Summit in London on 27 February, Environment Minister Mary Creagh announced plans to increase the use of timber in construction to boost the domestic timber industry, economic growth, rural jobs and housebuilding targets. Delivering on its Plan for Change, the government plan to construct 1.5 million sustainable and affordable […]
Institute signs joint letter to the Prime Minister & Chancellor on the value of nature
Today, the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) published a letter sent to the Prime Minister and Chancellor on behalf of 11 professional bodies, including the Institute of Chartered Foresters, in the UK who are deeply concerned about increasing tension between growth and nature. We argue that the idea of choosing between housing […]
Government publishes findings from Environmental Improvement Plan rapid review
Steve Reed OBE, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has published an interim statement on the strategic findings from the rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) that was launched in July 2024. The statement also provides an update on future plans for revising the EIP. We welcome the review of […]
Defra opens consultation on Land Use Framework
The UK Government has launched the much-anticipated Land Use Consultation, kickstarting a 12-week period that will help to shape our natural and built environments in England for decades to come. This consultation presents the government’s assessment of the scale of land use change required to meet Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) and Climate Change Act targets, […]
Institute welcomes the Scottish Budget announcement
The recent announcement of the 2025/2026 Scottish Budget, including spending on forestry, has been welcomed but with some concern. The overall position is one of some improvement with increased funding that includes £46.9 million allocated for woodland creation, a 20% increase from the budget of £39.2 million, that followed a huge 41% cut in the […]