Trailblazing apprenticeship programme for the forestry sector re-opens
Applications for the next cohort of the innovative Professional Forester Apprenticeship programme reopened on 2 December as part of National Tree Week. The programme, a partnership from the Forestry Commission, the University of Cumbria and the Institute of Chartered Foresters, offers a three-year, paid development opportunity for individuals from all backgrounds looking to kickstart their […]
Bangor University appoints two more professors in the forest sciences
Two staff members have been awarded professorships in the recent round of promotions at Bangor University. Andy Smith was appointed as Professor of Forest Ecology; his research and teaching focuses on silviculture, ecophysiology, biogeochemistry and tree-soil interactions, with an emphasis on species diversity and ecosystem function in undisturbed and managed forests. Graham Ormondroyd was appointed […]
Call for Treescapes Research Fellows
UK Treescapes Fellowship Scheme 2023 Funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Future of UK Treescapes is an interdisciplinary research programme that hopes to inform future policy, management and resilience of UK treescapes, while improve environmental, socio-economic and cultural understanding of the functions and services produced by them. Building on the nine fellows appointed […]
Institute of Chartered Foresters Opens Chartered Environmentalist Registration to Associate members
The Institute of Chartered Foresters is aiming to boost the environmental professional community through the introduction of a brand-new route to Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) status. Associate members of the Institute can now pursue Chartered Environmentalist registration without first having to achieve Chartered Arboriculturist or Chartered Forester status. This represents a significant change for the Institute, […]
Institute’s Senior Technical Officer speaks at Healthy Hillsides event
The Healthy Hillsides project is a Welsh Government-funded partnership programme designed to reduce the impact of wildfires across the South Wales Valleys. The project is steered by Natural Resources Wales, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and the Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales and demonstrates collaboration with wider partners […]
Emerging Leader Programme: A look back at the first group meeting
With just one week before the second residential of the Emerging Leader Programme takes place, we look back at the first and hear from one of the participants on how they found the experience. Towards the end of March, 35 arboriculture and forestry professionals gathered in Ashorne Hill, Leamington Spa to undertake the first […]
Institute announces accreditation of three sector graduate programmes
Members of the Institute of Chartered Foresters’ Professional & Educational Standards Committee convened on the 18 May 2023 to approve the accreditation of graduate schemes offered by Savills UK, Scottish Woodlands, and Tilhill. Successful completion of the respective graduate schemes now offers individuals two additional Professional Membership Entry (PME) qualifying points, meaning graduates without an […]
Institute’s Executive Director speaks at Westminster Employer Forum
Executive Director of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, Louise Simpson, spoke at the Westminster Employment Forum’s recent keynote seminar – ‘Green skills – next steps for policy, and priorities for education and training, businesses, and the workforce’ on Tuesday 23 May. With the UK Government’s commitment to the creation of two million green jobs by […]
Notice of arboriculture fatality
On behalf of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group, we regret to announce that a member of public was killed when a tree fell onto their car in Buckinghamshire last month. We want to take this opportunity to remind members to ensure your organisation and staff are undertaking regular training […]
Institute interviewed about skills crisis on BBC Radio 4
Our October 2021 position paper to governments across the UK detailed our serious concerns about the skills shortage in our sector, and its knock-on effect on achieving climate targets. This week Defra released their Environment Improvement Plan (EIP), which is the first revision of the 25 Year Environment Plan that was published in 2018. In […]
