International Study Tour 2024

Join us for our first ever International Study Tour that will visit Dresden and Tharandt in Germany from 19 – 22 June 2024.

Germany is one of Europe’s most densely wooded countries, with over 11 million hectares of forest cover that has increased by one million hectares in the last five decades. It has a booming forest and timber industry and is the second largest exporter of timber in the world after Canada, accounting for almost 1.3 million jobs and an annual turnover of €170 billion.

During this Study Tour, members will visit the state of Saxony in East Germany where there is 520,000 hectares (28.3%) of woodland cover, coniferous species making up 70% of this. There are visits planned to the Forest Botanical Garden in Tharandt, Tharandter Forest and a sightseeing tour of Dresden.

Programme

Day one

Meet in hotel at 19:00 for dinner with Study Tour group (optional).

Day two – Forest Botanical Garden in Tharandt

• Meet at hotel entrance at 08:15 and travel by train from Dresden Central Station to Tharandt.
• Guided tour of Forest Botanical Garden Tharandt by Dr Ulrich Pietzarka covering:
  • Pests and diseases
  • Alternative species to mitigate climate change
• Return to Dresden in the afternoon for a sightseeing tour led by Cora Pfarre MICFor
• Optional dinner at 19:00 at Watzke – Goldener Reiter

Day three – Tharandter Forest

• Meet at hotel entrance at 08:15 to board the bus to the forest
• Excursion starts at 09:30 at Waldhäuser car park in Tharandter Wald, led by Dr Sven Irrgang, covering:
  • Forest function mapping in Saxony
  • Forestry history in relation to Tharandt
  • Local timber markets
  • Management of beech stands and use of Forest Development Types
  • Impact of spruce bark beetle on woodland management
• Return to Dresden around 18:00
• Optional dinner and Study Tour wrap-up at 19:00 at Pulverturm

Day four

Members travel home.

Speakers

Cora Pfarre MICFor – Head Forester, Maydencroft

Cora graduated in 2014 with an MSc in Forest Science at the Technical University Dresden in Germany. She joined the environmental solutions organisation, Maydencroft, as Head Forester in 2023. Since moving to the UK, she has worked for the Forestry Commission and Tilhill. Cora was awarded Professional membership of the Institute in 2022.

Dr Ulrich Pietzarka – Head of Arboretum, Forest Botanical Garden Tharandt (TUD Dresden University of Technology)

Dr Sven Irrgang – Head of Forestry District (Sachsenforst), Forestry Commission Saxony

Accommodation

ibis Hotel Dresden City Center
Prager Straße 5
01069
Dresden
Germany

Supporting documents

Forestry in Germany

Forest Botanical Garden in Tharandt

FAQ

Who can attend
This event is open to both members and non-members of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

Ticket information
Please note that the Standard Ticket includes accommodation, travel to/from Study Tour sites and two packed lunches. Dinner and travel to/from Dresden is not included.

Foreign currency
It is recommended to bring some cash for making small purchases. Card payments are usually accepted for purchases over €5 but smaller bakeries and coffee shops may not accept card payments at all.

What to bring
Please ensure you have walking boots and a waterproof jacket as we will be spending most days outdoors. You should also bring a day bag as you will need to carry your own packed lunch and water.

Do Germans drink tea or coffee?
Germans love their coffee but usually do not drink tea and you might struggle to find a good cup of black tea as a take-away!