Industry Services
Industry Services
Caroline Harrison MICFor
Institute of Chartered Foresters
As the Institute of Chartered Foresters celebrates its centenary, it is investing in the future through skills, inclusion, and innovation. Caroline Harrison announces new initiatives to open doors across the UK and inspire a new generation of professionals.
“We’re not just marking 100 years— we’re building the next 100.”
As we move into the second half of 2025, the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) reflects on a vibrant and industrious start to the year and looks ahead with confidence and purpose. The first two quarters were marked by progress, celebration, and a renewed sense of vision, all of which reaffirm our shared commitment to the future of arboriculture and forestry. There is much more to come, and we’re excited to bring our members along for the journey.
For those unfamiliar, the ICF is the UK’s only professional body for foresters and arboriculturists, conferring the respected titles of Chartered Arboriculturist and Chartered Forester. This year is particularly special as we celebrate our centenary—100 years of advancing professional standards, advocating for trees and woodlands, and shaping policy at every level. To mark the milestone, we hosted a sold-out National Conference in Edinburgh, which welcomed over 300 delegates. The event was both a tribute to our legacy and a platform for defining our path forward. It also served as a powerful reminder of the energy, diversity, and unity within our profession.
Among the many takeaways from the conference, one message stood out—the urgent need for more compelling and consistent storytelling across the sector. Forestry and arboriculture have a powerful narrative, and the ICF is committed to empowering members with the tools and confidence to share that story effectively.
Historically, like many membership organisations, the ICF has occasionally been viewed as insular or exclusive. But today’s Institute is a very different place. We are a dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative network of professionals who are eager to learn, share knowledge, form new relationships, and drive change. As a result, the forestry sector is becoming stronger, more resilient, more diverse, and a genuinely rewarding place to build a career.
As we welcome our new President, Andrew Sowerby FICFor, we reaffirm our mission to lead the profession confidently into the second quarter of the 21st century. From arboriculture and urban forestry to timber innovation, our work shapes landscapes, influences policy, and builds public trust. That trust is earned every day—through professionalism, transparency, and unwavering standards, whether in local communities or nationally-focused.
But that is not all. We have also developed further initiatives such as Technical membership, a mark of practical experience and professional credibility. This further allows the Institute to be inclusive across the sector, expanding our reach to support and recognise an under- represented cohort of skilled arboriculturists and foresters who may not have had prior experience in the sector or ‘traditional’ qualifications. It ensures that members are recognised as professionals in any future roles that they may undertake.
To ensure our profession thrives for generations to come, we must invest in training and mentorship, inspiring new arboriculturists and foresters across the UK to take up the mantle. That means working proactively to open doors, remove barriers, and welcome more people into our world.
Ensuring a thriving future means investing in the next generation. That’s why we’ve launched Sustainable Careers in Forestry, the sector’s first virtual work experience programme, in partnership with Springpod and funded by the Forestry Commission. Since its launch in March, the interactive, self-paced programme has enabled young people to explore careers in forestry in an engaging, accessible way. Early results are encouraging: more than 250 participants have already enrolled, and notably, 57% of users identify as female—a strong swing in what is traditionally a male-dominated field. This trend could mark a lasting shift toward gender balance in forestry.
What’s more, the Woodland Trust has provided additional funding towards a TikTok campaign to increase our reach with the younger generation. If funding allows, we hope to expand the offering, and add additional features and spotlights (watch this space!). We’d love industry to help us spread the word about our virtual work experience programme on Springpod. If you reached out to #JustOneSchool—think of the impact it would have! A simple action from each of us, could inspire a whole new generation.
Another new addition is our training programme, Silvestor, the forest-based education platform which hosts, among other things, the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) e-learning programme, the ICF Knowledge Hub, and the Centre for Forest Protection education and training programme. Silvestor is open to all, and we are currently in a period of expansion where we will be expanding our course library and partnering with other forestry organisations to bring you more great content.
These initiatives are critical in bridging the skills gap and reinforcing the value of lifelong learning in our profession.
We hope to be able to secure funding for a third round of our Emerging Leaders Programme. Developed in partnership with Clore Social Leadership, the Emerging Leaders Programme offered a fantastic opportunity for those who work and volunteer in any role across the arboriculture and forestry sector to develop their skills. It guided members to develop inspirational, empowering, courageous, focused, passionate, and generous leadership capabilities – qualities essential to any effective leader. We continue to see the ripple effects of previous cohorts who are now taking on key leadership roles and driving change across the UK.
We have also reinvigorated our Educational & Scientific Trust. Established in 1984 as a charity that aims to advance education across all aspects of arboriculture and forestry, the Trust has awarded ICF members a range of grants—from event bursaries to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) support and specialist training courses that expand individual skills and professional reach. The refresh will provide successful awardees with new and exciting opportunities to develop their knowledge and broaden their horizons.
Finally, we have our Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Programme. First run in 2025, it is an international knowledge exchange programme for young professionals working in the forestry sector within participating countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. Participants have undertaken a three-month paid international work placement in one of the participating partner countries, gaining a broad range of interdisciplinary forestry experience in policy, planning, and fieldwork. This programme connects future forestry leaders with all the resources required for success— providing unique experiences and opportunities, and empowering participants, while significantly contributing to employers and host countries alike. It is an inspiring example of how global collaboration and training opportunities can elevate our profession and foster a shared vision for the future.
As we look to the future, our ambition is clear: to grow a more connected, inclusive, and forward-looking profession. One that not only adapts to change but leads it.
