Forestry Commission

As Sir William Worsley prepares to step down as Forestry Commission Chair, he reflects upon his six years leading the organisation, and shares his thoughts on the priorities that will shape the future of England’s forests. We hope you'll join us in offering a heartfelt thank you to Sir William for his years of dedicated service and in wishing him all the very best.

What jobs are you carrying out this winter to ensure a healthy, well-managed woodland? Here are three steps you can take for tree health... 🌳 Identify which tree species are in your woodland. 🌲 Find out about the priority pests and diseases that could affect them, and how to spot their signs and symptoms. 🌳 Follow good biosecurity measures. Cleaning your boots and equipment between visits to your woodland can help prevent the spread of tree pests and diseases. If you identify a tree pest or disease at your woodland, you can submit a report using TreeAlert.

Applications for the Professional Forester Apprenticeship are now open! This is a three-year, paid opportunity which we deliver with Institute of Chartered Foresters and University of Cumbria. It offers an exciting pathway into a career in forestry and is part of the collaborative effort to build a bigger, more diverse workforce with the skills needed for the sector to thrive. Successful applicants will gain practical experience through a paid role with the Forestry Commission, as well as undertaking academic studies in forestry management led by the University of Cumbria. Upon completion, graduates will earn a Professional Forester Apprenticeship (equivalent to Level 6), a BSc (Hons) Professional Forester and will be able to apply for Chartered Forester status with the Institute of Chartered Foresters. We'll be sharing more advice and inspiration with you next week as part of #NationalApprenticeshipWeek (9 to 15 Feb). Applications close at 11.55pm on Sunday 1 March 2026. Follow the link in the comments to find out more and apply. #ForestryCareers #ForestryJobs #FutureForesters Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

February is almost here. Are you coming along to meet us at any events? Here are just a few you'll be able to catch us at... 🌳 Thursday 5 February - Rootstock, Exeter, Devon Come and speak with us about how adding trees to your land can help to build a resilient business. 🌲 Tuesday 10 February - Making apprenticeships work for busy employers and their supply chains (online) Forestry and land-based employers can come along to this webinar with Supplytrain to find out about a more flexible option for hosting apprentices. 🌳 Tuesday 10 February - Put trees to work roadshow, Long Clawson, Leicestershire This is just one of a series of free events across the East Midlands where we'll be offering expert advice on tree planting and woodland creation tailored to your land. 🌲 Tuesday 17 February - Woods for water workshop, South Wraxall, Wiltshire In partnership with the NFU and Environment Agency, this event focuses on how trees and woodlands can improve water quality and flood alleviation. Find details of these and more of the events we're attending: https://lnkd.in/eZYPCw_F

A landowner in Warwickshire has been fined and ordered to replant trees after felling illegally. Following an investigation by our National Enforcement Team, the landowner pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an Enforcement Notice that was served on him after the unlawful felling of trees in 2019. The landowner has been ordered to replant the trees and maintain them for a further 10 years after being planted, along with being ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £16,240. It is an offence to fell trees without a licence where one would have been required. Read our guidance to find out more about getting a licence: https://lnkd.in/eR7RgtmM (Image is for illustration only and is unconnected to this case.)

It's snowdrop season! These little white beauties are a winter favourite. Have any been popping up in your woodland? As the weeks go by we can look forward to seeing lesser celandine, wood anemone, wild garlic and other species blooming beneath the trees. When a woodland’s ground layer is diverse and robust, understory plants such as these signal a thriving, balanced ecosystem. There are practices that you can implement in your woodland to help these species thrive: 💮 carry out careful coppicing or thinning strategies to maintain diverse light environments 💮 encourage woodland users to stick to designated paths to avoid trampling 💮 maintain minimal intervention in sensitive woodland areas 💮 consider the timing of forestry operations to minimise impact on flowering cycles 💮 limit or avoid soil disturbance where possible, particularly in ancient woodlands #WoodsForNature

Have you been enjoying a local woodland during #WalkYourDogMonth? Gently wiping your dog's paws clean after a woodland walk can help prevent the spread of tree pests and diseases. Remember to keep boots and wheels clean too. Together we can all help keep our trees and woodlands healthy. #TreeHealth #WednesdayWisdom

The Spruce Site Assessment grant is available for landowners and land managers in England with spruce trees on land inside the Ips typographus Proactive Spruce Removal Area. The grant encourages proactive management of spruce trees to prevent infestations of Ips typographus - also known as the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle. Have you submitted an application to this grant? Find out more about eligibility and how to apply: https://lnkd.in/ebFC5Gfn #TreeHealth

Do you have ambitions to create new woodland? Watch this short video about our England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) and how it can help you with the cost of planting, establishing and maintaining woodland, as well as installing infrastructure on your land to aid management. There are also additional stackable payments available to recognise your woodland's benefits to the environment, nature recovery and community. To secure an agreement offer in time for the next planting season, you need to submit your application by 31 May. https://lnkd.in/dwsVRXh