Gone Foresting; An RFS Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Inspired by International Women’s Day 2025, this episode dives into the evolving role of women in forestry. From Mary Sutherland—one of the first known women in the field—to the thousands who served in The Women’s Forestry Corps, history has shown both barriers and breakthroughs.

The Royal Forestry Society has always welcomed women as members, but it wasn’t until 2015 that we saw our first female president. Today, our second female president, Alison Field, joins host Jen Turner, along with Becky Wilkinson (Learning & Outreach Manager) and Alison Dinnie (Forestry Careers Advisor), to reflect on progress and the challenges that remain.

Together, we ask: Are we at a tipping point for true inclusivity in forestry? With personal stories, industry insights, and a look at how we can Accelerate Action for the future, this conversation is not to be missed.

Tune in, be inspired, and join the movement for change. Subscribe now!

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Coming up

Women in Forestry Event - 4th September 2025 - Belper, Derbyshire

Back by popular demand, and sponsored by PEFC UK Ltd, we are bringing people together for a day of networking and mentoring with others in their forestry career. Join us for the chance to meet others, share achievements, hopes, and aspirations. Book your space now via RFS Events.

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Forestry & Arboriculture Careers Advice Service

Get in touch with the team for advice, guidance, and much more via www.rfs.org.uk/careers, or email Alison Dinnie at careers@rfs.org.uk.

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Find out more

• International Women's Day 2025 www.internationalwomensday.com #AccelerateAction
• Women's Forestry Corps www.womenslandarmy.co.uk
• Five Inspiring Women Who Shaped Forestry (including Mary Sutherland) www.forestryjournal.co.uk
• Lumberjills - Women's Timber Corps in WWII (Blog) www.talesfromthearchives.wordpress.com

Join host Elle McAllister, Jen Turner (RFS Development Manager), and special guest Matt Parratt (Observatree Scientific Coordinator), for a Plant Health Week Special. This episode is packed with valuable insights and practical resources, especially if you're passionate about protecting our forests and woodlands.

We'll be exploring the crucial issue of tree pests and diseases in the UK, why it matters, how they spread, and how you can help spot and report them as citizen scientists. Plus, we'll discuss how the RFS is supporting efforts to boost tree resilience.

Tune in, be inspired, and become citizen scientists to protect UK trees, woodlands, and the futures of our forests. Subscribe now!

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Find out more:

• An early warning system for tree health and tree disease - Observatree
• Pests and diseases by tree species - Observatree
• Pest & Disease Resource Library - Observatree
• Tree Alert
• Pest and disease resources - Forest Research

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RFS Grants for Resilient WoodlandsThe Royal Forestry Society (RFS), Royal Scottish Forestry Society (RSFS), Train Hugger and GreenTheUK have joined forces to help people plant trees that will survive and thrive into the future. Find out more and apply via: RFS Grants

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Educational Resources:

• RFS Learning
• Junior Forester Award
• Green Tree Badge Book

Forestry is more than trees — it’s about the people who keep our woodlands thriving. In this episode, RFS CEO Christopher Williams brings together leading voices from across the sector to tackle one of forestry’s toughest topics: mental health. Gillian Clark (FISA), Iwan Lloyd-Williams MICFor (Forester & DPJ Foundation volunteer), and Nick Adams (Forester & Forestry Contractors Association) share raw, honest insights into the pressures of forestry work, the impact on wellbeing, and the importance of checking in on one another.

This discussion is part of a wider effort to really listen to those working in forestry and arboriculture, including a major survey exploring stress, isolation, financial pressures, and the need for better support across the sector.

⚠️ This episode contains strong language and sensitive discussions around mental health and suicide. Listener discretion advised.

Tune in, join the conversation, and subscribe now!

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Finding SupportFor anyone impacted by this discussion, please see the links to support organisations and resources included below. If you are struggling, please reach out to someone you trust, or one of the links below. If you are in crisis, please call 999.

• ⁠Stay Alive App: Essential suicide prevention for everyday life
• The DPJ Foundation: The mental health farming charity
• FISA Safety Library
• Samaritans:Providing emotional support to anyone (Call 116 123)
• Mind: The mental health charity (Call 0300 102 1234 Mon - Fri 9am - 6pm)
• Shout (Text SHOUT to 85258)
• Papyrus: Prevention of young suicide (Call Hopeline247: 0800 068 41 41)

What connects ancient fossils and NASA? What can be as soft as feathers and as sharp as razor blades? What can bring a fierce hatred from some and a fascinated passion from others? The answers may surprise you but proves that conifers are for much more than Christmas!

This episode Join Chris Reynolds (Forest Research), Jen Turner (RFS), and Elle McAllister to help break through some of the myths, new species you might not know about, and the possible trees hiding in the woods.

Tune in, join the conversation, and subscribe now!

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Explore the conifer rabbit hole:

• Forest Research: Tree species and provenance
• Global Conservation Consortium for Conifers
• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: Genetics & Conservation
• NASA: Pine Beetle Infestation in British Columbia
• Natural History Museum: Giant Sequoia Slice

Money (for) trees:

• Grants for Resilient Woodlands
• RFS Randle Travel Bursary

Women have always been part of forestry, but their stories are often missing from the history books. This episode explores the overlooked legacy of the thousands who served in the Women's Timber Corps, known as “Lumberjills”.

Elle McAllister is joined by a passionate advocate, Joanna Foat, working to ensure these stories are not forgotten, uncovering the contributions of past generations, and highlighting why they still matter today.

Tune in, join the conversation, and subscribe now!

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Learn more in the Gone Foresting show notes as well as Joanna Foat's Lumberjills history books and novels.

Get Involved!

If you have been inspired, encouraged, or taught by an amazing women in forestry we'd love to hear from you. Your contribution will become part of an RFS digital archive of women in forestry history—helping to honour those who came before us, preserve rural and women’s stories, and inspire future generations to follow in their footsteps.

Head to the RFS website for more information.

Related events:

• ⁠Women in Forestry, Leicestershire, 7th October 2026
• Forestry England New Forest Exhibition, 3rd July - 17th August 2026