"Let's Talk Better Forestry" with Forest Policy Group – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Let's Talk Better Forestry, host Morag Paterson is joined by Alan McDonnell, co-convener of the Forest Policy Group and Head of Nature Restoration at Trees for Life.

Their conversation explores Alan's work across forestry, nature restoration and policy, and his involvement in the Common Ground Forum, an ambitious process bringing together conservation organisations, land managers, deer stalkers and policymakers to address long-standing conflict around deer management in Scotland.

Alan reflects on the importance of dialogue, trust and collaboration in tackling complex land use challenges, and explains why managing deer impacts is critical to enabling natural woodland regeneration at scale. Together, they discuss how shared understanding can unlock practical solutions, support rural livelihoods and create more resilient forest landscapes.

Tune in for a thoughtful and hopeful discussion on how better forestry depends on collaboration, long-term thinking and finding common ground.

FPG would like to thank all our guests who joined us in 'Let's Talk Better Forestry."

If you'd like to find out more about Forest Policy Group, please check our website.

You can also find us on Linkedin, Bluesky and YouTube

In this episode of Let's Talk Better Forestry, host Morag Paterson sits down with Julia Farrington of the Kilsture Forest Community Group in Dumfries & Galloway.

They talk openly about how the community moved from campaigning to save Kilsture Forest into a partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland, co-managing the woodland with shared vision and practical action. 

Julia shares how citizen-science projects, biodiversity mapping, woodland condition assessments and collaborative work with schools, artists and researchers are helping build a resilient, connected forest. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities of community-led forestry, and how engaged stewardship is creating real change on the ground.

Tune in for a grounded and inspiring conversation about how better forestry happens when people, place and purpose come together.

FPG would like to thank all our guests who joined us in 'Let's Talk Better Forestry."

Find out more about Kilsture Forest Community Group HERE.

If you'd like to find out more about Forest Policy Group, please check our website.

You can also find us on Linkedin, Bluesky and YouTube

RSPB's Andrew Weatherall joins Morag Paterson to discuss the complexities of UK forest policy, the importance of focusing on the "right place first" for tree cover expansion, and the balance between biodiversity, communities and commercial forestry. He shares his views on resilience, natural regeneration, and why protecting and restoring ancient woodland must be a priority.

FPG would like to thank all our guests who joined us in 'Let's Talk Better Forestry."

If you'd like to find out more about Forest Policy Group, please check our website.

You can also find us on Linkedin, Bluesky and YouTube

Independent forester Andrew Macqueen joins Morag Paterson to share how a chance suggestion led him into forestry, the variety in his day-to-day work, and the experimental approaches he's exploring – from increasing species diversity to revisiting old thinning techniques.

FPG would like to thank all our guests who joined us in 'Let's Talk Better Forestry."

If you'd like to find out more about Forest Policy Group, please check our website.

You can also find us on Linkedin, Bluesky and YouTube

In this first episode of Let's Talk Better Forestry, host Morag Paterson is joined by Claire Wightman, a forester at TreeStory, to explore what regenerative forestry really means in practice. Claire shares her journey into forestry, the ethos behind TreeStory's work, and how their approach blends forest management with community collaboration, ecosystem restoration, and natural capital projects.

They dive into the challenges and opportunities of continuous cover forestry, the importance of inclusive consultation with local communities, and the need for policy shifts to support long-term, landscape-scale thinking. Claire also reflects on diversity in the forestry sector and what the UK might learn from international examples like Canada.

In this episode Claire mentions another podcast - Free to Grow in Forestry. Here is the link: https://pca.st/podcast/97d51ba0-9651-0139-7465-0acc26574db2 You may also be interested in their website: https://www.freetogrowinforestry.ca

Also, the regenerative forestry report from Soil Association is at https://www.soilassociation.org/causes-campaigns/regenerative-forestry/

FPG would like to thank all our guests who joined us in 'Let's Talk Better Forestry."

If you'd like to find out more about Forest Policy Group, please check our website.

You can also find us on Linkedin, Bluesky and YouTube

This episode of Let's Talk Better Forestry explores how a regional charity is redefining the relationship between commercial forestry and local communities in Scotland. Host Morag Paterson sits down with McNabb Laurie, Manager of Dumfries and Galloway (D&G) Woodlands, to discuss innovative models for land sharing, natural regeneration, and private-public partnerships.

D&G Woodlands serves as a "bridge" between the commercial forestry sector and local community ambitions, aiming to ensure that the region's massive timber industry provides tangible social, economic, and ecological value back to its people.

For those interested in the reform of Scottish forestry, this conversation provides a practical roadmap for democratisation. It demonstrates how principled, grassroots-driven initiatives can work constructively with private finance to create a more diverse and resilient landscape.

FPG would like to thank all our guests who joined us in 'Let's Talk Better Forestry.'

In this episode of Let's Talk Better Forestry, host Morag Paterson is joined by Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of Confor, the representative body for the UK's private forestry and wood processing sector.

As the first guest of 2026, Stuart provides a high-level perspective on the "growing pains" of an industry he likens to a teenager -full of energy and potential, but occasionally causing friction as it finds its place in Scotland's landscape. The conversation delves into the vital role of commercial forestry in meeting Net Zero targets and addressing timber security in a country that currently imports 80% of its wood.

Stuart and Morag explore the "delivery gap" between ambitious government policy and the practical realities on the ground. They discuss the necessity of building a "social license" through better community engagement, acknowledging the historic tensions between traditional forestry practices and local people. From the heavily forested landscapes of the South of Scotland to the potential for smaller-scale, diverse woodland management, they search for the common ground where commercial productivity and ecological resilience meet.

Tune in for a constructive and wide-ranging discussion on how the forestry sector can mature, bridge the gap with local communities, and work alongside groups like FPG to create a more integrated and sustainable future for Scotland's woodlands.

FPG would like to thank all our guests who joined us in 'Let's Talk Better Forestry.'

P.S. To clarify a point mentioned in the episode regarding forest cover in the South of Scotland: while Morag noted it is approaching one-third, official statistics provide a more specific breakdown. The Regional Land Use Framework estimates forest cover for the South of Scotland at just over 22% as a whole, with approximately 27.86% in Dumfries and Galloway and 21.45% in the Scottish Borders.

Episode Summary:

What happens when you bridge the gap between the architect's drawing board and the forest floor? In this episode, Morag Paterson sits down with Jez Ralph, co-founder of Evolving Forests, to explore a vision for forestry that moves beyond the "binary" of industrial plantations versus total preservation.

Jez shares his journey from archaeology and mountaineering to managing the Architectural Association's Forest Campus in South Devon. Together, they discuss the "Evolving the Forest" movement and why the future of the sector depends on diversified systems, high-quality timber production, and a "bullish" commitment to managing land for the forest's health rather than just the market's demands.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Centre Ground": Why we need to move past the polarised debate of commercialism vs. conservation.

• The Sawmill Challenge: The logistical hurdles of processing diverse, high-quality timber in a market built for commodity spruce.

• Demand-Led Landscapes: How architecture and design can drive more resilient and diverse planting choices.

• Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF): The benefits of permanent forest structures for ecology, soil carbon, and timber value.

• Manifesto Alignment: How these local innovations reflect the Forest Policy Group's 2025-26 Manifesto asks for localised governance and micro-business support.

About our Guest:

Jez Ralph is a forester and consultant with over 25 years of experience. Through his multi-disciplinary consultancy, Evolving Forests, he works to connect the timber supply chain, champion innovative construction, and tell the human stories behind our woodlands through film and media.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• Forest Policy Group: forestpolicygroup.org

• FPG Manifesto 2025-26: Read the full Manifesto

• Evolving Forests: evolvingforests.com

Connect with FPG: Follow us on LinkedIn or sign up to our quarterly newsletter.

Host: Morag Paterson  

Guest: Jamie McIntyre (Freelance Contractor, Woodlands Crofts Partnership / Director, Woodlots)  

In this episode, host Morag Paterson sits down with fellow Forest Policy Group member Jamie McIntyre to explore the transformative potential of woodland crofts . Combining the secure, historic tenure of Scottish crofting with modern, sustainable woodland management, this unique model offers a radical alternative to large-scale industrial forestry .

Jamie shares his deep expertise from decades in the sector, guiding us through the history of crofting, what defines a woodland croft on the ground, and how "boots on the ground" personal stewardship dramatically improves local biodiversity and climate resilience .

• The Crofting Framework: How centuries-old legislation is being adapted today to grant people a perpetual right to live on and manage woodland holdings .

• Stewardship vs. Industry: Why small-scale, continuous cover forestry excels at ecological management compared to data-driven commercial clear-felling .

• Diversification: How crofters integrate cattle, pigs, bees, and workshops into their acreage to keep economic benefits within the local community .

• Rural Repopulation: The vital role woodland crofts play in overcoming rural housing barriers and bringing young people back to the land .

• Expanding Boundaries: The ongoing political push to extend crofting designation into the south of Scotland and the alternative models filling the gaps .

Hit subscribe to join us as we discuss how woodland crofts deliver simultaneously on land reform, climate action, and community wealth building .

• • Woodland Crofts Partnership – Resources, steering group reports, and structural guidance for setting up woodland crofts.

  • Woodland Crofts Steering Group Final Report
    The Potential and Practicalities of Forest Crofts: Steering Group Report
    2006 report focusing on the use of the national forest estate for woodland crofts, but highlighting their benefits more generally. Still one of the best arguments for the development of woodland crofts.

  • Scottish Crofting Federation – the representative body for crofters, working to develop, promote and encourage crofting (and one of the WCP partners). Has a policy position that 5,000 new woodland crofts should be created Crofting Home - Scottish Crofting Federation

  • Crofting Commission – the regulator of crofting, a NDPB The Crofting Commission | The Crofting Commission