September 2024 marks a significant milestone for Forestry Journal as it celebrates three decades of delivering invaluable insights and information to professionals across the forestry sector.

Since its launch at the APF Exhibition in 1994, Forestry Journal has become the leading monthly, subscription-only magazine for professionals in the forest industry.

Originally known as Forest Machine Journal, the magazine was rebranded in 2008 to Forestry Journal to better reflect its broader and more diverse content. Over the past 30 years, the publication has grown significantly and is now considered the magazine of choice by those working in the industry.

WANT MORE ON FJ AT 30?

Forestry Journal is marking its 30 years of success throughout September and has launched a special anniversary offer you won't want to miss: an annual digital subscription for £30 or six months of print and digital for the same price. 

Today, we are taking a look at how FJ's front covers have evolved across three decades. 

Front covers through the years 

Our first-ever edition from when the magazine launched in 1994 as Forest Machine JournalOur first-ever edition from when the magazine launched in 1994 as Forest Machine Journal (Image: FJ)

Forestry Journal’s covers have always been available to advertisers and the first issue was no exception, promoting the Hemek Ciceron TD81 forwarder, then sold by the Machine Shop. And that is the formula subsequent covers followed, as issues were published sporadically before settling into a monthly print schedule.

September 2001 front cover September 2001 front cover (Image: FJ)

Flash forward 10 years to 2004 and, while the format hadn’t changed much, it had changed. The month and year of the issue had been added to the top right and the ‘ONLY British Magazine …’ claim was gone, making room to promote the fact that the magazine was now incorporating FCA News (effectively a page of info from the FCA, including the chairman’s report) and Arb & Amenity Matters (between four and six pages of arboriculture content which would eventually be superseded by the addition of FJ’s sister title essentialARB). 

April 2005's front cover shows the addition of the FCA logo and 'Arb & Amenity Matters' April 2005's front cover shows the addition of the FCA logo and 'Arb & Amenity Matters' (Image: FJ)

By 2006, this had been pruned back to ‘Incorporating Arb & Amenity Matters’.

November 1997 front cover November 1997 front cover (Image: FJ)

Then, in January of 2008, came a big change. “Welcome to your first edition of Forestry Journal,” said the editorial. The magazine had changed its name and, following months of negotiation, was taking over the industry’s other big publication, Forestry & British Timber.

Forestry and British Timber, which was incorporated into what became known as Forestry Journal in 2006 Forestry and British Timber, which was incorporated into what became known as Forestry Journal in 2006 (Image: FJ)

Logset took the cover spot on the first issue of Forestry Journal in its new guise, promoting its new Titan forwarders. By June 2008, the magazine’s covers had ceased advertising the fact it now incorporated Forestry & British Timber and Arb & Amenity Matters. Then, in December, came one more tweak, when the title received an upgrade to a shiny new CGI-style font. This font endured for several years, through multiple colours and variations, until it finally had its last outing in April 2017. 

November 2014's issue shows FJ's old look November 2014's issue shows FJ's old look (Image: FJ)

This was to be the first major design revamp of the magazine since its launch in 1994, and in May, readers finally saw the results.

FJ's August 2024 front cover FJ's August 2024 front cover (Image: FJ)

The May 2017 cover introduced the now-familiar white lettering on a black banner (occasionally alternating colours) with our pine tree logo and slogan, ‘COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY SINCE 1994’.