HE has been at the heart of forestry in the UK for more than half a century. Now, one of the country’s top foresters has been recognised with a rare honour.
Professor Julian Evans OBE has been awarded the prestigious Royal Forestry Society’s (RFS) Gold Medal for distinguished services to the industry.
A researcher, author, and woodland owner, Julian has had a "remarkable impact" on British forestry, and was nominated for the award by RFS vice president, Alison Field.
“Throughout his career, Julian Evans has and continues to make an outstanding contribution to forestry both in the UK and overseas,” Alison said. “He is tireless in his support of the profession and in encouraging others with his passion for forests.
“He shares his knowledge without reserve, living out his Christian faith alongside a mission for all to appreciate how and in what way we may best steward our forests."
She added: “I have no hesitation in recommending Julian for receipt of the RFS Gold Medal not just for his considerable support of the RFS, but for the many, many lives that he has touched and helped throughout their forestry careers.”
Julian’s career in brief
Julian’s passion for forestry was ignited at age 14 when he was awarded the forester’s badge at his local Scouts. In 1968, he graduated from Bangor University and studied for a PhD exploring the sustainability of plantations in Swaziland.
In 1971, he joined the Forestry Commission as a district officer at Neath in South Wales before moving into research at Alice Holt Lodge, specialising in the silviculture of broadleaved woodland.
During his time at the Forestry Commission, Julian took two spells of unpaid leave to work at the University of Technology in Papua New Guinea in the 1970s and with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in the mid-1980s.
Julian left the Forestry Commission in 1997 as chief research officer and head of station at Alice Holt. For the next decade, he worked as a professor at Imperial College London while continuing his research in plantation sustainability.
As a forest scientist, Julian is the author of more than 100 research papers and has written or edited some 16 books on tree-related subjects. His books on broadleaved silviculture continue to be deemed essential reading for students and young foresters.
Julian has held several honorary positions in British forestry, most notably Chair of DFID’s forestry research advisory committee, chair of the Commonwealth Forestry Association, president of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, and chair of the Forestry Commission’s Expert Committee on Forest Science.
In 2017, he was made an Honorary Fellow of Bangor University. Julian was appointed OBE in 1997 for services to forestry and the Third World.
As a woodland owner
Julian’s family has owned and managed a 30-acre woodland in Hampshire for more than 30 years. Through popular videos on YouTube and features on various BBC Radio 4 programmes, Julian offers generous guidance for new woodland owners on how to manage woods.
He has also worked closely with Woodlands.co.uk over many years to prepare woods for new owners and help them become better equipped to be good stewards.
“His wood is an exemplar of good silviculture, a delight and inspiration to anyone who visits,” said Alison.
Elsewhere, timber marketer Roger Wilson has been presented with the RFS Long Service Award for his dedication to the sector.
Roger has been recognised by the Forestry Commission for his decades of service, having spent his entire career at the government agency, starting as a craftsperson in the Chilterns before working his way up to a forester role.
Following a move to Cannock Chase, he found his niche in the industry as a timber marketer for the West Midlands District.
Here, he managed large-scale conifer forests covering 3,000 ha and producing 30,000 cm³ of timber per year.
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