THE Royal Forestry Society has appointed Alison Field as its 77th president, succeeding Ben Herbert as he steps down from his three-year tenure.

Alison, who is the former vice-president of the RFS, has been developing and expanding opportunities for forestry for more than three decades. Working across England and overseas, she has made a significant impact across the forest industry, wildlife conservation, forest recreation and urban forest management.

She steps into the role at a significant time for the forestry sector as landowners, woodland managers and other industry professionals grapple with the challenges surrounding pests and diseases, climate change, unpredictable weather events, biodiversity loss, skills shortages and gaps in domestic timber supply. 

Alison said: “It is a great honour to become president of the Royal Forestry Society. This period will be especially important for the future resilience of our forests. Whether we are discussing Kielder Forest in Northumberland, Hockeridge and Pancake Woods in the Chilterns, Bradfield Woods in East Anglia or the Clinton Devon Estate in the Southwest, our forests must adapt to thrive in the face of novel pest and disease attacks and unpredictable climatic events.

“In addition to making forests more productive and better managed, we must demonstrate their ability to function as ecosystems that are rich in wildlife and provide carbon sequestration, clean air and clean water.”

A Bangor University Forestry graduate, Alison has spent nearly 50 years working in forestry, both in the private sector and for the Forestry Commission. In addition to her new role as RFS president, she runs a business with her husband Jonathan Spencer and contributes to numerous boards. She is a trustee for the National Forest, a non-executive director of English Woodlands Forestry and a trustee for the Forest Industries Education and Provident Fund.

Alison aims to use this extensive experience to support the RFS staff team and regional divisions, seek out success stories in forest creation and stewardship and promote the best of British forestry.

She said: “There is a winning formula at the heart of this organisation that equips the RFS to be a ‘partner of choice’ for those outside government who wish to come together to deliver this country’s forestry mandate.”

Outgoing president, Ben Herbert has spent the last three years at the helm of the RFS. In this time he has steered the organisation through a notable period of growth. During his time in post, both the RFS core team and the organisation’s membership has grown.

Ben Herbert's three-year tenure has come to an end Ben Herbert's three-year tenure has come to an end (Image: Supplied)

Ben was especially passionate about education and developing skills within forestry. Over the course of his tenure, he oversaw the expansion of the RFS’s flagship traineeship, Forestry Roots and the launch of Green Tree Badge, a learning resource that enables children to learn more about trees and forestry.

He said: “I would like to thank the chief executive, Christopher Williams and all the team at head office, along with everyone else who has supported me during my tenure. I wish Alison Field the very best as she succeeds me and I hope she enjoys the experience as much as I have.”