Gone Foresting; An RFS Podcast

About Gone Foresting; An RFS Podcast

Welcome to the brand-new podcast from the Royal Forestry Society! Whether you're a seasoned forestry professional, an aspiring woodland manager, or simply passionate about trees and nature, this is the place for you. Each episode, we branch out into the world of forestry, from ground-breaking research to the latest industry insights. Join us as we explore woodlands, spotlight inspiring voices, and hear from experts across the UK. Whether out in the field or cosied up at home, Gone Foresting is your gateway to the fascinating world of trees. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation!

Publisher

Royal Forestry Society

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Mar 2025

Latest episode

17 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

7 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Mental Health in Forestry; A Year On

   A year ago a group started talking about the crisis making forestry workers miserable and in some cases taking the lives of friends and colleagues. They didn’t have evidence or data, and they didn’t know how to stop the problem. Make no mistake, our people were dying. In this episode, Elle McAllister brings back Nick Adams (Forester & Forestry Contracting Association) and Iwan Lloyd-Williams MICFor (Forester & DPJ Foundation volunteer), as well as Toby Allen (Say It With Wood) and RFS CEO Chris Williams to reflect back on what has been done, what we’ve learnt, and how much more there is to come. ⚠️ This episode contains strong language and sensitive discussions around mental health and suicide. Listener discretion advised. Tune in, join the conversation, and subscribe now! - Find us at APF 2026 (https://www.apfexhibition.co.uk/) (24-26th Sept) including two panels at Forest Workers Zone discussing mental health Thursday & Friday. The Royal Forestry Society will also be asking the public about a toolkit under development. Learn more: ⁠Mental Health & Wellbeing in Forestry⁠ (https://rfs.org.uk/insights-publications/mental-health/) - Finding Support For 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 (https://stayalive.prevent-suicide.org.uk/): Essential suicide prevention for everyday life ⁠The DPJ Foundation⁠ (https://www.thedpjfoundation.co.uk/contact-us/): The mental health farming charity ⁠FISA Safety Library⁠ (https://ukfisa.com/Safety/Safety-Library/mental-health-wellbeing) ⁠Samaritans⁠ (https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/):Providing emotional support to anyone (Call 116 123) ⁠Mind⁠ (https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/): The mental health charity (Call 0300 102 1234 Mon - Fri 9am - 6pm) ⁠Shout⁠ (https://giveusashout.org/) (Text SHOUT to 85258) ⁠Papyrus⁠ (https://www.papyrus-uk.org/contact-us/): Prevention of young suicide (Call Hopeline247: 0800 068 41 41)

2. 

   6 Aug 2026

   Every Third Breath: The Art of Seeing Trees

   Can art change the way we see trees? In this episode we explore the powerful relationship between art, science and woodland conservation, as well as how artists help us notice what often goes unseen. Annabel Narayanan, director of Action Oak, hosts Tim Craven, founder of The Arborealists, and Ersin Han Ersin, director of Marshmallow Laser Feast, and discuss the breadth of art from traditional landscape painting to immersive digital installations and how artists have helped protect treasured woodlands. Tune in, join the conversation, and subscribe now! - Learn more in the ⁠Gone Foresting show notes ⁠ (www.rfs.org.uk/news-list/every-third-breath-art-trees-podcast-show-notes)including links to more about The Arborealists (https://www.arborealists.com/), Marshmallow Laser Feast (https://marshmallowlaserfeast.com/), as well as the work of Action Oak (www.actionoak.org) to protect our native oaks.

3. 

   29 Apr 2026

   Hidden History: The Lumberjills' Legacy

   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! - Learn more in the Gone Foresting show notes (www.rfs.org.uk/news-list/the-lumberjills-legacy-show-notes)as well as Joanna Foat's Lumberjills (https://www.thelumberjills.uk/) 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 (www.rs.org.uk/news-list/the-lumberjills-legacy-show-notes) for more information. Related events: ⁠ (https://rfs.org.uk/grants/grants-for-resilient-woodlands/)Women in Forestry, Leicestershire, 7th October 2026 Forestry England New Forest Exhibition, 3rd July - 17th August 2026

4. 

   17 Dec 2025

   Beyond Spruce: Ancient Trees for Future Forests

   Chris Reynolds, Jen Turner, and Elle McAllister explore the diverse world of conifers, discussing their ecological importance and dispelling common myths, in this interview episode.

5. 

   10 Oct 2025

   Mental Health in Forestry: Breaking the Silence

   RFS CEO Christopher Williams interviews Gillian Clark, Iwan Lloyd-Williams, and Nick Adams about mental health within the forestry industry, highlighting pressures, wellbeing impacts, and the importance of support.

6. 

   9 May 2025

   Plant Health Week: Pests & Diseases

   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! - Find out more: An early warning system for tree health and tree disease - Observatree (https://www.observatree.org.uk/) Pests and diseases by tree species - Observatree (https://www.observatree.org.uk/pests-and-diseases/by-tree-species/) Pest & Disease Resource Library - Observatree (https://www.observatree.org.uk/resource-library/pest-disease-resources/) Tree Alert (https://treealert.forestresearch.gov.uk/) Pest and disease resources - Forest Research (https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/pest-and-disease-resources/) - RFS Grants for Resilient WoodlandsThe Royal Forestry Society (RFS), Royal Scottish Forestry Society (https://www.rsfs.org.uk/) (RSFS), Train Hugger (https://www.trainhugger.com/) and GreenTheUK (https://greentheuk.com/) have joined forces to help people plant trees that will survive and thrive into the future. Find out more and apply via: RFS Grants (https://rfs.org.uk/grants/grants-for-resilient-woodlands/) - Educational Resources: RFS Learning (https://rfs.org.uk/learning/) Junior Forester Award (https://rfs.org.uk/learning/junior-forester-award/) Green Tree Badge Book (https://rfs.org.uk/green-tree-badge/)

7. 

   7 Mar 2025

   Accelerating Action: Women in Forestry & the Path Forward

   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! - Coming up Women in Forestry Event - 4th September 2025 - Belper, Derbyshire Back by popular demand, and sponsored by PEFC UK Ltd (https://www.pefc.co.uk/), 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 (www.rfs.org.uk/events). - Forestry & Arboriculture Careers Advice Service Get in touch with the team for advice, guidance, and much more via www.rfs.org.uk/careers (www.rfs.org.uk/careers), or email Alison Dinnie at careers@rfs.org.uk. - Find out more International Women's Day 2025 www.internationalwomensday.com (www.internationalwomensday.com) #AccelerateAction Women's Forestry Corps www.womenslandarmy.co.uk (https://www.womenslandarmy.co.uk/first-world-war-womens-land-army/employment-figures/timber/#:~:text=The%20Women) Five Inspiring Women Who Shaped Forestry (including Mary Sutherland) www.forestryjournal.co.uk (https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/23370968.international-womens-day-5-inspiring-women-shaped-forestry/) Lumberjills - Women's Timber Corps in WWII (Blog) www.talesfromthearchives.wordpress.com (https://talesfromthearchives.wordpress.com/2020/03/08/lumberjills-womens-timber-corps-in-world-war-ii-1942-1946/)

Who has been a guest on Gone Foresting; An RFS Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Gillian Clark
• Iwan Lloyd-Williams
• Nick Adams

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

107,706

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

16

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

0

Contact Gone Foresting; An RFS Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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