Phase 1 of the Centre for Forest Protection (CFP) commenced in April 2022 and concluded in March 2025, with Defra funding enabling a range of research projects focused on novel approaches to tree health, as well as four PhD studentships and 17 internships.
In spring 2025, we held a series of webinars to showcase the results from some of our Phase 1 research projects, which are all available to view on our YouTube channel.
In September 2026, two of our Phase 1 PhD researchers will be giving an overview of their research projects, results, and next steps in our upcoming free webinar series:
Webinar 1: Understanding grey squirrel damage in UK woodlands
Date and time: Tuesday 15 September 2026, 11:15-12:00
Dr Alexandra Ash, Behavioural Ecologist, and Dr Cally Ham, Senior Mammal Ecologist (inset), both at Forest Research.
In this webinar, attendees will hear from Dr Alexandra Ash, Behavioural Ecologist at Forest Research, who will be giving an overview of her Centre for Forest Protection (CFP)-funded PhD research into the drivers of bark-stripping behaviour in invasive grey squirrels. Her work explored how a better understanding of this behaviour can inform targeted, effective, and efficient management of grey squirrels in British woodlands.
Alex is also the lead author on ‘Understanding Why Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) Bark Strip in British Woodlands: A Systematic Map’, which was published in peer-reviewed journal Mammal Review in March 2026.
Attendees will also hear from Dr Cally Ham, Senior Mammal Ecologist at Forest Research, who will provide a short update on the ongoing CFP project ‘Understanding grey squirrel bark stripping‘, with time for questions.
Register for free here: Centre for Forest Protection Webinar – Understanding grey squirrel damage in UK woodlands.
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Webinar 2: Perspectives on the Ecological and Cultural Restoration of Elm in Britain
Date and time: Tuesday 22 September 2026, 11:15-12:00
Fritha West, Research Fellow at Defra.
In this webinar, attendees will hear from Fritha West, Research Fellow at Defra, who will be giving an overview of her Centre for Forest Protection (CFP)-funded PhD research which focuses on the ecological and cultural restoration of elm in Britain.
Fritha is also the lead author on ‘Social and cultural considerations for the restoration of ‘lost’ tree species: The fall and rise of elm’, which was published in peer-reviewed journal People and Nature in December 2025. There will also be time for a short Q&A.
Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026
Time: 11:15 am – 12:00 pm
Register for free here: Centre for Forest Protection Webinar – Perspectives on the Ecological and Cultural Restoration of Elm in Britain.
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Both webinars will be recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel in due course.
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