On 3 March 2026, our Forest Sector Modelling project held a stakeholder workshop attended by representatives from across the UK forestry sector, with the aim of identifying the most pressing challenges and opportunities for the sector.
Research Updates
Centre for Forest Protection celebrates fourth anniversary!
As part of National Plant Health Week (11 – 17 May 2026) and the CFP’s fourth anniversary, we’re celebrating our successes and looking ahead to exciting upcoming activities!
CFP researchers meet at Kew: Highlights from an inspiring day
This National Plant Health Week (11-17 May 2026) we’re taking the opportunity to celebrate the many brilliant individuals and organisations who work hard to protect tree health. To kick off the week, we’re reflecting on an inspiring day recently spent at Kew Gardens with many of our fantastic scientists.
Celebrating International Day of Forests: Highlights from Britain’s Forest Future: Research-Practice Exchange
On 17 & 18 November 2025, several of our CFP researchers travelled to Durham to present their work at ‘Britain’s Forest Future: Research-Practice Exchange’.
Shaping UK drought research priorities through co-design
Stakeholders representing organisations from Scotland, England and Wales joined researchers at the Forest Research Northern Research Station on 26 November to help shape the next phase of our EXPLORATION project.
Shaping understanding of Continuous Cover Forestry to reduce windthrow
On 29 October, The Wind within the Trees project held their first stakeholder workshop at Queen Elizabeth Forest Park near Aberfoyle in Scotland.
Press Release: Communities and culture at the heart of ‘lost’ tree restoration
New research from the Centre for Forest Protection and University of St Andrews highlights the importance of considering social and cultural values when restoring ‘lost’ tree species.
Phase 2: Highlights from our first biannual meeting
In Nov 25, we held the first biannual meeting of CFP Phase 2, bringing together the CFP Core Team, Board Members, Defra and CFP Project Leads, researchers and collaborators.
Speed breeding project takes root at Niab
On 21 October, the team behind Centre for Forest Protection Phase 2 project ‘Speed Breeding Technologies for UK Broadleaved Trees’ held their first in-person meeting.
New genetic bottlenecks research published
Scientists from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Forest Research have today published a new study comparing the benefits of tree planting vs natural colonisation for future resilience of UK woodlands.
Survey for managers of mixed-species stands to contribute to research into drought resilience
As part of one of our new research projects, scientists at Forest Research are seeking practitioners who have experience of planting, managing or overseeing a tree species mixture to take part in a short survey.
Centre for Forest Protection webinars
Join us at the end of March to hear about our latest research findings.
CFP researcher presentation on genetic bottlenecks
Our recent findings on genetic bottlenecks were presented at the 3rd International Congress on Evolutionary Biology.
A new reference genome from a healthy ash tree
Our researchers have been busy creating a new genome resource
A new project about threats to non-native tree species
Kew Research Leader Dr Laura Kelly has a new Centre for Forest Protection project starting this Autumn.
Improved ash reference genome
New and improved – a chromosomal level reference genome for European ash.
Birch project teams meet up in Scotland
The two halves of our birch project came together this week.