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Highlights from National Plant Health Week 2026!
We have collated lots of great news, resources and announcements that were shared throughout the sixth annual National Plant Health Week last month!
Collaborative workshop sets direction for future UK Forest Sector Modelling
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.
Supporting the next generation of foresters and tree health scientists
It’s National Plant Health Week (11 – 17 May 2026) and today we are celebrating plant and tree health science and scientists! Our education and training programme aims to train future forest protection scientists as well as provide continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities for those already working in the sector.
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.
From seedlings to scientists: Fourth cohort complete Centre for Forest Protection internship
Our brilliant fourth cohort of interns recently came to the end of their time with us after contributing valuable work to their research projects and gaining lots of great experience in return!
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’.
Press Release: Bangor University and Centre for Forest Protection module tackles UK and global forest health crisis
The postgraduate level module is designed to equip the current and next generation of forestry specialists with the knowledge and skills necessary to combat escalating threats to UK and global forest ecosystems.
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.
New CFP interns hit the ground running!
At the start of October, we welcomed our fourth cohort of interns to the Centre for Forest Protection.
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.
A Future Filled with Trees: National Tree Week celebrates it’s 50th anniversary
Tomorrow (22 Nov) marks the start of National Tree Week 2025, the UK’s largest annual celebration of trees!
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.
Goodbye and hello: New Centre for Forest Protection Lead appointed
The new Centre for Forest Protection (CFP) Lead joins us from The Tree Council.
Upcoming event: Britain’s Forest Future: Research-Practice Exchange
Join us for the most significant forest and woodland research, policy and practice knowledge-exchange event in 2025!
New e-learning module available
Learn more about non-native pests and diseases, transmission pathways, biosecurity measures, and more in our second e-learning module.
Watch our Spring 2025 webinar series & intern talks
Earlier this year, we ran a series of webinars to showcase the results from some of our phase 1 research projects.
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.
CFP attend RHS Green Careers event
Our team attended the Royal Horticultural Society Green Careers event recently promoting the many interesting careers available in forestry and forestry science.
Learn about pests and diseases with our e-learning module
Learn about some of the key pest and disease threats to our trees and woodlands.
Defra announces new funding for the Centre for Forest Protection
The Centre for Forest Protection has been awarded £4m to support 17 more projects in 2025-26.
Ash genomics conference
Our Kew researchers have been exchanging knowledge with international ash genomics research.
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
CFP Symposium
Centre for Forest Protection teams and other interested researchers got together to exchange ideas and hear updates about the Centre.
CFP PhD student wins first prize at a conference
Talor Witham, PhD student with the Centre for Forest Protection at Forest Research and Reading University presented at a recent specialist conference in Nanjing.
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.
Welcome to our second cohort of interns
Meet our new cohort of Centre for Forest Protection Interns
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.
Out in the field
Our researcher Danny has been out looking at trees suffering from ash dieback.
Trees for Climate Change, Biodiversity and People conference
We are proud about having our researchers talk about the latest findings and current project status during the Trees for Climate Change, Biodiversity and People conference. Thank you for inviting us!
Science & Research
Our science programme will support the UK governments' forest and tree strategies and the successful delivery of tree planting programmes. Research outcomes will also directly contribute to the improved resilience of the UK’s forests, woodlands and trees and help promote enhanced capacity and capability in forest and tree health research.
Knowledge Hub
A key priority for the Centre is knowledge exchange and ensuring that research outputs are shaped by stakeholder engagement to increase their relevance and impact. Part of this will be working with stakeholders to create a knowledge hub to promote the sharing of evidence, expertise and best practice that can help promote the resilience of forests and woodlands.
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