Education is at the heart of what we do and we pride ourselves on promoting practical learning underpinned by expertise and experience.

We offer a range of learning and development opportunities, which can provide CPD where appropriate:

• Bursaries;
• Academic prizes;
• Writing awards;
• Field days;
• Monitor Woods Canopy.

Go to our Learning page

Scottish Forestry is the journal of the RSFS.  It contains a mix of articles comprising Society news to peer-reviewed academic papers, general articles, news of RSFS activities and general forestry news.  With a lineage dating back to the 19^th century, the journal title Scottish Forestry dates from 1947 and in 2021 we will publish 4 editions to mark volume 75.

All members receive the journal by mail and can access the archive digitally.  Subscription for a library or other public reading room within the UK is £90. Overseas subscription rate is £150. Please contact us to obtain information about a subscription or even better, membership.  Individual copies can also be purchased from the shop.

Writing for Scottish Forestry

We welcome all contributions; sadly, due to page constraints, not all articles are able to be published straight away.  Please review guidelines for authors and peer reviewers here.

Advertising in Scottish Forestry

Scottish Forestry is part-funded through advertising.  Good rates are available through Contact Publicity at www.contactpublicity.co.uk.

In 2020, we began broadening our range of publications.

To celebrate 100 years of state forestry we published a Brief History of the Forestry Commission.

In 2021, we have published an updated version of Tall Trees and Small Woods.  Originally written by Dr Bill Mutch, this has been brought up to date whilst retaining the charm of the original.

These books and back issues of Scottish Forestry are available to buy through our online shop.

Buy our books

The Annual Study Tour is a whole Society 3-day gathering organised by and based in one of our regions each year. There is a formal dinner with a guest speaker on one of the evenings and other social events.  Usually the RSFS Annual General Meeting is part of the programme.

The Tour visits a wide range of sites 6 to 8 sites across the three days.  It showcases the forest sector in that area covering a range of forest types and woodland industries. Places are limited so early booking is recommended.  Priority is given to members although their guests and non-members are also welcome. 

It provides a great opportunity to learn about a very wide spectrum of forest practice in a few days.  Most important, the atmosphere is open and friendly and there is a lively exchange of views and sharing of expertise.

This historic image is from the 1905 Annual Excursion, as it was then called, on a visit to Benmore.

We hold a busy programme of Regional field visits (RFD) across Scotland and occasionally into England and Northern Ireland.  They provide an opportunity to visit a wide variety of interesting woods as well as forest nurseries, wood processing industries and wood users.  This is a chance to visit new places and to benefit from having them described by the owners and managers.

To book an RFD:

1. Click on the globe icon below;
2. Click on an event in the Top 5 Upcoming on the home page; or
3. For events not in the Top 5 Upcoming, go to the events list by clicking on Field Day calendar on the home page.

These meeting cards illustrate examples from prior years; click on the red icon to see the old programme. 

	Current and future RFD
	No 2020 programme
	2019 Programme
	2018 Programme
	2017 Programme
	2016 Programme
	2015 Programme
	2014 Programme

Cashel Forest is located a few miles beyond Balmaha on east Loch Lomond. Cashel rises from shore level to 580 metres, and consequently represents most of the different woodland types that are native to Scotland following the last ice age. 

Between 1997 and 2005 around 300ha of native broadleaves and Scots pine were established.  It is a Monitor Wood showing how new native woodlands can develop.

The developing forest now provides a potential framework for many other activities, mirroring the dynamic nature of woodland growth.  The mix of woodland and other habitats make it a haven for wildlife.

Situated within the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, it provides an alternative to the busy honeypots.  The extensive network of paths includes a low level walk, an all abilities trail and a more challenging walk to the top of the forest.

Go to the Cashel website

The RSFS Monitor Woods Scheme is designed to deliver learning across the forestry and woodland sector, and to the wider public.  The principal objective is to facilitate access to good practice in forestry, and to encourage more and better managed woods to deliver the optimum range of multiple benefits for public and private good.

Recognising that not everyone can join our field events, the Monitor Woods Scheme creates a record of what can be seen at a range of exemplar sites.  These are available to visit at any time, by arrangement with the owner in some cases.  The online database Canopy provides key information on the sites, the characteristics of the stands, their history and the management intent.

For more information and details of how to log into Canopy, visit monitorwoods.org.uk or contact monitorwoods@rsfs.org.uk

Go to Monitor Woods website