The WOODS programme was introduced in 2022 to provide all new Woodland Officers with a range of skills and knowledge so that they are competent and confident in their jobs.
Woodland Officers of all grades are at the front line of forestry in Scotland. They have demanding and varied roles and are key to supporting the growth of new woodlands across the country.
Welcoming the ICF accreditation on the International Day of Forests, Paul Lowe, CEO of Scottish Forestry, said:
“We are all very proud to be awarded this accreditation and especially since we are the first public sector organisation in the UK to receive it – that’s fantastic.
“It’s a strong endorsement of our ongoing investment into staff development and supports our activities in relation to woodland creation across Scotland.”
The accreditation will benefit staff who will earn points towards their Professional Membership of the ICF.
Another wider benefit is that accreditation will strengthen Scottish Forestry’s ability to attract new woodland officers in the future, knowing that there is a prestigious development programme waiting for them.
Ron Wilson, Assistant Woodland Officer with Scottish Forestry, has been undertaking the learning and development. He added:
“Being part of the WOODS programme is a really enjoyable and a beneficial experience for me. The teaching and knowledge exchange is superb and it’s good to meet colleagues from across Scottish Forestry who are on a similar journey but have different levels of knowledge and experience.
“It's supplementing my on-the-job training and helping to consolidate my forestry knowledge. The learning sessions covering ground preparation, stocking density, forests and water, and forest soils have been the highlight so far. I’m looking forward to learning more as the course goes on.”
Louise Simpson, ICF Executive Director, added:
"I am delighted that the Institute is able to formally recognise the professional development opportunities afforded to staff of Scottish Forestry through this newly Institute-accredited graduate programme. As we continue to address the ongoing skills shortage in the sector, it is vital that the Institute continues to offer flexible routes to chartered status, and acknowledging the vocational skills and training offered by respected, rigorous in-house forestry graduate schemes is a significant part of this."
Scottish Forestry is the Scottish Government agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulation. A key part of its role, through a geographical network of Woodland Officers, is to support the careful expansion of forests and woodlands in Scotland.
Last year, Scotland created the highest level of woodland creation for 34 years with around 15,000 ha of new woodland – around 30 million new trees. Around 7,700 ha were native woodland, the highest level since 2001.
