About Forest Research

 

We are one of the world’s leading centres of research into woodlands and forestry.

Our aims, objectives and environmental policy

We aim to provide research services relevant to UK and international forestry interests and inform and support forestry’s contribution to UK governmental policies. Our core roles are to provide the evidence base for UK forestry practices and to support innovation.
Our aims and objectives in detail
Our (Forestry Commission) environmental policy

Research, products and services portfolio

Trees have a profound influence on our lives:

• On our environment and health
• On our access to green space
• On our landscapes and their biodiversity
• As a raw material for construction, fuel and other uses
• On livelihoods and the rural economy.

Forest Research’s portfolio of research and development is diverse, as it covers all of the aspects mentioned above. Our core roles are to provide the evidence base for UK forestry practices and to support innovation. We also provide a range of products and services to support the land management and environmental technologies sectors.

Forest Research Brochure
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Clients and collaborations

Our core work for the Forestry Commission supports the forestry strategies for England, Scotland and Wales.

We also have a growing portfolio of work for external clients. We provide research, development and associated services to government departments and commercial organisations in the UK, European Union and elsewhere.

We are members of the Rural Research and Strategy Partnership, which was formed to broker and develop collaborative thinking between South East England’s rural policy makers and the research community.

• Clients
• Rural Research and Strategy Partnership
• International collaborations.

Nationwide capability

Our main research stations are in Surrey and near Edinburgh and we have a nationwide network of regional offices and field stations giving us the capacity to conduct research on a GB basis.
More about our nationwide capability

Organisation

Forest Research’s scientific staff are organised in six divisions. Corporate functions are provided by three further divisions.
More about our organisation

Quality assurance

Forest Research is committed to delivering high quality scientific research which fully meets our customers’ needs for quality assurance. We aim to offer a flexible approach, focused on customers’ needs for quality, timeliness and cost.
More about our quality assurance scheme

The Advisory Committee on Forestry Research provides guidance for Forest Research and the Forestry Commission on the quality and direction of our research.

Quinquennial Review

Like all government executive agencies, our work is reviewed every 5 years. The last review started in August 2001 with a consultation inviting the opinions of customers, partners and interested parties of all kinds and looked forward 5 years from April 2002.
More about the Quinquennial Review

Working at Forest Research

We are proud to be the employer of choice for many who want to work in forestry or in tree-related research. We are committed to encouraging a diversity of applicants for jobs, avoiding unfair discrimination and implementing ‘family friendly’ policies including flexible working patterns and part-time employment.

We also offer a small number of work experience, undergraduate and post doctoral placements each year and industrial partnerships for Research Council CASE Ph.D. studentships.
More about working for us

Corporate publications and minutes

You can read detailed information about Forest Research, what we have achieved, what we are doing now and our future plans, in our corporate publications. These include:

• Annual Reports
• Corporate Plans
• Executive Board Minutes
• Online Science and Business Newsletters
• Visiting Groups Reports.