Royal Forestry Society

What Royal Forestry Society does

The Royal Forestry Society (RFS) is a registered charity (No. 306093) and charitable company limited by guarantee (No. 05306975) founded in 1882, headquartered at The Hay Barns, Home Farm Drive, Upton Estate, Banbury, Oxfordshire. It operates as a membership-based professional organisation for forestry and arboriculture in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, structured through 20 regional divisions that collectively host over 100 Woodland Meetings annually and convene study tours, conferences, training courses and special events. Its core products include the Quarterly Journal of Forestry (with nearly 40 years of archived articles), the RFS Professional Certification programme in Forestry and Arboriculture, the Grants for Resilient Woodlands programme (joint with RSFS, Train Hugger and GreenTheUK), and a portfolio of education products ranging from Teaching Trees school visits to the Junior Forester Award, Green Tree Badge, and Level 1 Award in Forestry in the Community.

Revenue is generated through individual memberships (from £5.96/month or £71.50/year via Direct Debit), student memberships (£13/year via Direct Debit), joint memberships, corporate memberships (£224/year via Direct Debit), donations (including Action Oak, Teaching Trees, Future Foresters), overseas and UK study tour fees, event ticket sales, online store merchandise, and a forestry jobs board. The organisation hosts the Action Oak national partnership since 2023 (with a £15 million fundraising target to safeguard 121 million UK oaks), manages three showcase woodlands (including the 48-hectare Battram Wood), and runs the Forestry Roots paid traineeship programme for ages 18-30. Strategic positioning centres on a 10-year Strategy 2025-2035 with vision for resilient, productive and diverse woodland.

The go-to-market model combines direct membership acquisition through the website and 20 regional divisions, event-driven engagement (100+ Woodland Meetings per year, overseas study tours operated in partnership with Greentours Ltd), and community-led programmes including the Forestry Roots traineeship, professional certifications, and a multi-tier awards programme (Gold Medal, Excellence in Forestry Awards, Sylva Trophy, James Cup, Rising Star Award). Distribution is built on partnerships with Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust, Forestry England, Future Trees Trust, Grown In Britain, Observatree, UK Squirrel Accord, Tree Charter, Forest School Association and Forest Research, alongside a digital content layer spanning a YouTube channel, the Gone Foresting podcast, and active social media presence on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook and Bluesky.

Name

Royal Forestry Society

Legal name

The Royal Forestry Society

Website

https://rfs.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Royal Forestry Society is a registered UK charity (founded 1882) operating through 20 regional divisions to deliver professional membership, certification, education, grants, and advocacy services for the forestry and arboriculture sector across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forestry Education and Membership Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM)

Keywords

• Forestry education
• Woodland management
• Arboriculture training
• Professional forestry
• Charity membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Banbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees from individual, joint, student, corporate, and overseas members. Individual membership from £78.50/year or £71.50 via Direct Debit. Student membership from £15/year or £13 via Direct Debit.
2. Online Store Sales: The RFS operates an online shop selling merchandise including books, publications, badges, certificates, accessories, garden items, and home goods. All profits support the charitable work of the society.
3. Study Tour Fees: Overseas and UK study tours are offered to members, including the Canada 2027 tour (single occupancy £7,375, double occupancy £5,940 per person). Training courses are also offered.
4. Event Tickets: Special events such as Women in Forestry gatherings are offered with early bird tickets (Standard £25, Concession £20) increasing to £35 and £30 after early bird period.
5. Donations: The society accepts donations for specific programs including Action Oak, Teaching Trees, Future Foresters, Publications and Research, and general donations. Memorial donations are also accepted.
6. Jobs Board: Corporate members receive up to 12 free job advertisements per year, with individual members receiving 1 free advert per year. Additional job postings may generate revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The Royal Forestry Society (RFS) is a registered charity and membership organisation founded in 1882 that delivers forestry education, professional certification, advocacy, and knowledge-sharing services to foresters, arborists, woodland owners, students, and schools. It operates 20 regional divisions across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and produces the quarterly Journal of Forestry, study tours, woodland meetings, training courses, bursaries, podcasts, and conservation initiatives.

Product overview

The Royal Forestry Society operates a platform-plus-programme model consisting of a portfolio of interconnected products and services centred on advancing forestry knowledge, education, and professional development. Core offerings include the Quarterly Journal of Forestry (peer-reviewed publication), professional RFS Certification for foresters and arborists, and over 100 annual Woodland Meetings. The society provides educational programmes including Teaching Trees school visits, the Junior Forester Award, Green Tree Badge, and Tremendous Trees resources for children and young people. Financial support is delivered through the Grants for Resilient Woodlands programme and various bursaries. Additional products include the Gone Foresting podcast, RFS Awards (including the Gold Medal and Excellence in Forestry Awards), the Jobs Board, Online Store, Action Oak initiative, and Mental Health & Wellbeing resources. The society's 20 regional divisions coordinate local events and activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Action Oak: National partnership dedicated to safeguarding the survival of the UK's native oak trees, hosted by RFS since 2023.
• Forestry Roots
• Junior Forester Award
• Green Tree Badge
• Teaching Trees
• Gone Foresting
• Quarterly Journal of Forestry (QJF)

Products and services

• RFS Membership
• Quarterly Journal of Forestry
• Woodland Meetings and Study Tours
• RFS Jobs Board
• RFS Grants and Bursaries Programme
• RFS Professional Certification (CertFor, DipArb, CertArb)
• Teaching Trees School Visits
• Junior Forester Award
• Green Tree Badge
• Tremendous Trees
• Level 1 Award in Forestry in the Community
• So, you own a woodland? Workshops
• RFS Online Shop
• Gone Foresting Podcast
• Woodland Plant Identification Guide
• Action Oak
• Woods for Tomorrow

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 Woodland Meetings hosted annually across 20 divisions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Royal Scottish Forestry Society (RSFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RFS and RSFS have joined forces with Train Hugger and GreenTheUK to help people plant trees that will survive and thrive into the future through the Grants for Resilient Woodlands initiative.
• Train HuggercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with RFS, RSFS, and GreenTheUK to help people plant trees that will survive and thrive into the future through the Grants for Resilient Woodlands initiative.
• GreenTheUKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with RFS, RSFS, and Train Hugger to help people plant trees that will survive and thrive into the future through the Grants for Resilient Woodlands initiative.
• Forestry CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoods for Tomorrow project funded by the Forestry Commission to support land owners and managers in bringing woodland into management and creating new woodlands. Also partner in Forest Education Network.
• Future Trees TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in tree breeding and genetic improvement research for UK forestry, working to develop superior planting stock.
• Grown In BritainmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRFS is certified by Grown In Britain which supports every level of the forestry supply chain, from certifying biosecure planting stocks to developing woodland creation and management strategies.
• Action OakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership dedicated to safeguarding UK native oak trees. RFS hosts the initiative and is represented on the Knowledge Exchange and Management Practice sub-committee. The £15 million initiative aims to protect 121 million oaks.
• ObservatreemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTree health citizen science project led by Forest Research that trains and manages volunteers for tree health surveillance and reporting. RFS works with the team to raise awareness and encourage reporting through TreeAlert.
• UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRFS is a signatory and member of the UKSA Executive Committee, supporting research into immuno-contraceptives for grey squirrel population control and has raised over £40,000 towards a five-year research project.
• Tree ChartermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRFS is a member of the Tree Charter UK Board which has responded to DEFRA consultations on protecting and enhancing England's trees and woodlands.
• Forestry and Climate Change Working GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRFS is among signatories to the 2022 Forestry and Climate Change Adaptation Accord, published by the Forestry and Climate Change Partnership with over 30 member organisations.
• Woodland TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the Forest Education Network (England) as a partner organization. The Woodland Trust supports forest education across the sector.
• Forestry EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the Forest Education Network (England) as a partner organization.
• Forest School Association (FSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the Forest Education Network (England) as a partner organization.
• Forest ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for initiatives including the Forest Trapping Network, biodiversity monitoring projects, and tree health research. Hosts the Northern Research Station in Roslin, Edinburgh.
• Tree CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Forest Education Network (England) and joint advocacy for tree health and woodland management.
• Greentours LtdmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTour operator for RFS overseas study tours, specializing in natural history holidays for 21 years. Manages logistics for tours including the British Columbia, Canada 2027 trip.
• ConformajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Mental Health & Wellbeing in Forestry working group.
• Forestry Contractors AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Mental Health & Wellbeing in Forestry working group.
• Chartered Foresters (ICF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Mental Health & Wellbeing in Forestry working group.
• Rural Advisory Board for Inspiration and Development (RABI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Mental Health & Wellbeing in Forestry working group, providing support resources.
• AIM GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization for the Level 1 Award in Forestry in the Community qualification, providing course information and provider registration.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Woodland Trust: The UK's largest woodland conservation charity with over 1,000 sites and a broad public membership base. Overlaps with RFS on woodland creation advocacy, free trees for schools and communities, and Forest Education Network partnership.
• Forestry England: Public body managing the nation's public forests in England; a Forest Education Network partner that overlaps with RFS on educational outreach and woodland management expertise while drawing on larger public resources.
• Forestry Commission: UK government department for forestry; funds RFS's Woods for Tomorrow project and is a Forest Education Network partner, representing the largest possible sector counterparty for funding and policy influence.

Direct peers

• Sylva Foundation: UK forestry charity focused on evidence-based forest management, wood innovation and tree-origin science; shares the charity-sector forestry knowledge-transfer mission with RFS and serves a similarly motivated supporter base.
• Future Trees Trust: UK charity dedicated to tree breeding and genetic improvement; a strategic research partner of RFS working on superior planting stock for UK forestry and serving the same professional forester audience.
• Confor: UK trade association for forestry and wood-using businesses; competes for corporate members and sector advocacy while being a co-partner in RFS's Mental Health & Wellbeing in Forestry working group.
• Royal Scottish Forestry Society: Direct Scottish counterpart - a charitable membership society for forestry professionals offering publications, events and grants. Already a co-partner of RFS on Grants for Resilient Woodlands, providing geographic complementarity within the UK.
• Tree Council: UK charity for trees and woodland focused on planting, care and advocacy; partners with RFS on Forest Education Network and joint tree-health advocacy as a sister charity in the environmental NGO space.
• Institute of Chartered Foresters: UK professional body for foresters and arborists offering Chartered Forester status; competes with RFS Certification for the same professional-development audience while partnering on the Mental Health & Wellbeing in Forestry working group.

Regional players

• Forest Research: UK's principal forestry and tree-related research agency; a Forest Education Network partner that contributes scientific and educational expertise to the UK forestry sector alongside RFS, with overlapping remit across England, Wales and Scotland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/royal_forestry
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCflDjLgVw36gsPYrzmyDY_w
• Facebookfacebook.com/RoyalForestrySociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-royal-forestry-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/royal_forestry
• TikToktiktok.com/@royalforestrysociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Royal Forestry Society