History
The RFS was founded in 1882 by John Robson, a nurseryman and Henry Clark, a forester. They organised a meeting of local foresters, land owners and land agents in John Robson’s home in Hexham, Northumberland on 10 January 1882 where it was agreed to establish a national society to be called the English Arboricultural Society.
Key dates in the history of the RFS are:
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1882 |
The English Arboricultrual Society founded at Hexham. First AGM at Newcastle. The Earl of Durham elected as the first President |
|
1897 |
First forestry examinations held |
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1905 |
Royal Charter granted by His Majesty King Edward VII. Renamed the Royal English Arboricultural Society |
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1905 |
The Society establishes an arboretum at Tubney, near Oxford |
|
1907 |
The first edition of the Quarterly Journal of Forestry published |
|
1931 |
Renamed The Royal English Forestry Society |
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1957 |
Charles Ackers gifts the Redwood Grove at Leighton, Powys to the Society |
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1961 |
First awards for Gold Medal for Distinguished Services to Forestry |
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1962 |
Renamed the Royal Forestry Society of England, Wales and Northern Ireland |
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1969 |
The Society’s headquarters moved from London to Tring, Hertfordshire |
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1973 |
Long Service Medal for foresters and woodsmen instituted |
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1982 |
The Society’s 100th anniversary. HRH the Prince of Wales is President |
|
1986 |
Hockeridge and Pancake Wood in the Chilterns gifted to the Society by Miss Mary Wellesley |
|
1998 |
Battram Wood in the National Forest created on 48 ha of agricultural land purchased by the Society |
|
2012 |
The Society’s headquarters moved to Upton, near Banbury. |
