Institute of Chartered Foresters
Building A Clear Pathway For Learning The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS)
Bringing a landmark standard to life
For professionals in forestry, the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) is more than just a set of guidelines; it's the bedrock of sustainable practice across the country. But with the latest edition, a 128-page manual, the challenge for the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) was clear: how to ensure every professional, from seasoned veteran to newcomer, could easily digest and apply the updated principles.
We knew that simply handing out a dense document wouldn't suffice. The ICF needed a modern, accessible, and engaging solution to bring this vital standard to life. This is how we partnered to create a pioneering e-learning programme, a digital forest where knowledge could flourish.
Our collaboration with the ICF was born from a shared belief that education should be as dynamic and innovative as the natural world it seeks to protect. The UKFS is the first of its kind to be delivered via an e-learning platform, a testament to the forward-thinking approach of the ICF. We were tasked with taking the comprehensive 5th edition and transforming it into a visually appealing, interactive, and accredited programme.
The goal was to provide an engaging alternative to reading through the extensive manual, making the standard more accessible to everyone working in the sector. The programme has since received the backing of key bodies like Forest Research, the Forestry Commission, and others, a clear endorsement of its quality and importance.
Seeing the wood for the trees
A walk in the park
Our solution was to create an immersive experience that mirrored the real-world environment of a forester. Users begin their journey in a virtual forest classroom, a fitting gateway to the eight e-learning modules that follow.
These modules break down the critical aspects of sustainable forestry and woodland management into bite-sized chunks. From biodiversity to climate change, and from landscape to soil, each element of the UKFS is explored through a rich mix of words, graphics, animation, and video. We also included the option for virtual engagement, offering an even more immersive experience for those who wanted it. The entire programme was built on the ICF's new online education platform, Silvestor, which we also had the privilege of developing.
Recognising the busy, often remote nature of forestry work, we designed the programme to be fully responsive and accessible on mobile devices. This means that users can dip in and out of the content, accessing important guidance remotely, at their own pace. By the end of the programme, upon successful completion and Lantra certification, foresters will be accredited and compliant with the updated standard.
This demonstrates their commitment to best practice and their ability to ensure their activities are legal and sustainable. The project was about more than just knowledge transfer; it was about empowering professionals and helping the sector work together to create the best possible environments for trees to flourish, achieving multiple aims against multiple objectives. We are proud to have been a part of this vital initiative, helping to shape the future of forestry education.
Cultivating knowledge and compliance
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