Graham Taylor wins RFS Sylva Trophy for outstanding contribution to forestry
Congratulations to Graham Taylor MBE FICFOR, former Managing Director of Prior and Rickett Silviculture (now Euroforest).
The Royal Forestry Society (RFS) has announced Graham Taylor MBE FICFOR, as the recipient of the 2025 Sylva Trophy. The prestigious award recognises Mr Taylor’s outstanding contribution to UK forestry, from inspiring young foresters to strengthening the domestic hardwood supply chain.
Mr Taylor was Managing Director for Prior and Rickett Silviculture (now Euroforest) from 1998 to 2024, transforming a regional Herefordshire firm into a leading national consultancy.
As trustee of Woodland Heritage (2010-2018) and chair of the board of directors at Whitney Sawmill (2016-present), Mr Taylor has been instrumental in supporting the production of homegrown hardwood timber. His work as a tutor on the acclaimed Woodlands to Workshop course has equipped countless professionals with practical skills, while his woodland meetings for the RFS are regarded as masterclasses in silviculture.
As Co-chair of the Future Trees Trust, Mr Taylor championed the development of better-performing and more disease-resistant hardwood tree species, and launched the National Tree Improvement Strategy in 2017. Under his leadership, the Future Trees Trust expanded its reach and impact, providing an evidence-based and research-led approach to tree health and resilience.
As Chair of the European Squirrel Initiative, Mr Taylor has elevated awareness of how grey squirrels threaten both woodland health and red squirrel survival. His forward-thinking approach includes advocating for gene editing research as a potential long-term solution to this conservation challenge.
Mr Taylor has consistently looked beyond his own company’s success to benefit the wider forestry sector. He is an untiring advocate for strengthening skills at all levels in the forestry sector. He has inspired many Bangor University forestry students through lectures and woodland visits and actively supports forestry education initiatives.
Commenting on Mr Taylor’s award, the judging panel said: “Graham is a forester of the highest calibre, a great communicator, and an effective leader. Rather than channel these talents solely to further the interests of his business, he has gone out of his way to share them widely for the greater benefit of UK forestry. In doing so he has made an outstanding contribution to forestry.”
Mr Taylor’s dedication to forestry was formally recognised in 2017 when he received an MBE for services to forestry in the Queen’s birthday honours.
The Sylva Trophy, presented annually by the RFS, honours individuals or organisations who have made significant contributions to forestry in its broadest sense. The award was donated to the RFS by the late Patrick Evelyn. Mr Evelyn was a direct descendant of John Evelyn, author of the seminal 17th-century ‘Sylva or a Discourse of Forest-trees and the propagation of Timber’.
Click here for more information about the Sylva Trophy and the Royal Forestry Society.
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