RFS Goodhart Bursary recipients announced
Six early career foresters have received up to £500 of grant funding to attend the RFS Annual Study Tour in South Wales.
The RFS has announced the six recipients of the 2025 Goodhart Bursaries. This grant of up to £500 helps young forestry professionals and recent college and university graduates attend the RFS Annual Study Tour. Our gratitude goes to the RFS South Wales Division for providing funding for two of this year’s recipients, Harriet Jenkins and Benjamin Turner.
Freddie Hemingway is six months into his career in Forestry as an Assistant Forest Manager with English Woodlands Forestry. He said he is looking forward to opportunities to learn from experienced foresters and grow his network at the Annual Study Tour.
“The RFS Annual Study tour is the best opportunity of its kind, bringing together professionals from across the UK to visit a range of brilliant sites and discuss a great selection of topics,” said Freddie. “The insights gained from both the visits and other members will no doubt shape my career for years to come.”
“I’m honoured to have received one of the Goodhart Bursaries, as it will allow me to not only access the study tour but also attend the Annual Dinner which will be a fantastic way to build relationships with fellow members of the RFS.”
After hearing about the bursary from last year’s recipients, Karen Batten decided to put an application in for the 2025 Bursary. “They enthused about the knowledge they gained from the site visits, and it seemed an opportunity I couldn’t let pass me by,” she said.
“I’m so grateful to have been awarded the bursary, which has enabled me to attend the whole study tour, and I’m excited to immerse myself in woodland walks and insightful discussions with other members of the RFS.”
Having previously participated in RFS events, Harvey Blowfield said he us particularly excited about this opportunity to engage with a diverse network of professionals working in the forestry sector.
“A highlight of the tour that I’m especially looking forward to is exploring how Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is implementing Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS) in Wentwood,” Harvey told us. “This tour will provide invaluable insights into innovative forest management techniques.
“Without the support of this bursary, attending such a significant event would have been a struggle for me. The chance to learn, network, and gain first-hand experience in various forestry practices is highly valuable.”
Former Forestry Roots trainee Harriet Jenkins said she looks forward to having the opportunity to visit multiple woodlands and discuss their management with professionals. She is particularly interested in how silvicultural techniques and forest operations differ depending on the woodland context, its opportunities, constraints and objectives.
“The RFS Forestry Roots programme began my career change into forestry in 2023, so as a new entrant into the industry I am aware that events such as the study tour will help me tremendously to build confidence through knowledge exchange,” Harriet commented. “I very much look forward to visiting woodlands that differ from my usual working environment and engaging with other RFS members as well as the site hosts who have an array of expertise to share and learn from.”
Benjamin Turner is the fifth recipient of the bursary. He currently works as a Forestry Operative, undertaking a variety of silvicultural prescriptions set out by forest managers, such as weeding, planting and respacing. He recently completed a level 3 diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture at Coleg Cambria LLysfasi. Most of Benjamin’s work takes place in uniform conifer plantations, but by attending the Annual Study Tour, he hopes to see how more complex woodlands are managed in South Wales.
“The tour [will] give a good opportunity to understand processes involved in managing the forests in South Wales,” Benjamin said. “I am grateful to the RFS for funding my participation in the Annual Study Tour through the Goodhart bursary.”
Karle Collins, a former Forestry Roots trainee now working as a self employed Forester, Coppice worker, Horse logger and woodland manager said, “The study tour is an opportunity to see and learn about a wide variety of forestry projects and to meet some interesting people to network with.
I applied for the bursary because it would otherwise be unaffordable for me to attend such an event.”
Find out more about RFS Bursaries.
If you have any questions about making an application for the 2026 Bursary, please email us.
Read more:
