Who are we?
The Forest Canopy Foundation (FCF) is a partnership of professionals from the forestry industry, formed in response to the climate crisis and focusing on increasing woodland creation at scale across England. By addressing the opportunity to plant trees and alleviate climate change, the work of the FCF will support the government’s target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Engaging with policy makers, investors, landowners and the government, the FCF has been designed as a not-for-profit organisation, helping to shape forestry across England making it more feasible to plant trees.
The FCF is made up of a group of directors from independent private sector forestry companies who passionately believe that the only way to achieve the goal is for them to work together. To make an impact, collaborative working is vital.
It utilises the skills and professional heritage of all the companies and manages an innovative scheme, combining public and private finance and landowner interest to achieve woodland planting that all can be proud of.
As with all carbon initiatives, auditing and traceability is vital and FCF have partnered with an independent body, Grown in Britain (GiB), to enable and ensure the reliable delivery of tree planting.
Niel Nicholson
Director
Niel is the Financial Director of Nicholsons. With many years of experience in the industry, Niel is on the Forestry Commission FWAC Committee for the South East, and is on the CLA National Forestry and Woodlands Advisory Committee. With a background in forestry, Niel has recognised the importance of carbon capture as a method of sustainable development and conceptualised the FCF to form a solution for carbon mitigation through tree planting.
Graham Taylor
Director
Graham became Managing Director of Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in 1998 and is now personally responsible for over 10,000 acres of forested land in England. Alongside overseeing the growth of the company in recent years, he has also been responsible for specialist timber harvesting, developing the commercial forestry side of the business, managing the technical forestry team in England, and providing consultancy services throughout the UK. In 2017, Graham was awarded an MBE for services to Forestry.
Justin Mumford
Director
Justin is Director of Consultancy at Nicholsons and has extensive experience in the preparation of long-term management plans to meet client objectives, for conservation, recreation, sporting, landscape, and timber production. Justin also has wide-ranging knowledge of current grant schemes available to woodland owners and can offer insight on a multitude of project concepts.
Liz Nicholson
Director
Liz is the Managing Director of Nicholsons. Coming from a background in plant soil science, she has had many years of experience working alongside the forestry industry. Liz believes passionately in supporting the future of our planet from an environmental perspective and will be working to communicate the main concepts and ideas of the FCF to both landowners and investors.
Charles Robinson
Director
Charles is the Managing Director of Robinson Forestry, which he established in 2022. Charles is very experienced in delivering woodland creation at scale, through his previous role as Head of Forestry for the National Forest. As a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, with a Master’s in Forestry Management, and regional committee chair of the ICF, Charles is dedicated to supporting UK forestry and the people within it.
Mark Townsend
Director
Mark is Head of Woodland Management and Arboriculture for Savills. With over 20 years’ experience in the sector, Mark has grown the Savills forestry team considerably, ensuring that estates are managed as a whole, with the integration of woodlands as potential diversification options and income streams.
Will Richardson
Director
Will is director of RDI Associates, a project management and consultancy firm working at the forefront of sustainable rural development. Will leads on the development of wood fuel within the sector, along with continuing to develop the forestry and timber sectors across the UK through partnerships with local and regional government, European institutions and the private sector.
GiB is a not-for-profit organisation focused on supply chain development and certification of trees, woodlands and forest products. Backed by the government and supported by the Forestry Commission, GiB provides certification for over 100 suppliers of timber and timber products nationwide.
All of our woodland creation projects will be verified by GiB at the design stage and then regularly audited against their standard for at least 25 years.
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