We are delighted to share that our special Centenary National Study Tour will take place at Windsor Great Park on 21 & 22 October 2025.

Join us in Berkshire to explore Windsor Great Park and Forest - a 6,475-hectare Crown Estate rooted in royal history, established by William the Conqueror. Today, this rural estate blends commercial forestry, biodiversity conservation and public recreation across its 3,000 hectares of woodlands. 

Day one – Windsor Forest 
The opening day will focus on the Windsor Forest area. Members will tour the Decaying Wood Trail, a route through ancient and replanted woodland where experimental and innovative methods, which enhance decaying wood habitat, have been developed over the last 20 years. There will be discussions around hardwood silviculture, spruce management/removal in the face of Ips typographus, pond and wetland restoration and tree planting in a historic landscape. 

Day two – Swinley Forest 

Members will visit Swinley Forest, one of the largest conifer forests in the region, to see how the estate’s silviculture, harvesting and restocking is building resilience and productivity. There will be a chance to view habitat restoration, particularly wet heath and mire systems that serve to improve biodiversity, mitigate against wildfire and reduce downstream flooding during peak flows. The forest also contains a significant mountain bike trail network and members will hear about the management requirements of providing a safe but technically challenging facility in an open access forest. 

Speakers 

The visits will be led by the Windsor Forestry and Conservation team with input from guest speakers. More speakers to be announced. 

Jack Coombes – Operations Director, Coombes Forestry 

Robert Hanson – Southeast Area Lead in Plant Health Forestry, Forestry Commission 

Chris Reynolds – Species silviculturist, Forest Research

Fred Toft – Ips typographus Project Manager, Forestry Commission 

Mark Townsend MICFor – Head of Woodland Management and Arboriculture, Savills 

Centenary National Study Tour Dinner 

The dinner will take place at Browns Brasserie & Bar in Windsor on Tuesday 21 October. Dinner is not included in the Study Tour ticket and must be purchased separately. Please note that there are limited places available and you must have purchased a ticket for the Centenary Study Tour to attend the dinner. 

Additional information 

Travel to and from sites and lunch is included in the ticket price. Members must book their own accommodation. 

Windsor Great Park background 

• The estate’s woodlands span 3,000 hectares and is guided by a long-term forest plan and certified under FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) 
• The estate’s annual harvesting yields around 15,000 tonnes, predominantly pine, that is supplied to regional sawmills and processors. The timber is also used on site for construction, fencing and biomass heat generation 
• Multiple silvicultural systems are used on the estate with clear-felling remaining a key tool, providing consistent income streams, maintaining long-term transitional open space for ground nesting birds and allowing species diversification through replanting 
• Around 80% of the estate’s woodlands are designated SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) with SAC (Special Areas of Conservation) and SPA (Special Protection Area) designations for its veteran trees and decaying wood habitats and ground-nesting birds 
• The estate is home to nationally important assemblages of flora and fauna, particularly lepidoptera and invertebrates
• Windsor Great Park attracts approximately five million visitors every year, with popular attractions including the Savill and Valley Gardens, Swinley Forest visitor centre, bike hub, trails and Go Ape centre