Women have always been part of forestry, but their stories are often missing from the history books. This episode explores the overlooked legacy of the thousands who served in the Women's Timber Corps, known as “Lumberjills”.

Elle McAllister is joined by a passionate advocate, Joanna Foat, working to ensure these stories are not forgotten, uncovering the contributions of past generations, and highlighting why they still matter today.

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Learn more in the Gone Foresting show notes as well as Joanna Foat's Lumberjills history books and novels.

Get Involved!

If you have been inspired, encouraged, or taught by an amazing women in forestry we'd love to hear from you. Your contribution will become part of an RFS digital archive of women in forestry history—helping to honour those who came before us, preserve rural and women’s stories, and inspire future generations to follow in their footsteps.

Head to the RFS website for more information.

Related events:

• ⁠Women in Forestry, Leicestershire, 7th October 2026
• Forestry England New Forest Exhibition, 3rd July - 17th August 2026

What connects ancient fossils and NASA? What can be as soft as feathers and as sharp as razor blades? What can bring a fierce hatred from some and a fascinated passion from others? The answers may surprise you but proves that conifers are for much more than Christmas!

This episode Join Chris Reynolds (Forest Research), Jen Turner (RFS), and Elle McAllister to help break through some of the myths, new species you might not know about, and the possible trees hiding in the woods.

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Explore the conifer rabbit hole:

• Forest Research: Tree species and provenance
• Global Conservation Consortium for Conifers
• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: Genetics & Conservation
• NASA: Pine Beetle Infestation in British Columbia
• Natural History Museum: Giant Sequoia Slice

Money (for) trees:

• Grants for Resilient Woodlands
• RFS Randle Travel Bursary

Forestry is more than trees — it’s about the people who keep our woodlands thriving. In this episode, RFS CEO Christopher Williams brings together leading voices from across the sector to tackle one of forestry’s toughest topics: mental health. Gillian Clark (FISA), Iwan Lloyd-Williams MICFor (Forester & DPJ Foundation volunteer), and Nick Adams (Forester & Forestry Contractors Association) share raw, honest insights into the pressures of forestry work, the impact on wellbeing, and the importance of checking in on one another.

This discussion is part of a wider effort to really listen to those working in forestry and arboriculture, including a major survey exploring stress, isolation, financial pressures, and the need for better support across the sector.

⚠️ This episode contains strong language and sensitive discussions around mental health and suicide. Listener discretion advised.

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Finding SupportFor anyone impacted by this discussion, please see the links to support organisations and resources included below. If you are struggling, please reach out to someone you trust, or one of the links below. If you are in crisis, please call 999.

• ⁠Stay Alive App: Essential suicide prevention for everyday life
• The DPJ Foundation: The mental health farming charity
• FISA Safety Library
• Samaritans:Providing emotional support to anyone (Call 116 123)
• Mind: The mental health charity (Call 0300 102 1234 Mon - Fri 9am - 6pm)
• Shout (Text SHOUT to 85258)
• Papyrus: Prevention of young suicide (Call Hopeline247: 0800 068 41 41)