Bookings are now open for the annual event, which will be held at Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire, from 9am to 5pm on October 12.

Foresters, land managers and landowners will come together to hear from a range of experts and case studies, share experiences, network and collaborate.

This year’s conference, 'Building resilience together', will feature sessions on topics such as ELM, plant health, carbon and woodland management, among others.

Confirmed speakers so far include: Richard Stanford, Forestry Commission chief executive; Mark Tufnell, CLA president; Nicola Spence, Defra chief plant health officer; Janet Hughes, programme director for Future Farming and Countryside Programme; Liz Nicholson, Forest Canopy Foundation director; Richard Deffee, Gascoyne Cecil Estates head forester; and  Graham Clark, CLA senior land use policy adviser and lead on forestry.

Further speakers and case studies will be announced shortly.

“We are delighted to be organising the forestry conference once again this year, at such an exciting time for the woodland sector,” said Tim Bamford, CLA south-east regional director.

“We’re also thrilled to be working with the Forestry Commission, Grown in Britain, Pryor & Rickett Silviculture and Wessex Woodland Management Ltd to hold an event with such a strong, varied line-up of speakers.

“We look forward to seeing [delegates] on October 12 to explore how we can build resilience in the forestry sector together.”

The conference is supported by Pryor & Rickett Silviculture and Wessex Woodland Management Ltd.

Tickets include a full day's programme, breakfast, lunch, and tea and coffee breaks. CLA members and Grown in Britain certificate holders can enjoy a discounted booking rate, at £100 plus VAT. Non-member tickets cost £125 plus VAT.

For more information and to book, please visit the CLA website here. If you have any issues booking online, please call the CLA south-east office on 01264 313434 and the team will be happy to assist.

The CLA represents thousands of farmers, landowners and rural businesses across England and Wales. For more information about the CLA and its work, visit https://www.cla.org.uk/