HEAD forester for the Duchy of Cornwall, Geraint Richards, has been presented with the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) Gold Medal for distinguished services to forestry by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall.

The Gold Medal is the highest honour awarded by the RFS for services to forestry and Geraint Richards is only the 40th person to have been awarded it since the medal was instituted in 1960. The Prince of Wales was president of the RFS from 1982–1984.

Receiving the award, Geraint said: “The RFS was the first forestry organisation that I became a member of when, as a teenager, I decided to pursue a career as a forester. Ever since then the RFS has played an incredibly important part in my career, teaching me so much through its people, events and publications. I have had the privilege of hosting many RFS field meetings on the Duchy of Cornwall’s estate, including two Whole Society Meetings, and these have been very special days for me. 

“As I consider the previous recipients of the RFS Gold Medal I can scarcely believe that my name can be added to such a distinguished list; many of my forestry heroes are included there and it means more to me than you can imagine to join their ranks.”