Forest Craftsperson
North West England
Job details
Location
Dubwath, North West England
Salary
£26,123
Hours of work
Full Time
Contract
Permanent
Closing date
August 3, 2025
Location
Dubwath, North West England
Job Summary
You will support the beat forester shaping the land we manage doing a range of operations and inspections in the forest, including helping with practical matters that may arise. Be a champion of our health & safety culture demonstrating our value of ‘look out and look after’ in our work.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.
North England Forest District has a complement of over 130 staff who care for 61,000 hectares of forest and 25,000 hectares of open land. Annual timber production is 550,000 m3 and there is a planting programme in excess of 3 million trees a year.
The District has 45 SSSIs totalling over 10,000 ha and is a major contributor to local and national biodiversity. The District has four visitor centres at Grizedale, Whinlatter, Kielder and Hamsterley. The public forest estate in North England District attracts over one million visits per annum.
The Cumberland Beat is comprised of 12 woodland blocks ranging from 10 ha to 450 ha, stretching from High Stand Forest in the east of Cumbria, through to the West Cumbrian forests of Blengdale and Miterdale.
The majority of the 2400 ha are within the Lake District National Park and all are managed for multi-purpose objectives, determined by their individual character and location. The Beat has a restocking programme of between 25-50 ha per year and an annual timber harvesting programme of around, 45,000 m3 from clear felling, thinnings and a strong focus on low impact silvicultural systems.
The team is led by a Beat Forester who is supported by a Works Supervisor, a Wildlife Ranger, a Forest Craftsperson and an Apprentice Forest Craftsperson. There may be times where cross function working is required to support the needs of the wider team. This role is based in the Peil Wyke yard in Cumbria but working for a National organisation it is occasionally required that you need to travel for training courses and overnight accommodation will be provided.
Job Description
Operational:
- restock and establishment work: hand planting, tree guard construction, repairing fences and controlling vegetation.
- clearing and maintaining trees: high pruning, cutting back and felling.
- tree safety work: surveys, putting up safety signs and safety fencing.
- tree survey work related to managing potentially hazardous trees.
- estate maintenance work such as high pruning operations to maintain access and the management or clearance of trees or other vegetation.
- make sure work programmes you are responsible for are delivered effectively and efficiently.
- surveying, including measuring/ tariffing, tree safety, stocking density and a variety of recreation trails.
- when needed, gather operational data accurately and efficiently and maintain appropriate up to date records to the standard required.
Team working and health and safety:
- operate and maintain tools and resources to required standards and make sure work on site meets our health and safety standards.
- by effectively liaising with colleagues and stakeholders, plan, implement and deliver efficient work programmes that help meet Forestry England’s aims and objectives.
- engage proactively and respond constructively to existing and prospective customers and present the highest standards of professionalism when representing Forestry England in the marketplace.
- carrying out risk assessments working to high health and safety standards which are guided by FISA (Forest Industry Safety Accord).
And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.
Person Specification
Skills, knowledge & experience
Essential professional and technical experience practical
- experience in forestry or countryside / environmental management.
- general understanding of forestry, arboriculture, nature conservation, outdoor recreation and countryside related issues.
- competently use a range of hand tools.
- awareness of health and safety systems relevant to practical countryside work e.g. risk assessments, Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA) guides and lone working systems.
- competent IT user with experience in MS Office suite of applications.
- good interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work effectively alone and as part of a team.
Essential Qualifications
- City and Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award or equivalent in one or more practical forestry skills such as chainsaw maintenance, cross cutting, and felling and processing trees to 380mm or equivalent qualification.
- full UK driving license, however the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.
- NPTC (or equivalent) in safely applying pesticides using handheld applicators.
Desirable Qualifications
- forestry or land management qualification.
- further NPTC and Lantra qualifications in Forestry based skills.
- emergency first aid at work + forestry (F).
- a GCSE in Maths and English or functional skills equivalent.
To view full job details and how to apply please click here.