Recreation Craftsperson

About the Job

What you’ll do…

We are looking for a Recreation Craftsperson to compliment our current team. You will be working as an integral part of the Forestry England New Forest Recreation Craftsperson team to maintain recreation facilities and site infrastructure: Car parks, cycle routes and trails within the forest to ensure that we deliver a high-quality visitor experience.

Working across The New Forest, you will also work with the wider Beat teams to maintain our visitor facilities, making sure our visitors have a smooth, inclusive and enjoyable experience. You will help cultivate a supportive and positive work environment that encourages teamwork, productivity and individual growth.

Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.

Where you’ll work…

South District We are Forestry England. We are the country’s largest land manager, caring for the nation’s forests for people, nature and the economy. The foundation of our organisation is our world-class sustainable management of the nation’s forests.

Our South England Forest District team is made up of around 170 people with a diverse range of roles – from foresters and wildlife rangers to civil engineers, and ecologists to marketing professionals. We all contribute towards the management of 46,000 hectares of public forest estate that stretch from Sussex to Dorset, and from Berkshire to the Isle of Wight. Nearly all of our forests are within either a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Much of this forest is of high national importance for nature conservation and wildlife, and of international importance for biodiversity. South England Forest District is therefore responsible for land that includes Special Areas of Conservation (for habitats), Special Protection Areas (for birds) and Ramsar sites (for wetlands).

We also provide public access and recreation in our forests, with nearly 50 million visits every year to South England Forest District.

Job Description

• act as the face of Forestry England on site, by being approachable for questions and engage with visitors in a polite and appropriate manner
• inspect, manage, and maintain recreational facilities in line with Forestry England’s Health & Safety standards to ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience
• undertake forest estate management operations – this includes reporting of fly-tipping, litter picking, maintenance of equipment, restoration and creation of various habitats, and improvement of the landscape such as felling, fencing, pruning, and planting of trees and shrubs
• manage vegetation along recreation trails, cycle paths and car parks through use of chainsaw and brush cutters
• contribute to the delivery of key programmes by providing a support service in delivering essential surveys, events, and sales
• work closely with volunteers to ensure they have a safe and positive experience in line with our volunteer management processes
• assist with onsite communication between recreation and land management teams, franchise operations, neighbours and wider stakeholders to maintain close working relationships and to improve the customer experience

Typical tasks include, but not exclusively

• install and repair signs, gates, benches and barriers
• upgrading car park and trails surfaces
• litter picking and removal of illegal fly tipping
• fencing
• vegetation cutting
• trail safety inspection and trail repairs
• clear and repair culverts
• yard maintenance

And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

Person Specification

Skills, knowledge & experience
Essential professional and technical experience

• operate and maintain tools and resources to required standards and ensure that a safe working site and safe methods are planned and maintained
• work constructively and effectively with immediate work colleagues and the wider Forest District Team
• capable of planning, undertaking and recording practical tasks without supervision, planning tasks efficiently
• take pride in their work and act professionally when dealing with members of the public, neighbours and other stakeholders
• be confident and engaging with visitors whilst offering excellent customer service
• commitment to achieving results through working flexibly and supportively both on your own and as part of a team
• competent IT user with experience in MS Office suite of applications
• this role requires driving vehicles, a valid UK driving licence is required

Desirable professional and technical experience

• strimming/brush cutter/clearing saw/pole saw
• woodworking basic knowledge(Drills, saws, Routers)
• 380mm Felling, crosscutting and maintenance
• tractor/FMO training
• CPCS- wheeled excavator, articulated roller & dumper
• 4×4 driving training Qualifications

Essential

• first Aid (+F)

Desirable

• Lantra/NPTC chainsaw certification
• underground apparatus location qualification
• play inspections- RPII
• fencing qualifications

For full job details and how to apply please click here.