Westonbirt Woodland Manager

About the job

The Westonbirt Woodland Management Project strengthens the management of ancient woodland in Silk Wood while creating opportunities for community groups to take part in hands-on woodland management. The project will include activities to support the establishment of recently planted trees, strengthen the resilience of Westonbirt’s coppicing programme and further develop woodland management in line with existing plans and legislation. It will also support community engagement opportunities in practical woodland management, monitor habitat quality and raise awareness of the importance of ancient woodlands. The Westonbirt Woodland Manager will lead these activities with delivery supported by an Engagement Officer to enable access to community groups. The project will build on a strong foundation for woodland management in Silk Wood with scope to expand the project and activities as additional funding becomes available.

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

Where you’ll work

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS

We have an exciting opportunity for a Woodland Manager to join the team at Westonbirt Arboretum. The arboretum is one of the largest pay-to-enter visitor attractions in the Southwest, welcoming over 550,000 visitors per year. The onsite businesses generate a turnover of more than £14m in which events contributes a large part.

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum is one of the most beautiful and important plant collections in the world. First laid out in the 1800s following Picturesque landscape principles, the collection contains more than 15,000 specimens representing 2,500 taxa from all over the temperate world. The arboretum plays an important role in research and conservation, and the collection currently includes more than 100 species of global conservation concern.

Along with one of the most complete examples of a picturesque landscape, Westonbirt’s Silk Wood is designated ancient woodland and areas of managed coppice here are among the finest examples of this practice in the country. Silk Wood is also home to one of Westonbirt’s most significant trees and an internationally important ancient woodland feature.

The Arboretum hosts a wide range of established and well-loved events and we have ambitious plans to expand and diversify the programme in the coming years. The arboretum is headed by Andrew Smith, as director, and has 45 Forestry England staff and 300 volunteers.

Job description

Key responsibilities & accountabilities 

Woodland Management:

• Support establishment of trees planted as part of Silk Wood Community Planting Project
• Ensure successful delivery of Westonbirt’s coppice management plan in alignment with Forestry
• England’s Forest Design Plan
• Ensure management practices are undertaken in compliance with relevant legislation including UKWAS  and PEFC
• Manage coppicers and contracts on behalf of Forestry England
• Oversee expansion of the area of active coppice management at Westonbirt
• Liaise with Forest Research colleagues on existing and future research projects in Silk Wood
• Assess and record woodland habitat quality by carrying out regular surveys to monitor biodiversity

Community engagement:

• Engage with Learning and Participation team to enable community involvement in woodland management practices
• Ensure continuity in capability to undertake coppicing at Westonbirt via community engagement
• Develop activity programme for community groups appropriate to woodland operations
• Upskill volunteer workforce in traditional woodland management techniques

Stakeholder engagement:

• Communicate and raise awareness of the importance of ancient woodland management to professionals and the wider public
• Represent the arboretum at meetings and conferences both internally and externally
• Provide expert advice on woodland management extending engagement to professionals internally and externally
• Contribute to publications for a range of audiences
• Work closely with Forestry England and Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum senior leadership teams to deliver project objectives and develop and expand the project scope

Line management and supervisory:

• Line management of project staff as required
• Supervise volunteer groups as required

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

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