Medals Mark 75 Years of Dedication
Seventy-five years dedicated by two foresters to delivering great forestry and woodland were celebrated when the North Wales Division met at our Charles Ackers Redwood and Naylor Pinetum.
Gordon Griffiths has been Deputy Warden for the Royal Forestry Society Charles Ackers Redwood Grove and Naylor Pinetum since 1980. He was awarded a Long Service medal for 42 years’ service in this voluntary role.
Will Jones from the neighbouring Leighton Estate Woodlands has been responsible for their woodlands for 33 years and has often supported the thinning and maintenance of the RFS Grove.
Pictured: From left, RFS warden Eve Over, President James Scott and Gordon Griffiths, receiving his award. Picture credit Les Starling.
About Gordon
Gordon has supported the RFS Honorary Warden (first David Williams and now Eve Over) in all aspects of managing the redwood grove and pinetum. This has ranged from preparation of annual budgets and mensuration to the organisation of guided tours. Gordon Griffiths and David Williams had been colleagues in the Forestry Commission for many years. When David was appointed Warden of the RFS Charles Ackers Redwood Grove and Naylor Pinetum he asked Gordon to become his deputy.
Eve Over said: “Gordon has been selfless as a volunteer for the RFS Leighton Redwoods over 42 years. He has been always there to provide forestry advice, provide guided walks and look after the day to day running of the wood. Diolch yn fawr Gordon. (Thank you very much Gordon).”
More on the Charles Ackers and Naylor Pinetum here.
Pictured: Will Jones, left, receives his award from RFS President Sir James Scott. Picture credit Les Starling.
About Will
William Jones started his forestry life in 1974 with the Forestry Commission in Carmarthenshire, before moving to Powys and working for a while as a contractor before becoming employed by Leighton Estate Woodlands.
He took on the role of Estate Manager as well as Head Forester in 2008 and in 2012 at the Royal Welsh Show he lifted the Roger Williams – Ellis Perpetual Challenge Cup for Best Private Estate in Wales.
Leighton Estate Woodlands owners Victoria and Charles Crewdson said: “If you cut Will down the middle each ring would have Leighton Estate Woodlands written on it. His selfless dedication, support and unrivalled knowledge has made him indispensable. Efe yw ein craig.( He is our rock).”
The estate woodlands sits on the Welsh/Shropshire border including 1000 acres of mixed forestry, including its own stand of redwoods, Sequoia Sempervirens and Metasequoia Glyptostroboides.
