Awards | Careers | Silviculture

Raising The Bar For Forestry

Peter Hooks began work as a trainee forester at Lexham Estate near Swaffham in Norfolk straight from school, following in his grandfather’s footsteps. He rose to become Head Forester.

By Wendy Necar · June 10, 2024

Above: Peter Hooks, left, receives his bar from RFS President Ben Herbert for more than 50 years service at the Lexham Estate.

In 2012 he received the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) medal for 40 years’ service. At a meeting of the RFS East Anglia Division at Lexham Hall Estate he was presented with the bar by RFS President Ben Herbert to mark more than 12 years additional service.

Peter has been the force behind the restoration of historic amenity woodland following wartime extraction and damage. He has also helped mastermind the re-planting of park trees following gale damage in 1953, 1976 and 1987. His work helped make up for a lack of planting and enhancement in the 250 years since the park’s creation.

Lexham Hall Estate has 182 hectares (450 acres) of mixed broadleaf and conifer and approximately seven miles of shelter belts, 41 metres (45 yards) wide.