Job Profile: Chartered Forester

Name: Andrew Sowerby

Location: South Wales

Employer: Pryor & Rickett Silviculture

 

Job Responsibilities

Plan and deliver woodland operations for landowners, charities and state owned woodlands to the UK Forestry Standard and Forest Industry Safety Accord. Liaise with clients to identify objectives and develop budgets to deliver income and capital growth from woodlands.

Two to three days per week is travelling to sites either to supervise work or to plan future work. The remaining time is a mixture of administering contracts and payments while maintain continued professional development and networking with clients and suppliers.

Time is spent 50:50 indoors: outdoors. Winter and spring is busy in respect of tree planting logistics and summer and autumn have a greater focus on timber harvesting, weeding and maintenance.

  

Qualifications needed:

A Batchelors degree, ideally in forestry with practical experience of tree planting, fencing or other countryside skills.

Additional training: You are expected to continually develop your skills and experience by joining the Institute of Chartered Foresters to attend their seminars and network with peers. Chartered status with the Institute is seen as desirable by most employers and it demonstrates your public commitment to excellence. Within the role you will likely receive training such as Emergency First Aid at work plus Forestry, manual handling and other mandatory work place training.

 

Advice to anyone looking at similar roles

Reach out to forest management companies and introduce yourself as someone interested in joining the profession. You will meet chartered foresters at agricultural shows such as the APF, Royal Welsh Show, the Royal Highland Show and the Great Yorkshire Show, especially at the Confor tent.

 
If you have any queries about this role or would like to ask a question of the job holder please contact Andrew on andrew.sowerby@silviculture.co.uk