Forestry Roots – kickstarting careers for five young foresters

Five young foresters have started their careers this autumn – thanks to an innovative Forestry Roots project between the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) and the ALA Green Charitable Trust.

The scheme, now in its second year, matches college and university leavers with employers. As well as one-year paid first jobs, Forestry Roots also includes a package of training and continuous career development opportunities, helping to address acknowledged skills gaps within forestry and increase employment prospects for young people in forestry.

This year’s successful Forestry Roots applicants were:

• Sam Cain who takes on the role of Assistant Wood Reeve, Tregothnan Estate, Kent. Sam has a City & Guilds Level 3 Tech Cert in Arboriculture from Myerscough College;
• Isaac Carr: Assistant Forest Worker, Westacre Estate, Norfolk. Isaac has a Level 3 Tech Cert in Arboriculture from Myerscough College;
• Rhys Hancock: woodland grounds assistant, Huntley Estate, Gloucestershire. He holds a Level 3 in Countryside Management from Coleg Gwent;
• Jack Hunt: Assistant Forest Manager with Exmoor National Park Authority. He holds both a BSc (Hons) Animal Conservation Oxford Brookes University and a Forestry and Arboriculture Level 2 Diploma (City & Guilds);
• Philippa Pearson: Assistant Forestry Worker, Englefield Estate, Reading. Phillipa has a Level 2 Diploma in Practical Environmental Conservation from the National Open College Network.

Adam Pickles, RFS Future Foresters Officer, said: “With the support of the ALA Green Charitable Trust, we are delighted to have been able to expand the scheme from four places to five this year and thank all those RFS members who offered meaningful posts to help young people take the first steps in their forestry careers. We wish all this year’s Forestry Roots holders the very best and we will be following their progress with interest.”

For two of last year’s holders the scheme has led to permanent positions, and given valuable experience to the other two holders as they continue to develop their careers.

ALA Green Charitable Trust Trustees said: “The Forestry Roots project has enjoyed a most successful 1st year. We are delighted that permanent positions have been secured by participants and our thanks go to all those involved in promoting the careers of young people in such a diverse and exciting sector.

“Moving forward with the RFS, we are excited to build on this success with future candidates.”

Spelling out just how valuable Forestry Roots has been to them, are blogs from two of last year’s Forestry Roots holders, Sam Ozaktanlar and Katie Stevens at https://www.rfs.org.uk/news/blogs/skills/

More on forestry Roots here (https://www.rfs.org.uk/about/job-vacancies/forestry-roots/)

Notes for editors

The Royal Forestry Society

1. The Royal Forestry Society (RFS) is the largest and longest established educational charity promoting the wise management of trees and woods in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
2. The RFS aims to inspire passion and excellence in woodland management. We do this through education and knowledge-sharing.
3. Future Foresters is an RFS programme which aims to strengthen the pipeline of skilled people entering forestry, to ensure we have a workforce that can meet the challenges of the 21st century.
4. The RFS believes bringing neglected woods back into management and sharing knowledge on how to manage woods to a high standard is vital to the long-term health of our woods and trees. Our policies identify what is required to ensure our woods deliver their full economic, environmental and public benefits.
5. For information go to www.rfs.org.uk. Follow us: Twitter: @royal_forestry, Facebook: Royal Forestry Society – RFS, Linked- In: Royal Forestry Society