After spending her childhood in the mud, Jo Jervis knew a career outdoors was for her. Little did she know that passion would take her to managing parks in the UK’s ‘forest city’.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
I’ve always liked being outdoors. As a child, I’d be the one climbing trees and generally getting as dirty as possible! Taking this passion and turning it into a career felt like the natural thing to do so I went to university and completed a degree in forestry.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED?
I’m based in Milton Keynes, now officially a city and a place that surprises many who don’t live here with its abundance of well-managed and diverse greenspaces. I work for The Parks Trust, the charity that cares for over 6,000 acres of parks, lakes and landscapes in and around the city.
WHAT MADE YOU PURSUE THIS CAREER?
At university, I volunteered at the Treborth Botanic Gardens in Bangor and also had a year-long placement with The Crown Estate Windsor. There, I spent time with some very cool forestry and arb experts who taught me so much and I got my chainsaw ticket. The experience inspired my final career choice when I graduated in 2014. I had experimented with other disciplines, including a job at a plant nursery in my home town of Stoke, but forestry and arb were definitely the paths for me.
WHAT DOES YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK INVOLVE?
At first, I was heavily involved in the operations side of things but my role has diversified and today I am responsible for the holistic management of some really amazing greenspaces. These include a Grade II listed park and an ancient woodland.
Both present very different challenges. A typical working week might involve me in a real mix of things; working with a music promoter to ensure outdoor gigs don’t cause tree damage, visiting forests where work is in progress and then supporting our biodiversity team to protect a pond. I also plan and oversee thinning, planting and coppicing in my areas, and manage a rolling programme of works with contractors and colleagues. Tree surveys happen all year round and I benefit from the support of a dedicated arb officer who leads on specialist arb projects.
TELL US ABOUT AN INTERESTING PROJECT YOU WORKED ON
Looking after over mature willow pollarding around Campbell Park last year. It was particularly challenging because of the level of public access throughout the park which is the city’s central greenspace and always very popular! We had to shut the path and work in a very tight area, responding to lots of public questions throughout the process. It’s great that residents take an active interest in what we are doing, and why.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE INDUSTRY?
Being a part of helping colleagues to embrace diversity in the workplace.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU HAVE LEARNED DURING YOUR TIME IN THE INDUSTRY?
Assume nothing! Even though you may have learned something a particular way, there will always be new research and new techniques, and different ways that are superior. Don’t assume old set ways of working are still right. We work with something natural and dynamic so we need to be responsive to the conditions we see in front of us.
WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE OF BEING A WOMAN IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY BEEN? WHAT KIND OF OBSTACLES HAVE YOU FACED/OVERCOME TO GET TO A SENIOR ROLE?
I don’t feel like I have been treated any differently at all by colleagues. I set out feeling like I would have something to prove but colleagues have encouraged and supported me every step of the way and there haven’t been any significant obstacles.
Although improved, it would be nice to see improvements in women’s PPE and workwear!
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ENCOURAGE MORE WOMEN INTO THE SECTOR?
Profiling the career beyond the trade would be helpful so more outreach in schools and colleges might help. You’ve got to see it to be it! The industry is already quite low profile – so women in arb are a minority in an under-recognised career.
HOW IMPORTANT IS A GOOD WORK-LIFE BALANCE WHEN WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY?
Very important because you are always switched on and planning ahead for the next season and it’s perpetual so there are no natural breaks. It’s important to switch off when you are working to such tight schedules and defined windows. When you think you might have some downtime, the weather can turn and push it all back.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING THE SECTOR AT THE MOMENT, IN YOUR VIEW?
The immediate skills shortage which will always be a long-term issue until we raise more awareness of this as a career option.
WHAT GIVES YOU JOB SATISFACTION ABOUT CARRYING OUT YOUR ROLE?
I like knowing that my actions have had a positive impact on the local community and contributed to environmental and biodiversity gains. When I am long gone, the trees will still be here serving people.
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, DO YOU SEE ANY SHIFT IN ATTITUDES IN ARB? IS IT BECOMING MORE INCLUSIVE FOR WOMEN?
There is definitely more talk of inclusivity so conversations are happening, which is great. I am seeing more diversity at trade events and conferences – not just gender diversity but all kinds. This means the pool of talent in the industry is going to get wider and better. Having this magazine dedicate a column to Women in Arb is also positive progress!
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