ASSISTANT FORESTER

The Whitfield Estate is a traditional mixed rural estate lying in spectacular countryside some 8 miles south west of Hereford. A diversified rural estate including ‘in hand’ and let shoots and c.470ha (1160 acres) of woodland.

The woods are made up of some 15% mature oak stands, together with a wide array of conifer and hardwood plantations largely dating from the 1960s onwards. The woodlands are FSC certified and managed for a mix of economic, amenity, conservation and sporting purposes.

The woodlands are managed in consultation with Pryor and Rickett Silviculture, and you will work in conjunction with them. You will work closely with the head forester and will be required to liaise with the owners and their agents, gamekeepers and other estate staff as necessary. Occasional lone working will be required.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who is able to work well as part of a small team. High standards of workmanship and health and safety are essential. A competitive salary will be offered, commensurate with experience, along with a performance based bonus scheme. A shared work vehicle and mobile phone will be provided. A valid UK driving licence is essential.

Duties for the position are as follows:

Timber Harvesting:

- Felling and conversion of a smaller conifers and hardwoods, with a view to undertaking mature hardwood felling as experience grows.
- Forwarder and skidder extraction.
- Provision of logs for the house; storage / forwarding of chipwood and assistance to chipping contractors.

Amenity/Estate Work:

- Amenity felling / thinning in parks, gardens and shoot-sensitive areas of the woods.
- Swiping rides, road verges, open spaces and areas for the shoot.

Planting & maintenance:

- Planting, beating up, shelter erection / removal, occasional fence / gate repairs.
- Hand and chemical weeding and brushcutting
- Cleaning, brashing and pruning

Additional enterprises:

- Tending, cutting, extraction and delivery of Christmas trees, holly and other foliage.

Machine maintenance:

- Day to day running and maintenance of the estate’s forestry tractors, forwarding trailer, winch, swipe, flail, chainsaws, brushcutters and knapsack sprayers.

Training/Qualifications:

- FMOC, chainsaw, PA1 and PA6, First Aid at Work+F Some additional training may be provided.

If you would like to apply for the position, please send your CV and supporting statement on your suitability for the role to: tom.blythe@silviculture.co.uk

Tel: 07775 943285 | E-mail: tom.blythe@silviculture.co.uk
Web: Not specified | Closing Date: Not specified

(Uploaded 9/9/24)

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