A forest worker, also known as a forest craftsperson in the Forestry Commission, cares for and manages woodland areas and forests. They play an important part in protecting ecological and animal habitats, and enhancing the future landscape of the UK.
The job involves carrying out practical activities to establish, maintain and preserve forested areas. Duties usually involve:
• conducting forest surveys and assessing tree density
• carrying out tree safety inspections, marking and measuring trees to be cut down
• doing general groundwork to clear sites and undergrowth
• planting new tree seedlings
• digging or installing more efficient drainage systems
• pruning and cutting back shrubs and other ground cover to promote the healthy growth of trees
• using specialist tools to thin out dense wooded areas and fell trees to improve access for operations and recreation
• harvesting trees, stripping branches and cutting felled tree trunks into specific lengths
• protecting the forest against insects and disease, particularly on young trees
• clearing footpaths and nature trails, and maintaining adjoining car parks
• removing debris and litter.
To maintain recreational sites and enhance woodland areas for public use, forest workers may be required to erect fences and gates, and install footpath signs and public information notices.
Forest workers may also assist in the tackling of forest fires. They are often responsible for checking and maintaining basic fire-fighting equipment located near wooded areas.
A forest worker should be:
• responsible and safety conscious
• agile and physically fit
• team focused, but also confident working independently
• courteous and professional
• tactful when dealing with members of the public, and enforcing bylaws and regulations
• resourceful and mechanically minded
• well organised
• persistent and good at solving problems
• self motivated
• aware of health and safety issues
• willing to work in all sorts of weather conditions.
Forest workers typically work 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday, although some overtime and weekend work may be necessary. Part-time and casual work is possible. Work can be seasonal and longer days may be necessary during peak times.
Forest workers spend virtually all of their time working outdoors, in all weather conditions. The work can be physically challenging, with lots of lifting, climbing and walking through densely wooded areas.
It is potentially hazardous work, requiring the use of power tools and heavy machinery. Protective clothing, such as hard hats, goggles, boots and specialist clothing may need to be worn for certain tasks. Harnesses are used for climbing trees.
A driving licence may be required.
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.
• apprentice starting salaries with the Forestry Commission may be about £12,048 a year
• with some experience, a forest craftsperson may earn around £18,000 a year
• a Forestry Commission works supervisor may earn between £18,000 and £26,500.
Salaries in the private sector vary.
- Respond to health emergencies within the workplace
- Promote good standards of health and safety
- Monitor and maintain the health, safety and security of the workplace
- Maintain environmental good practice at work
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
- Maintain and understand records
- Maintain supplies of physical resources
- Construct, maintain and repair access points
- Construct, maintain and repair boundaries
- Construct, maintain and repair access related structures
- Construct, maintain and repair paths
- Carry out maintenance procedures
- Prepare equipment and machines for maintenance
- Operate power tools and attachments
- Remove unwanted plant growth
- Maintain the health of plants outdoors
- Identify and report the presence of pests, diseases and disorders
- Assist with controlling pests, diseases and disorders
- Prepare plants for dispatch
- Maintain and repair site furniture and structures
- Site and install site furniture and structures
- Dismantle components
- Assemble components to meet specifications
- Take key decisions
- Gather information that may help you make key decisions
- Identify things that you affect your decisions
- Keep others informed
- Communicate environmental information
- Manage emergencies
- Manage and deal with actual or potential breaches of the law or security
- Control local pollution incidents
- Create an open drainage system
- Maintain open drainage systems
- Clear sites for tree planting
- Cultivate sites for tree planting
- Set out and plant trees
- Take delivery of and store plants and materials
- Carry out post-planting protection and maintenance
- Control unwanted plant growth around trees
- Measure, record and forecast volume of timber
- Select and mark trees and prepare for harvesting
- Fell trees motor-manually
- Sned trees motor-manually
- Sever windblown trees
- Sned windblown trees
- Stack converted produce manually
- Crosscut trees motor-manually
- Extract wood products by horse
- Handle, transport and prepare horse
- Unload wood products
- Load wood products
- Load wood products
- Extract wood products
- Unload wood products
- Process timber on site
- Breakdown felled open grown trees
- Fell large, open grown trees
- Install structural supports for trees
- Prepare for Forest and Moorland Fire Fighting
- Support forest and moorland fire fighting
- Monitor and maintain tree health
- Display stock to promote sales to customers in a retail environment
- Manage your own resources and professional development
- Maintain work activities to meet requirements
- Contribute to the control of resources
- Make recommendations for the use of resources
- Promote continuous quality improvement for products, services and processes
- Develop and implement systems to monitor and evaluate organisational performance
- Gather data on the characteristics of sites
- Analyse data to produce information on the characteristics of sites
- Develop the trust and support of colleagues and team members
- Develop the trust and support of your manager
- Identify the hazards and evaluate the risks in your workplace
- Reduce the risks to health and safety in your workplace
- Use equipment and machinery
- Make selective use of IT (level 1)
- Communicate effectively
- Respond appropriately to customers
- Communicate information to customers
- Establish effective rapport with customers
- Provide information and advice to customers
- Diagnose (basic) faults in equipment and machinery
- Identify and evaluate factors affecting products and services?
- Maintain and co-ordinate the safe movement of people on sites
- Maintain safe and effective work in isolated situations or when working alone
- operate environmental and other control systems
- Provide nutrients and water to plants
- Erect physical barriers
- Maintain physical barriers fit for purpose
- Operate plant and machinery?
- Plan and manage the use and maintenance of equipment and machinery
- Use, maintain and repair hand-held equipment
- Take goods and materials into storage
- Harvest biomass products
You can find out about other progression opportunities in this industry here
Related jobs
Tree Surgeon
Arboriculturist Worker/Arboriculturist
Ranger/Countryside Officer
General Farm Worker
Forest Officer
Gardener
Groundsman
Garden Centre Worker
Landscaper
Further information
Forestry Commission, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT. 0131 334 0303. Website: www.forestry.gov.uk
The Arboricultural Association, Ullenwood Court, Ullenwood, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9QS. 01242 522152. Website www.trees.org.uk
The Royal Forestry Society (RFS), 102 High Street, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 4AF. 01442 822028. Website: www.rfs.org.uk
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BCTV), Sedum House, Mallard Way, Doncaster, DN4 8DB. 01302 388 883. Website www.bctv.org
Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF), 59 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2JG. 0131 240 1425. Website: www.charteredforesters.org
GROW Your Own Career in Horticulture, 0845 707 8007. Website www.growcareers.info
Lantra, Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry, Warwickshire CV8 2LG. 024 7669 6996. Websites: www.lantra.co.uk, www.lantracoursefinder.co.uk and www.afuturein.com
Edexcel, 190 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7BH. 01204 770696. Website, www.edexcel.com
Lantra Awards, Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry, Warwickshire CV8 2LG. 024 7641 9703. Website: www.lantra-awards.co.uk.
ABC Awards, Robins Wood House, Robins Wood Road, Aspley, Nottingham, NG8 3NH. 0115 854 1616. Website www.abcawards.co.uk
Landex. Website: www.landex.org.uk
Further reading
Various practice guides are available from the Forestry Commission. See their website for details.
Magazines/journals:
The Chartered Forester - ICF
Forestry Journal - ICF
Quarterly Journal of Forestry - RFS
(Some may be priced)