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Forest Worker
Hours
37 per week
Starting salary
£12,000 + per year
Forest workers care for and manage woodland areas and forests. They play an important part in protecting and enhancing the future landscape and wildlife of the UK. A forest worker can also be known as a woodsman or forest craftsperson. If you love being outdoors and want to help protect our countryside, this job could be ideal for you.
To be a forest worker, you should be responsible and safety-conscious. You should be physically fit. You should also be good at solving problems.
You will not normally need to have any specific academic qualifications. However, GCSEs in English, science and maths would be useful.
WorkDesc
The work
As a forest worker, you would carry out practical activities to establish, maintain and preserve forested areas. Your job would usually involve:
- carrying out forest surveys and assessing tree density
- carrying out tree safety inspections, and 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
- trimming 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 (cut down) 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 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, you may also put up fences, gates, footpath signs and public information notices.
You may be responsible for checking and maintaining basic fire-fighting equipment located near wooded areas, and you may help tackle forest fires.
This is a physically challenging job, and you would spend nearly all of your time working outdoors in all weather conditions. Some work could be hazardous, for example using power tools and heavy machinery, and you may need to wear protective clothing for certain tasks. You would use a safety harness for climbing trees.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would normally 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 you may need to work longer during peak times.
IncomeDesc
Income
Starting salaries can be around £12,000 a year.
Experienced workers can earn around £18,000 a year and supervisors can earn around £26,500 a year.
Some employers provide accommodation.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You will not normally need to have any specific academic qualifications, although GCSE grades in English, science and maths would be useful.
Individuals entering at this level will have some experience in forestry and have completed the relevant certificates of competence for their work area. These might include chainsaw use, chipper use and operation of specialist equipment such as a forwarder or harvester.
There are forestry sector courses available including:
- BTEC Level 2 Certificate and Diploma in Horticulture, and Land-based Technology
- BTEC Level 3 Certificate and Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture, Horticulture and Land-based Technology
- Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies
- NPTC Levels 2 and 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber
- ABC Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 Certificate/Award in Practical Environmental and Conservation Skills
- Lantra Awards Level 2 Certificate in land-based activities.
Some colleges may want you to have one year's work experience and academic entry requirements vary, so applicants should check with individual institutions.
You can get experience through volunteering. Organisations such as the Woodland Trust, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) and local wildlife trusts welcome volunteers. Voluntary opportunities are also listed on the Countryside Jobs Service website.
You may be able to start in this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. You will need to check which schemes are available in your area. For more information, see the Apprenticeships website.
You may need to have a driving licence.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
You will normally be encouraged to gain technical and professional qualifications for operating forest tools and machinery. Qualifications include:
- Level 3 Work-based Diploma
- Level 2 Work-based Diploma
- Level 2 Certificates of Competence in chainsaw and related operations, all terrain vehicle handling or forest machine operations.
Entry requirements will vary and some colleges may want you to have one year's work experience before starting on a course, so you will need to check with individual course providers.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be a forest worker, you should be:
- responsible and safety-conscious
- agile and physically fit
- team focused, but also confident working independently
- polite, professional and tactful
- resourceful and mechanically minded
- well organised
- persistent and good at solving problems
- self motivated
- aware of health and safety issues.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Royal Forestry Society (RFS) 
www.rfs.org.uk
Lantra
Lantra House
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
www.lantra.co.uk
Forestry Commission
www.forestry.gov.uk
BTCV
Sedum House
Mallard Way
Potteric Carr
Doncaster
DNL 8DB
Tel: 01302 388883
www.btcv.org.uk
The Arboricultural Association
Ullenwood Court
Ullenwood
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL53 9QS
Tel 01242 522152
www.trees.org.uk
Institute of Chartered Foresters
59 George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2JG
Tel: 0131 240 1425
www.charteredforesters.org
Landex
www.landex.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
The largest employer is the Forestry Commission. Other employers include private estates, local authorities, conservation organisations and charities, government agencies and forest management companies. Most jobs are found in rural locations with large forested areas.
With large employers or organisations, such as the Forestry Commission, you may be able to progress to senior forest worker or works supervisor, or work towards forest officer level. You could also become a forest ranger, working with wardens or conservation officers to look after wildlife.
You are likely to have fewer opportunities in smaller organisations, so you may need to change location or employer in order to progress.
Another option is to become self-employed and contract out your services. Contracts are often short-term, typically lasting about three months.
Job vacancies can be advertised in national and regional newspapers and at Jobcentre Plus offices. You may find the following useful for job vacancies and further reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The trees and timber industry is part of the environmental and land‐based industries, represented by Lantra Sector Skills Council, which also includes the following industries: agricultural crops; agricultural livestock; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; equine; environmental conservation; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land‐based engineering; horticulture, landscape and sports turf; production horticulture; and veterinary nursing. The sector as a whole currently employs 1,126,000 people (approximately 4% of the UK workforce) in around 230,000 businesses. In addition, there are an estimated 500,000 volunteers working in the sector on a regular basis. Approximately 42% of the workforce is self-employed.
The trees and timber industry includes the care and management of trees, woodlands and forests, and the production of wood and timber products. It comprises businesses involved in arboriculture, forestry establishment, forestry harvesting and timber processing. Recently, there have been national, European and international policy developments, focusing on sustainable management and climate change.
Key facts:
- There are approximately 22,452 people working in the industry, in an estimated 3,920 businesses in the UK.
- 93% of businesses employ between 0‐9 staff, 6% employ between 10‐49 staff and only 1% of businesses more than 48 staff.
- 53% of the workforce is over the age of 40.
- 82.5% of the workforce is full‐time.
- 44% of the workforce is self‐employed.
Jobs in the industry include: forestry consultant, forest manager, forester, forest machine operator, community ranger, woodman, harvesting contractor, chainsaw operator.
National and regional data
The following employment and business estimates exclude the arboriculture activities of the industry.
East Midlands – There are an estimated 698 employees in the regional workforce, in around 275 businesses.
East of England – There are an estimated 2,223 employees in the regional workforce, in around 433 businesses.
London – There are an estimated 1,153 employees in 531 trees and timber businesses in the region.
North East – There are an estimated 1,982 employees in the regional workforce, in around 74 businesses. The industry is a significant employer in the region.
North West – There are an estimated 1,583 employees in the regional workforce, in around 400 businesses.
South East – There are an estimated 3,721 employees in the regional workforce, in around 705 businesses.
South West – There are an estimated 2,292 employees in the regional workforce, in around 430 businesses.
West Midlands – There are an estimated 1,254 employees in the regional workforce, in around 355 businesses.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 1,178 employees, in around 317 businesses.
Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 220 employees in the regional workforce, in around 32 businesses.
Scotland – There are an estimated 4,001 employees in the regional workforce, in around 208 businesses.
Wales – There are an estimated 2,147 employees in the regional workforce, in around 100 businesses.
[N.B. Data derived from IDBR, 2008 and Labour Force Survey, 2008.]
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