Overview
You will drive a tractor carrying out flailing & mowing, post knocking & light timber forwarding operations for approximately 80% of the time. The other 20% will be spent working with the other forest craftsperson using a range of practical and countryside skills including chainsaw/clearing saw work, grass strimming, fencing, planting, applying herbicides, path maintenance and basic surveying.
Where you’ll work
The post covers two geographic areas and time will be split evenly between these areas.
The South Downs beat covers 4,300 ha of mixed woodland that varies from pure beech on the South Downs to ancient broadleaf woodland - remnants of the Royal Hunting Forest of Bere. The woodlands are spread across East Hampshire and West Sussex and include well used recreation sites, conservation areas and sites of Special Scientific Interest. The Beat team are based at Forestry England Operations Yard, Liss, GU33 7QP.
The Chiddingfold beat covers 2,800 ha of mixed woodland ( 60% BL, 40% conifer) that varies from designated ancient woodlands in the west to areas of production conifer in the Surrey Hills to the east. The woodlands are spread across Surrey and East Hampshire. They are well used for recreation and contain nationally important conservation areas consisting of sites of Special Scientific Interest and SNCI’s. Much of the beat area is contained within the Surrey Hills AONB. The Beat team are based at Forestry England Operations Yard, Farnham, GU10 4LS.
Responsibilities
* operate the district tractor to carry out a range operation including mowing & flailing of roadsides, post knocking for fences & barriers, and lightweight small scale timber forwarding.
* carry out a diverse range of practical estate maintenance to a high standard meeting health and safety and environmental guidance, including planting trees, felling trees, repairing fences and barriers, maintaining signs, weeding and cleaning.
* work effectively as part of a small team and responding quickly to unexpected work and issues raised by supervisors and foresters.
* deliver essential plants, materials, consumables, etc. to work sites.
* maintain, restore, and create various habitats for ecological benefit and to improve the landscape. The work will include the felling and planting of trees and shrubs and the management of vegetation, which will include fencing, chainsaw use and the application of pesticides.
* monitor and collect data such as general surveying, fence-line and boundary inspections and assessing tree densities on restocked and newly planted sites.
* represent Forestry England well when talking to contractors, customers, visitors, stakeholders and when working with volunteers.
* And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.
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