Cheshire West & Chester Council seeks a Senior Woodland Advisor to lead strategic woodland creation across the Mersey Forest. Based in Warrington with hybrid working, the role supports climate action, biodiversity, and green infrastructure. The Forest aims to increase tree cover to % by and sustainably manage % of woodlands. Responsibilities include project oversight, landowner engagement, budget management, and unlocking green finance such as Biodiversity Net Gain and carbon markets. Candidates should have a relevant degree, strong forestry knowledge, and leadership experience. This is a chance to drive landscape-scale environmental change in one of the UK’s largest regeneration programmes.
Cheshire West and Chester Council is a place where everyone can Thrive – through our core values of Teamwork, Honesty, Respect, Innovation, Value for Money and Empowerment.
Cheshire West & Chester Council is seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Woodland Advisor to join our dynamic Mersey Forest Team. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in tackling climate change, enhancing biodiversity, and shaping the future of green infrastructure across the Mersey Forest area.
The Mersey Forest has planted over ten million trees and is leading one of the UK’s most extensive environmental regeneration programmes, aiming to cover % of Cheshire and Merseyside with woodland by .
Our strategic plan, refreshed in, sets ambitious goals to increase tree cover to % by, with a longer-term vision of reaching %. It also aims for % of woodlands to be sustainably managed by, progressing toward % thereafter.
The Mersey Forest Plan is a collaborative framework guiding woodland creation, biodiversity enhancement, and community engagement. It supports local strategies such as Climate Action Plans, Biodiversity Net Gain, and Green Infrastructure initiatives. The Forest also delivers significant financial benefits—every £ invested by local authorities yields an estimated £ in community value.
Through programmes like Trees for Climate, the Forest continues to offer funding and support for landowners, helping to reduce flood risk, improve air quality, and create thriving habitats for wildlife.
This role as Senior Woodland Advisor provides the opportunity to contribute directly to this impactful work—driving woodland creation, managing green finance, and helping shape a greener, more resilient future for the region.
As a strategic lead, you’ll oversee woodland creation and management projects, urban tree planting, and community engagement initiatives. You’ll manage a substantial budget, support landowners through regulatory processes, and unlock green finance opportunities, including Biodiversity Net Gain and carbon markets. With a clear plan to achieve the Mersey Forest objectives, you’ll be part of a forward-thinking, impact-driven team dedicated to creating lasting environmental change.
What we’re looking for:
1. Degree in Forestry, Ecology, Biodiversity or similar
2. Proven experience in woodland creation, landowner engagement, and large-scale project delivery
3. Strong understanding of forestry regulations, UK Forest Standard, and green finance mechanisms
4. Knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain and carbon markets
5. Skilled in project management, budget oversight, and team leadership
If you’re ready to influence landscape-scale transformation and inspire sustainable land use, we’d love to hear from you.