Forester - Rothbury

National Trust; Alnwick; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Substantial pension scheme up to 10%

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Perks at work discounts

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking at most Trust places

Job summary

National Trust is seeking a Forester to join the Cragside estate forestry team. You will perform practical tree and woodland maintenance, and contribute to wildlife conservation while representing the Trust to visitors and contractors.

You’ll receive training for tree safety inspections, felling, chainsaw use, and forestry machine operation, and collaborate with outdoor teams to deliver a high-quality visitor experience.

Qualifications

• Strong practical outdoor experience in arboricultural and woodland work with Level 2 qualification or equivalent.
• NPTC chainsaw 201/202 and CS38/203 climbing certificates with refresher evidence, plus Forestry First Aid.
• NPTC tractor PA1/PA6 spraying certificates.
• Competent in using machinery and performing routine maintenance.
• Experience in tree safety work and environmental compliance.
• Proven communication with staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Care for and manage Cragside estate woodland and undertake practical maintenance.
• Carry out range of arboricultural tasks and woodland management activities.
• Assist in wildlife conservation work as part of the forestry team.
• Communicate conservation efforts to audiences and contractors.
• Work with windblown timber, safety inspections, and equipment as trained.

Skills

Arboriculture experience

Outdoor work

Communication

Health and safety focus

Driving licence

Team collaboration

Education

Level 2 arboriculture qualification

Tools

NPTC chainsaw 201/202

NPTC climbing CS38/203

First Aid at Work (Forestry First Aid)

NPTC tractor PA1/PA6

Job description

As a Forester, you’ll work as part of the forestry team, helping to care for and manage the Cragside estate. You’ll carry out a wide range of practical tree and woodland maintenance activities, alongside some wildlife conservation work. As an ambassador for the National Trust, you’ll help communicate our conservation and woodland management work to a wide range of new and existing audiences, as well as contractors. We’ll provide the appropriate training to help you become competent in tree safety inspections, medium and assisted felling, working with windblown timber, using a chainsaw from a rope and harness (CS39/204), and forestry machine operation (FMO 208 and 209, including base unit and line skidder). You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don’t need to have all the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role. Internally, you’ll be known as a 'Forester - Commercial Forestry Ops'.

• strong practical outdoor experience covering the main aspects of arboricultural and woodland work, supported by appropriate qualifications to Level 2 (or an equivalent level of vocational experience)
• NPTC certificates, including chainsaw units 201 and 202 (maintenance and cross-cutting, small fell) and climbing certificates CS38/203 (tree climbing and aerial rescue) with refresher evidence, and First Aid at Work including Forestry First Aid +F
• NPTC tractor, PA1/PA6 spraying and chipper certificates
• competent in the use of machinery and equipment, including routine maintenance
• experience of tree safety work
• a proven track record in health and safety and environmental compliance
• the ability to communicate effectively with staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors
• a full UK driving licence

Cragside is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the North East, welcoming around 250,000 visitors each year. Set in beautiful rural Northumberland, 15 miles from the coast and just 30 miles from the vibrant city of Newcastle, living and working at Cragside gives you the best of both worlds.

You’ll be part of a high-performing property team with experience across a broad range of disciplines. Everyone works closely together to care for Cragside, both now and for future generations. Managing the extensive landscape requires close collaboration between our outdoor teams, particularly when it comes to delivering an exceptional and seamless visitor experience across the property. Visitors have access to the entire estate, giving them plenty of opportunity to explore all that Cragside has to offer.

The package

The National Trust has the motto 'For everyone, for ever' at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places