Beat Forester

Job Introduction

We are Forestry England.

We live and breathe forests. 

Job title – Beat Forester

Salary- £35,580 - £38,338

Contract type – Permanent

Hours – 44

Join us. We're foresters, professionals and experts. We are a passionate team who love to share our enthusiasm and want to make a positive difference for you and the environment.

Together, we’re using our scale and expertise to grow the nation’s forests for everyone. We’re already adapting our landscapes for tomorrow, and getting stuff done today, like creating amazing places and experiences for you to enjoy. We're providing vital homes for wildlife, making our air cleaner to breathe and producing sustainable timber.

What you’ll do…

You will manage a specific beat and team in one of our Forestry England districts. You will be responsible for forestry operations meeting industry best practices and health and safety regulations. Implement work programmes meeting the district’s strategic plan for the economy, society, and the environmental collaborating with other beat teams.You will manage a specific beat and team in one of our Forestry England districts. You will be responsible for forestry operations meeting industry best practices and health and safety regulations. Implement work programmes meeting the district’s strategic plan for the economy, society, and the environmental collaborating with other beat teams.

Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.

Where you’ll work…

Forestry England is the nation’s largest land manager. We have around 1,000 staff and 20,000 volunteers looking after more land and more trees than any other organisation. We also work in partnership with others across government and the charitable and private sectors.

North England Forest District is the largest in England, with 130 staff helping care for some 86,000ha, made up of 61,000ha of forest and 25,000ha of open land in Cumbria, County Durham, Tyne & Wear, Lancashire and Northumberland. Annual timber production is 550,000m3 and the current planting programme is in excess of three million trees per annum. We operate in some of England’s most remote areas, generating significant economic impact, and we are important stakeholders in many regional initiatives.

The district is home to 45 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) covering over 10,000ha and is a major contributor to nationally significant biodiversity projects supporting red squirrels, water voles, ospreys, red kites, forest rewilding, limestone woodland and blanket bog restoration.

Our built and agricultural non-woodland estate is extensive, and we are engaged in a programme of business development which will create opportunities for additional revenue.

Hamsterley Beat Forester

The Hamsterley Beat comprises 3,200 hectares of diverse woodland and forest located in Co. Durham, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear. The main forest block is Hamsterley Forest but also includes a mature mixed woodland on the urban fringe at Chopwell (PAWS site) and a conifer dominated upland forest at Slaley. Recreational use across the beat is high, particularly at the forest centre at Hamsterley Forest, where visitor numbers are estimated to be 200K annually. 

The beat is managed by a team of 12 full time equivalent roles, supported by contractors, volunteers and on-site business partners. This role is responsible for the line management of three Forest Craftspersons working as part of the Land Management team.

The role will have an initial focus of driving forward the harvesting programme for Hamsterley Forest, including maximising the potential income from a comprehensive long-term thinning programme and meeting the wider felling targets set out in the Forest Management Plan for the respective sites across the beat. In addition, the Beat currently has a small annual restocking programme of about 20 hectares per annum.

Cumberland Beat Forester

The Cumberland  Beat is comprised of 12 woodland blocks ranging from 10 ha to 450 ha, stretching from   High Stand Forest in the east of Cumbria, through  to the west Cumbrian forests of Blengdale and Miterdale. The majority of the 2400 ha are within the Lake District National Park and all are managed for multi-purpose objectives, determined by their individual character and location. 
 
 The Beat has a restocking programme of between 25-50 ha per year and an annual  timber harvesting programme of around, 45,000 m3 from clear felling, thinnings and a strong focus on low impact silvicultural systems.  Currently the Beat has an increased harvesting programme as a result of the requirement of Statutory Plant Health Notices, to remove the larch component within stands that are infected with Phytophthora ramorum. The role is also responsible for line managing a Works Supervisor and two Forest Craftpersons and contribute towards the line management of one Wildlife Ranger
 

Kielder South Beat Forester

The Kielder South Beat is made up of a woodland block totalling 10,470ha. The beat is managed for multi-purpose objectives, determined by individual character and location with a strong focus on maintaining the productive potential of the forest. 

The beat has a restocking programme of around 100ha per year and an annual timber harvesting programme of around 100,000m³, predominantly from clear felling. As one of the most productive beats in the country, the role is critical to the income of Forestry England. This role is also responsible for the line management of a Works Supervisor and a number of contracting teams

Benefits… 

Alongside your salary, Forestry England contributes an average of 28.97% towards your pension. You will become a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.

• 25 days holiday a year, raising by one day every year’s service, up to 30 days (pro-rated for part time employees) plus additional days off such as bank holidays.
• STaR is our employee benefits scheme offering discounts on everyday supermarket shopping, as well as other things such as hotel stays clothes, mobile phones, other electrical items, medical and car insurance, holidays, gym discounts, household bills, Headspace wellbeing app.
• free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
• a commitment to lifelong learning through career development. Forestry England will support your career development in a variety of ways, including continual professional development, support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies.

Read more about the benefits on the Forestry England website.

How to apply…

You will be asked to upload your CV and to write a 200 word statement on your relevant experience and career history, along with a personal statement of no more than 500 words. You will be assessed on both during sifting. More details about how to apply are listed on the application form. 

 The Behaviours being assessed at interview are – 

Read more about nationality requirements here. 

Working for the Civil Service…

Forestry England is part of the Civil Service. The Civil Service has a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). This means candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria during the application process will be guaranteed an interview. We also offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to current civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the role. This role is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative. 

Within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to provide conversation in accurate spoken English.

Our recruitment process makes appointments based on fair and open competition and merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in in line with/according to these principles and you wish to make a complaint, please email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk.