Forestry Technician: The Patsy Wood Scholarship

Future Trees Trust and National Trust

Based in South Oxfordshire with optional hybrid working

Summary

A rare and exciting opportunity to join two national charities: Future Trees Trust is a forestry research charity based in South Oxfordshire dedicated to broadleaved tree improvement and the National Trust is Europe’s leading conservation charity, looking after historic building and green spaces nationally.   Your focus will be to assist the FTT research team during winter months, in assessing research trials, collecting graftwood for clonal orchards and archives and planting new research trials.   During summer months you will have the opportunity to experience a wide range of land management skills in partnership with the National Trust on the Buscot and Coleshill estate in  West Oxfordshire.  You will also work alongside colleagues on other research objectives and projects such as field trial assessments and the Living Ash Project.

The role will be diverse and draw on your ability to be reliable, enthusiastic and self-motivated. Extensive travel with overnight stays and practical fieldwork in woodlands is a key part of the job.

Key Areas and Standards

Research with Future Trees Trust

  1. Assisting the FTT research team with planting a new series of trials: Supersizing Broadleaves
  2. Collect field data from research trials across the UK
  3. Liaising with contractors, landowners and forest managers to coordinate fieldwork and arrange access
  4. Providing technical and logistical support to consultants, students and interns who are carrying out research projects on behalf on the Trust
  5. Assisting in the establishment and assessment of field trials and seed orchards
  6. Record keeping
  7. Extensive graftwood collection for the Living Ash Project, across the UK.

Land Management with the National Trust

  1. Site presentation including vegetation management
  2. Public engagement
  3. Woodland establishment
  4. Dealing with contractors for woodland work
  5. Carrying out Ash dieback surveys
  6. Assisting with biodiversity surveys
  7. Habitat management.

 

Management and Standards

  1. Providing summaries of your work for the Trust’s reports
  2. Working according to Trust policies and procedures, especially those relating to Health and Safety
  3. Portraying the Trust and its mission in a positive light in all job-related dealings and working relationships
  4. Liaise with FTT and NT communications officers and provide material to be used in all social media platforms.

Other

  1. Conducting a personal skills audit and undertaking agreed training
  2. Obtaining professional and personal development training according to Trust policy
  3. Any other relevant duties that the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Research may from time to time require.

 

Essential requirements

  • Ability to work independently on own initiative, in a variety of settings, indoor and outdoor, in all weathers
  • Excellent record keeping and time management skills with the ability to prioritise workload
  • Ability to develop strong working relationships with colleagues and liaising with a wide range of external stakeholders
  • An able communicator, both written and oral
  • Willingness to travel away from home extensively with overnight stays and occasional weekend working
  • Competent with Microsoft Office applications
  • Full clean driving licence and own vehicle.

 

Desirable

  • Degree in forestry, genetics or a related land science, or equivalent in practical experience
  • Experience with GIS applications
  • Knowledge of Forest Genetic Resources
  • PA1 and 6
  • Other tickets e.g. brushcutter, ATV training.

Download Job ad: FTT NT Patsy Wood Scholar Job ad 2023
Download job description: FTT NT Forestry Technician job description Sept-2023