At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a skilled team to manage and maintain 800 acres of woodland and ancient trees.
- Company: Harewood Estate, a historic site focused on conservation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 24 days leave, discounts, and training opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with potential for career growth and extension beyond the contract.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on biodiversity and landscape restoration while working outdoors.
- Qualifications: Experience in woodland management and chainsaw operation required.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 32000 £ per year.
The Harewood Estate spans 4000 acres, nestled between Leeds and Harrogate, set in landscape designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown 250 years ago.
Recent years have seen a major overhaul of the direction and operations at Harewood to protect the past while also staying relevant for the future.
The Estate has an increasingly diverse range of business interests including commercial units, residential properties, holiday cottages, arable and livestock farming, forestry, renewable energy generation, food production and hospitality.
Harewood has made great strides to become a leisure and lifestyle destination, undertaken extensive works to refurbish many listed buildings and recently started a major 10-year landscape and heritage restoration and regeneration project.
With funding from the Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme, to restore damaged and degraded historic structures, ecosystems and natural processes, create new habitats, encourage greater biodiversity and enhance natural capital functions.
Delivered mostly by the inhouse Estate team, who are self-motivated, inspiring, skilled and dedicated people with a passion for Harewood, the environment, conservation and the outdoors.
They want to play a part in initiatives that protect the Estate's Listed buildings and features while also finding solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises that result in improved landscapes for future generations.
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The Role/Job Purpose
Harewood has over 800 acres of woodland, including around 150 acres of Ancient Woodland sites, which contain hundreds of ancient and veteran trees, some of which can be traced back to medieval times.
The Forestry Department is made up of a small, skilled team who undertake a wide variety of works across the Estate.
These are primarily focused on the delivery of our 10 year Woodland Management Plan, however tasks also include overlap with wider Estate works such as grounds and livestock.
An opportunity has arisen for a Forester to join the team to support this work, with a particular focus on tree maintenance, squirrel control and in-house felling.
The nature of the work will require the employee to work outdoors in all weathers.
The job is physically demanding and requires the applicant to be physically fit and in full health.
Ongoing medical issues should be highlighted before employment is offered to facilitate any future needs that need to be catered for the employee to carry out their role to the best of their ability.
The role will report to the Forestry Manager.
Key Responsibilities
- Restock and establishment work: hand planting, tree guard installation and controlling vegetation.
- Clearing and maintaining trees: high pruning, cutting back and felling.
- Estate maintenance: vegetation and tree management alongside roads, rides, rights of way and permissive paths.
- Assist with safe clearance of fallen trees, often resulting from storm damage.
- To operate and maintain forestry machinery with proper regard to safety regulations in accordance with health & safety procedures.
- Assist with extraction and forwarding of timber from around the Estate back to central locations where they are stacked prior to processing for chip or firewood.
- Assist with in-house woodland compartment maintenance, including thinning's.
- Invasive species removal and pest management (including Grey Squirrels, Rhododendron and Bracken).
- Undertake boundary management, including fence repairs and maintenance, clearance along ha-ha, gate repairs and hedge cutting.
- Involvement in a range of survey and data entry, e. g. for ancient and veteran trees, deer and squirrel impacts, biodiversity recording
- Support the creation of new woodland and wood pasture restoration via the planting of new parkland trees and scrub.
- Utilise the Estate's woodland pigs (Oxford Sandy and Blacks).
Skills and Experience Required
- Experience in a woodland or estate management
- Chainsaw certificates CS30 and CS31 and experienced in the use of chainsaws
- Experience of risk assessments and adhering to health and safety requirements
- Self-motivated and able to manage your own time to deadlines
- Lantra Professional Tree Inspection (PTI) qualification or equivalent
- Lantra uprooted or windblown trees qualification or equivalent
- Chainsaw certificate CS32 (medium trees)
- Experience with tractor, forwarder and other tractor mounted machinery
- Qualifications to operate a range of equipment, machinery and attachments e. g. strimmers/brushcutters, polesaws, trailers, chippers, ATV etc
- Firewood processing
- Basic machinery repairs
- GIS mapping software experience
What We Offer
- Salary £28,000 - £32,000 depending on experience
- 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Discounts and benefits with selected Harewood businesses and retail
- Opportunity to develop via formal training and on the job learning
- Some weekend working claimed through TOIL or overtime were agreed in advance
- The role is 2-year fixed term contract with the possibility of extension depending on opportunities and funding
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By 4th September 2026. Interviews will take place in September with a view of starting in October/November.
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Estate Forester - Harewood Estate in Leeds employer: Countryside Classroom
Landmarc Support Services is an excellent employer for those passionate about rural estate management, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises hands-on learning and personal development. With a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities to gain practical experience in countryside, forestry, and conservation tasks, employees can thrive in a dynamic environment that values growth and teamwork. Located in the picturesque UK countryside, this role not only provides meaningful work but also allows you to connect with nature and contribute to environmental stewardship.
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We think this is how you could land Estate Forester - Harewood Estate in Leeds
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We think you need these skills to ace Estate Forester - Harewood Estate in Leeds
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Bring along Any Certifications:If you have any cool certificates related to agriculture, like health and safety or machinery operation, be sure to include these in your application. They can really set you apart and show that you’re not just a regular applicant—you're someone who comes prepped and ready to contribute!
How to prepare for a job interview at Countryside Classroom
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