At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain trails, car parks, and visitor facilities in Kielder Forest for an amazing outdoor experience.
- Company: Join Forestry England, a passionate team dedicated to preserving and enhancing our forests.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, a generous pension scheme, and discounts on everyday essentials.
- Other info: Opportunities for career development and a supportive work environment await you.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on the environment while working in beautiful natural surroundings.
- Qualifications: Experience with power tools and a passion for teamwork and outdoor maintenance.
The predicted salary is between 26959 - 26959 £ per year.
Salary - £26,959
Hours – 37 Hours per week
Vacancy closes - Sunday 29th March 2026 23:58
We are Forestry England. We live and breathe forests.
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…
We are looking for a Recreation Craftsperson to be an integral part of the Forestry England Northumberland based Recreation team to maintain recreation and site infrastructure: car parks, cycle routes and accessible trails within the forest and Kielder Castle centre to ensure that we deliver a high-quality visitor experience. Working across the Kielder Forest area and when required the wider recreation sites across the Northumberland Forest. You will also work with the wider Beat team and volunteers to maintain our visitor facilities, making sure our visitors have a smooth, inclusive safe and enjoyable visitor experience. You will help cultivate a supportive and positive work environment that encourages teamwork, productivity and individual growth. Weekend working is a core requirement of this role to ensure 7-day recreational ranger service and allow team members to have 2 rest days per week. During peak loads of visitors, the role will be more supporting visitor services, in quieter periods the role will be hands-on maintenance and projects of facilities such as trails on both forest walks and mountain bike trail networks. Work will include a range of power tools including operating tracked barrow and chainsaw.
Where you’ll work…
Kielder Forest, Northumberland - based at Kielder Depot, Kielder Village.
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.
How To Apply…
You will be asked 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. You will be assessed on experience, a technical skill and strength-based questions during your interview. The Behaviours being assessed at interview are – Working Together, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service. Successful candidates will undergo a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk.
If you’re planning to use AI to support your application, please ensure you’ve read our guidelines here first. Read more about our application process and working with us on the Forestry England website.
Nationality Requirements…
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 line with/according to these principles and you wish to make a complaint, please email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk.
Recreation Trail Maintenance Specialist employer: Forestry England
At Forestry England, we are dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that prioritises teamwork and individual growth. As a Recreation Trail Maintenance Specialist based in the stunning Kielder Forest, you will enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, and a commitment to your professional development, all while contributing to the preservation and enhancement of our natural landscapes for future generations. Join us in making a positive impact on the environment and creating memorable experiences for visitors in one of the UK's most beautiful settings.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Recreation Trail Maintenance Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the team! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Forestry England and the Kielder Forest area. Understanding their mission and values will help you connect with the interviewers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their passionate team.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When discussing your experience, focus on specific examples that highlight your technical skills, especially those related to trail maintenance and using power tools. This is your chance to shine, so make sure you’re ready to talk about how you've tackled similar challenges in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Be a team player! Since teamwork is key in this role, share stories that demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively. Whether it’s working with volunteers or other team members, showing that you can contribute to a positive work environment will set you apart.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We encourage you to submit your application directly on the Forestry England site. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, and you’ll find all the details you need to make your submission stand out.
We think you need these skills to ace Recreation Trail Maintenance Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft Your Experience Statement:When writing your 200-word experience statement, be sure to highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the role. Use specific examples to showcase how you've contributed to similar projects or tasks in the past.
Personal Statement Matters:Your personal statement is your chance to shine! In up to 500 words, share your passion for forestry and recreation. Let us know why you want to join our team and how you can contribute to creating amazing experiences for visitors.
Be Authentic:We want to hear your true self in your application. Don’t just regurgitate your CV; instead, tell us your story. What drives you? What makes you a great fit for the Recreation Craftsperson role? Authenticity goes a long way!
Apply Through Our Website:Make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re following the correct process. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forestry England
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Recreation Craftsperson and the specific tasks involved, like maintaining trails and visitor facilities. Brush up on your knowledge of power tools and any relevant safety protocols, as these will likely come up during technical questions.
✨Show Your Passion for Nature
Forestry England is all about making a positive impact on the environment. Be prepared to share your enthusiasm for nature and outdoor activities. Talk about any personal experiences that highlight your commitment to conservation and enhancing visitor experiences in natural settings.
✨Teamwork is Key
Since this role involves working with a team and volunteers, be ready to discuss your experience in collaborative environments. Think of examples where you've successfully worked with others to achieve a common goal, especially in outdoor or recreational settings.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
The interview will assess behaviours like Working Together and Delivering at Pace. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Prepare specific examples that demonstrate how you've managed quality service and worked effectively under pressure.
