Forest Planner

What you’ll do…

Sustainable Forest Management is at the heart of everything we do, as part of the planning team you will lead on the review and maintenance of the district’s 57 forest plans. Your role will safeguard forest activities guaranteeing they have full approval for felling and restocking and that our UKWAS accreditation is maintained. Working at the forefront of latest policies, legislation and best practice you will lead the way in revising the forest plans, ensuring they are fit for purpose and assist in the delivery of land management across the estate in its widest sense.

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

Where you’ll work…

This role base is flexible and can be situated at one of our offices in the North of England, with be scope to consider blended working arrangements once the candidate has settled in.

North England Forest District encompasses Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham and north Lancashire. The district has a complement of 132 staff who care for 61,000 hectares of forest and 25,000 hectares of open land. Annual timber production is 550,000 m3 and there is a planting programme in excess of 3 million trees a year.

The District has four visitor centres at Grizedale, Whinlatter, Kielder and Hamsterley. The public forest estate in North England District attracts over one million visits per annum.

The role will require the post holder to travel regularly within the district and a full UK driving licence will be essential.

Key work areas…

• Prepare land management plans (LMPs) based on a thorough understanding of the land and analysing environmental, silvicultural, financial and social impacts. Plans are required to meet the UK Forestry Standard and the UK Woodland Assurance Standard.
• Assist colleagues with the planning, delivery and monitoring of programmes for felling, restocking and habitat management.
• Undertake site visits and collaborate with relevant colleagues to explore land management and implementation options, identify silvicultural requirements, creatively address key problems identified and develop efficient and practical solutions to meeting land management objectives over the required timeframe.
• Build and maintain excellent working relationships with stakeholders such as community groups and statutory consultees.
• Prepare screening information for Habitat Regulations Assessments, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) determination, full EIAs, and amendments to plans for regulatory approval as required.

Forest Planning –

• collect and verify data relating to Forest Plan areas to inform the forest planning process
• design and prescribe long term forest management which delivers resilient forests in industry best practice Forest Plans ensuring that Forestry England land is managed for people, wildlife and timber
• communicating, consulting and consensus building with a wide range of Forestry England staff, statutory and non-governmental organisations to ensure proposed plans are in compliance with policies, UK Woodland Assurance Standard and UK Forest Standard
• monitor and report on progress with delivery

Data, mapping and monitoring –

• interrogate and manage of Geographic information Systems
• provide support in areas of data analysis to inform business decisions, including timber production and long-term financial models
• undertake forest and habitat surveys to improve data and maintain monitoring programme

Operational support –

• support the team in areas of survey, data management and mapping to support forest operations to ensure all opportunities and constraints are fully considered
• provide support to colleagues in areas of specialism such as heritage management, ecological habitats, features or processes as training and skills allow
• champion high standards of health and safety within the team resource, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and guidance

And any other jobs reasonably requested by your line manager.

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