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Forest Worker

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Forest Worker Career Details

Forestry involves large tree plantings managed for timber production, biodiversity, water protection or landscape enhancement and recreation purposes. It covers small broad-leaved and community forests as well as planting and managing large coniferous forests, raising young trees in nurseries and delivering timber to wood-using industries.

Forest workers are involved in a range of tasks related to the establishment, maintenance and protection of forested areas and the harvesting of timber.

The work can involve tree planting; sawing timber; cutting coppice; maintaining, thinning and felling trees using chainsaws or computerised harvesting machines; spraying to control weeds and insects; road building and fencing.

Forest workers use equipment ranging from hand tools such as axes, sickles and billhooks to mechanised equipments such as chain saws, high-tech harvesting machines and timber wagons. They may also use tractors and lorries.

Those working as forepersons carry out practical tasks and organise and supervise staff. They may carry out tasks such as laying out planting schemes; completing timesheets; ordering materials and measuring and dispatching timber.

Forest workers are very often self-employed contractors, who will also need to carry out the administrative tasks associated with running a business.

Working Environment

Forest workers usually work around 39 hours a week. Some late nights, early starts and weekend work may be necessary.

Self-employed work is seasonal and may involve working long days at peak times such as harvesting.

The work is physically demanding and involves walking long distances through densely wooded areas, lifting, climbing, and other strenuous activities.

Safety clothing, such as safety helmets and eye protectors, is worn for some jobs.

Forest Worker Related Skills

Forest workers need:

a high level of physical fitness
an interest in working outdoors
to be practical, mechanically-minded and good with their hands
the ability to work as part of a team as well as alone
common-sense and awareness of potential dangers
good communication skills
to be able to deal tactfully yet firmly with the public.

Forest Worker Career Opportunities

Increasing mechanisation of forestry operations has lead to reductions in the workforce, although there are skills shortages in practical areas such as tree felling and thinning.

As well as the Forestry Commission and private forestry companies, employers include small contractors and organisations such as the National Trust, the Woodland Trust and county Wildlife Trusts. There may be opportunities to work abroad, for example in commercial forests in Canada.

Contract work is more common than direct employment.

Forest workers can be promoted to foreperson and those willing to study for further qualifications can advance to management levels.

Further Career Information

If you would like to know more about a career as an Forest Worker related facts, statistics, articles and websites.

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