Following the completion of their first woodland creation project in Raisdale, our two woodland operations trainees share insight into their work and what motivates them.
Jared Whitehouse and Joseph Wood, both 27, are currently undergoing training to carry out a range of woodland creation tasks across the National Park, with support provided through the Royal Forestry Society's Forest Roots training programme and our woodland creation team.
As future foresters, they're learning key skills in how to establish native woodlands, including tree planting and protection, maintenance of trees, and the control of weeds and invasive species.
They are also helping us to achieve a key objective within the National Park, the creation of 2,500 hectares of additional wooded habitat by 2032 - equivalent to planting 2 million trees.
“What I enjoy most is being able to spend my working hours outside in some of the most scenic parts of the country. The idea that I'm actually helping to enhance this landscape, making it more resilient to climate change is incredibly rewarding.
"One thing I didn’t fully consider before starting, is the fact I get to work alongside likeminded people who are not only interested in the technicalities of a woodland, but also have an interest in respecting and looking after the environment.”
- Jared
“It's a good feeling to be on the ground creating new woodland habitats and planting trees that will be beneficial, to both people and the natural world, long into the future. Working among some beautiful landscapes each day is certainly an experience I enjoy.”
- Joseph
We look forward to sharing updates on their training and woodland creation work. For their first tree planting season (November 2023 until April 2024), they will be helping us to plant 68,000 trees over 100 hectares.