Recreation Craftsperson - Bristol & Savernake

Forestry England is part of the Forestry Commission. West England Forest District is responsible for the sustainable management of over 36,500ha of the nation's forests in the west and south-west of England. The District extends from woodlands just to the north of Shrewsbury, southwards to the majestic oak and beech woods of Savernake Forest in Wiltshire and south-west as far as Idless Woods near Truro in Cornwall. The District is managed from the District Office at Coleford, in the Forest of Dean, supported by local Forest Beat or Recreation Hub delivery teams dispersed across the Forest District. These local teams are responsible for the delivery of agreed work programmes. The Bristol & Savernake beat is diverse in composition and setting, from conifer plantations in the Mendips to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designated ancient woodland in Savernake and Bristol. The beat includes a range of facilities, from small carparks with desire lines to established recreation areas with ANPR. The high public access at many of these sites presents challenges and opportunities in the delivery of multifunctional forestry. The team are based in the Leigh Woods office in Bristol. The Beat is led by a Beat Forester, supported by 2 works supervisors, a community ranger, and the recreation craftsperson, who together, are responsible for all aspects of woodland management, including timber sales, tree safety, community engagement and wildlife management. An average week will vary through the seasons but could include working in multiple locations across the beat carrying out tasks such as weeding and vegetation control as directed by the works supervisor. Other work will include general maintenance tasks, stimming on restock sites and pathways, tree safety and recreation inspections as needed. There will be a requirement for regular driving between sites, and working in all weathers. We are looking for an individual who is self-motivated and resourceful, with good communication and planning skills, and the ability to work safely and productively both independently and as part of a team. Key Work Areas:

• Minor Maintenance tasks: to include the installation, repair and painting of signs, fence repairs, and the closing off any faulty infrastructure such as woodland seats or picnic tables, until it is made safe for public use.
• Vegetation control: Seasonal strimming around trails, gateways, around forest furniture and safety signage. This may include chemical spraying after appropriate training and certification of the individual.
• Focus on site presentation through monitoring of our litter collection contract, litter picking of key sites, reporting and organising of fly tip and occasional emptying of bins.
• Provide face to face customer service giving advice and information to visitors.
• Monitor car parking machines to ensure they are fully working.
Health & Safety:
• Ensure personal safety at all times by following job risk assessments, using lone working systems and by carrying out PPE and safety checks, in compliance with policy guidance.
• Record incidents and accidents into Airsweb, collating all relevant information.
• Safety Inspections: A range of visual inspections of paths, structures or trees to maintain the site in a safe condition, ensuring that defects are properly recorded and rectified in a timely manner.
• Support the forest establishment work, by hand planting, tree guarding, fence repairs and maintaining newly planted areas by controlling competing vegetation by machine or by hand.
• Support the work of the team to ensure harvesting sites are compliant and safe, by erecting signage, relocating of herras fencing, carrying out banksman duties and traffic management.
• Tree safety inspections.
• Undertaking stocking surveys.
Other duties may include:
• Tariffing and chainsaw or brushcutter work in the future, as required to support the team.