Woodland Creation Officer (Devon Woods Project)

A Woodland Creation Officer role has become available with the Biosphere’s Devon Woods team – a rewarding opportunity for someone who aspires to put their skills to the test delivering diverse woodland creation projects.

The team provides woodland creation advice and facilitates grant applications and capital works on behalf of farmers and other land managers across Devon. We also support wetland creation projects where suitable. Devon Woods is a partnership project, and we work closely with the Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, Woodland Trust, Westcountry Rivers Trust, Local Flood Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, and other projects being facilitated by Local Authorities.  

Our woodland creation projects are varied and diverse, from the small-scale creation of copses and shelterbelts, through to large-scale projects where the whole farm-business model is being adapted. The benefits that trees and woodlands provide are widely recognised, however there is a need to balance woodland creation with farming and other land uses and so the team works closely with landowners and other advisors to achieve this. A key objective of the Devon Woods project is to use woodland creation to improve the water quality, and there is a focus on opportunities for riparian woodland creation, wetland creation, and natural flood management.  

As the project’s Woodland Creation Officer, you will be responsible for planning and delivering UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) compliant woodland creation projects. These plans will consider the landowner’s requirements, the benefits and risks to wildlife, climate change, the historic environment, the local landscape, long-term sustainability, and the green economy. The work will involve surveying and researching sites, discussing plans with landowners, consulting stakeholders, designing woodland concepts with GIS (ArcGIS), producing grant applications, and liaising with contractors. There will also be opportunities to be involved in tree planting days and other community engagement events. You will work closely with the Project Manager and in collaboration with project partners and stakeholders.  

This is an opportunity for someone with both ecological knowledge and a creative flair, who is dreaming of achieving a real and lasting impact as part of their career.