Forest apprentices recruited to nuture new crop of timber

The commission is currently embarking on a huge effort to hand plant over 42,000 trees across South Yorkshire and the East Midlands over the next few months.

It is hoped the scheme will make good trees for timber and also form part of ongoing efforts to reshape forests to diversify wildlife habitats and make woodlands more resilient.

The apprentice forest workers include Jack Medlock, 20, from Cuckney, near Worksop and Daniel Pincott, 24, from Mansfield.

Their role will also include carrying out surveys, restoring wildlife habitats and maintaining recreational facilities.

They will work across the region during their two year training and began by helping to plant 7,500 shade tolerant trees including Western red cedar and Western hemlock under taller specimens in woods near Carburton, Worksop as part of trial project.

Tree planting still has to be done by hand and a skilled operator can plant up to 1,000 per day.

Carolyn Marshall from the Forestry Commission said: “The planting programme is vital so forests continue to produce a sustainable supply of timber – a key renewable resource - well into the future.

“Apprentices will work with other contractors to get the job done in time and get hands-on experience of working in the forest.

“Species taking root include Scots pine, Western red cedar and Douglas fir with major restocking taking place at sites across South Yorkshire and north Nottinghamshire.

“By diversifying species the aim is to make the forest more resilient to climate change and the growing problem of tree diseases, like red band needle blight.

“Forestry is a long-term business so we need to develop new approaches and plan ahead so that trees thrive in the kind of climate we will have by the mid-point of the century.”

The Forestry Commission produces 130,000 cubic tonnes of timber annually in the central region, making a major contribution to the local economy and supporting rural jobs and businesses.