A new forestry apprenticeship scheme has been launched in the Wyre Forest as part of a £4m initiative designed to protect and promote the region’s unique woodland landscape.
Four green apprentices have been appointed by the Forestry Commission and the Small Woods Association to help deliver ambitious plans to restore and conserve the built and natural features of the Wyre Forest.
Led by the Forestry Commission, the ‘Grow With Wyre’ Landscape Partnership Scheme, comprises of 18 projects which include orchard restorations, butterfly surveys and wildlife habitat improvements.
During their two-year training schemes, the apprentices will work with many of the partners involved to learn all the practical skills needed to become forest craftsmen including planting, felling and extracting timber. They will also be taught traditional forest management skills such as coppicing to help keep these techniques alive.
The course will be run in conjunction with Herefordshire College of Technology in Holme Lacy and each apprentice will complete an NVQ Level 2 in Forestry.
The first two recruits – Martin Dagger, 21, who is from Bristol, and 18-year-old Paul Teague from Worcester – began work in September. A further two candidates will be selected next year.
Bob Griffiths, Programme Manager for the 'Grow With Wyre' scheme, said: “This is very much a partnership project so the new apprentices will be working with lots of different organisations to help make the Wyre Forest an even more appealing place to visit.
“We’ve identified that some of the traditional forestry skills are dying out so this is a wonderful way of passing these skills down to the new generation who can then use them to help protect our woodlands and ensure they prosper in the future.”
Following a taster week-long course in Herefordshire, the two apprentices were chosen from a shortlist of 11 applicants.
They will work with several of the ‘Grow With Wyre’ partners including the Forestry Commission, Natural England, the Guild of St George and the Wyre Community Land Trust.
The pair has already been hard at work in the forest learning how to drive tractors and use chainsaws.
Forestry Commission Area Forester in the Wyre Forest, Richard Boles, explained: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to encourage some younger people into the forest to work.
"They will learn a wide range of skills including fencing, tractor driving, meadow restoration and chainsaw cutting which will enable them, at the end of their two-year apprenticeships, to apply for jobs as forest craftsmen.”
Much of the Wyre area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI) and many rare species of flora and fauna can be found there, such as the pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly, common fan-foot moth and marsh fragrant orchid.
The landscape consists of rolling hills, woodland, orchards and open water with picturesque valleys and is one of the largest areas of ancient semi-natural oak woodland in Britain.
‘Grow With Wyre’ is designed to restore the unique landscape of Wyre and celebrate its rich working history. It aims to encourage more people to access, learn and become involved in the Wyre landscape and hopes to improve understanding of local crafts and other skills by providing training opportunities.
A Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £2 million will drive the scheme forward with other funding totalling nearly £294,000 from GrantScape, a further £74,000 from SITA Trust and funding from the ‘Grow with Wyre’ partners.
The Forestry Commission is the lead partner in the ‘Grow With Wyre’ Landscape Partnership Scheme, joined by the Small Woods Association, Natural England, Shropshire County Council, Bewdley Development Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Worcester County Council, Wyre Forest Study Group, Wyre Community Land Trust, Wyre Forest District Council and the National Trust.
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