The Datum Report

Occupation 9112 · Elementary occupations

Forestry and related workers

Forestry workers perform a variety of tasks related to the planting, cultivation and protection of trees.

How people enter it

There are no minimum academic entry requirements. Training is typically received on-the-job, supplemented by short courses covering specialised skills. Vocational qualifications in Forestry and Arboriculture are available at levels 2 and 3, together with BTEC diplomas and apprenticeships in some areas.

What the work involves

• prepares ground for planting by clearing vegetation and other debris
• drains and ploughs land and erects and maintains fences as necessary
• collects seeds, plants and prunes trees and selects and marks trees for felling
• fells trees using axe or power saw and saws wood into required lengths
• cuts coppice, removes tops of standing trees and lops branches as necessary
• assists in the control of harmful diseases, pests or forms of wildlife
• builds and maintains forest roads
• maintains watch for fires and operates firefighting equipment
• operates machinery used in the cultivation and management of trees
• monitors and patrols forests and parks to maintain grounds and prevent unauthorised entry

Also called

Arboricultural worker · Forestry contractor · Forestry worker · Lumberjack · Park keeper

What it pays

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Common questions

Classified alongside this

Farm workers · Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations n.e.c.