National Trust
Forester
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Forester
We’re looking for a Forester to join us at Cragside! You’ll play a key, hands-on role in maintaining excellent standards of presentation, woodland and tree safety, and conservation, helping to deliver a visitor experience worthy of one of the North East’s major visitor attractions. As the estate is a Grade I registered landscape, the focus of the role is on arboricultural principles and practices, rather than commercial forestry.
Salary: £28,000 per annum
Contract Duration: Permanent
Working Pattern: You will work 37.5 hours per week, Sunday to Thursday, including Bank Holidays.
Interviews will be held on Monday 26th October
What It's Like To Work Here
Cragside is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the North East, welcoming around 250,000 visitors each year. Set in beautiful rural Northumberland, 15 miles from the coast and just 30 miles from the vibrant city of Newcastle, living and working at Cragside gives you the best of both worlds.
You’ll be part of a high-performing property team with experience across a broad range of disciplines. Everyone works closely together to care for Cragside, both now and for future generations.
Managing the extensive landscape requires close collaboration between our outdoor teams, particularly when it comes to delivering an exceptional and seamless visitor experience across the property. Visitors have access to the entire estate, giving them plenty of opportunity to explore all that Cragside has to offer.
What You'll Be Doing
As a Forester, you’ll work as part of the forestry team, helping to care for and manage the Cragside estate. You’ll carry out a wide range of practical tree and woodland maintenance activities, alongside some wildlife conservation work.
As an ambassador for the National Trust, you’ll help communicate our conservation and woodland management work to a wide range of new and existing audiences, as well as contractors.
We’ll provide the appropriate training to help you become competent in: tree safety inspections, medium and assisted felling, working with windblown timber, using a chainsaw from a rope and harness (CS39/204), and forestry machine operation (FMO 208 and 209, including base unit and line skidder).
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You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role. Internally, you'll be known as a 'Forester - Commercial Forestry Ops'.
Who We're Looking For
We'd love to hear from you if you have:
- strong practical outdoor experience covering the main aspects of arboricultural and woodland work, supported by appropriate qualifications to Level 2 (or an equivalent level of vocational experience)
- NPTC certificates, including chainsaw units 201 and 202 (maintenance and cross-cutting, small fell) and climbing certificates CS38/203 (tree climbing and aerial rescue) with refresher evidence, and First Aid at Work including Forestry First Aid +F
- NPTC tractor, PA1/PA6 spraying and chipper certificates
- competent in the use of machinery and equipment, including routine maintenance
- experience of tree safety work
- a proven track record in health and safety and environmental compliance
- the ability to communicate effectively with staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors
- a full UK driving licence
The Package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Rental deposit loan scheme
- Season ticket loan
- EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
- Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
- Flexible working whenever possible
- Employee assistance programme
- Free parking at most Trust places
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Requirements
Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK
Additional Information
Closing Date: 18 October 2026
To apply for this vacancy simply click the 'apply' button in the top right hand side of the page.
If you need any help with your application, i.e. due to technical difficulties, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at recruitmentenquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk
If you require an adjustment to the application process, for example due to disability or medical condition, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at adjustments@nationaltrustjobs.org.uk and we'll support you as best as we can. For examples of how, please see our supporting you page.
Equal Opportunities Statement
The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.
Safeguarding Statement
The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.
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