Training the next generation of foresters: The Englefield Estate’s forestry team expands with the help of the Royal Forestry Society

A university graduate in international development is the latest recruit to the Englefield Estate’s forestry team.

Charlotte Moss, 24, was helped to make the switch to a hands-on role in woodland management thanks to the Royal Forestry Society’s Forestry Roots scheme.

She admits her path into forestry is unusual but is extremely pleased to have joined the Englefield team on the West Berkshire Estate and to be learning the skills she will need to make forestry her career.

She said: “It was a bit of an unusual route into forestry for me.  After my degree I went off travelling with a friend.  I got a summer job in a campsite and met an arborist who told me all about jobs in forestry. I had always been interested, but didn’t know how to find a way into the industry.”

Charlotte discovered the Royal Forestry Society’s Forestry Roots scheme, which is specially designed to help young people overcome barriers to a forestry role. 

“Having done a degree already I wasn’t able to get funding for another degree,” she said.  “That was why I was finding it difficult to get a job in the sector. The Royal Forestry Society traineeship bridges the gap, getting me experience in a forestry team.”

She hopes the experience that comes with the traineeship will stand her in good stead and earn her respect with others in the industry, so that when the year-long traineeship comes to an end, she’s able to find a full-time job in the forestry sector.

Jen Turner, Development Manager for the Royal Foresty Society said: “We are delighted to be working with Englefield Estate on the Forestry Roots Trainee programme. This programme has been designed to nurture the talent of a new generation of forestry professionals by placing them in roles with experienced foresters.

“We are excited to see what Charlotte can do with this incredible learning opportunity with the knowledgeable team at Englefield. Her energy, enthusiasm and great work ethic are exactly what we look for in trainees on the programme.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Englefield Estate for their commitment to teaching and learning and to thank the ALA Green Charitable Trust for their funding and support for Forestry Roots.”

Charlotte joins another young forester on the team at the Englefield Estate. Fin Lace, 19, completed an in-house forestry traineeship in the summer of 2024 and is now a full-time forester.

Fin first came to Englefield’s Forestry Team on a work experience placement when he was 16 years old and worked with the team for two summers. He officially started work at 17 and, now 19, he has undertaken various practical and theory courses and gained on the job experience which has led to him becoming an integral part of the Estate’s forestry team.

Fin particularly enjoys working with the modern machinery necessary for forestry work – and takes pride in looking after young woodland, especially the thinning and formative pruning, necessary to give young trees the potential to become good quality timber in the future.

He says: “Saplings are planted and cared for in their early years by removing weed competition. If it’s needed, when they’re older, we prune them to encourage growth and improve timber quality.  

“I also really enjoy thinning. In forestry management, you need to make sure that the trees have the best chance at getting sunlight, so essentially, we remove some to give others more space to grow.”

Englefield Estate’s Forestry Manager Rich Edwards is full of praise for the excellent start Fin and Charlotte have made in their respective roles.

He said: “It is good to see two young and enthusiastic people take an interest in forestry and demonstrate how keen they are to learn the skills necessary to manage our woodlands. We have known Fin for some time through the work experience he did with us, and he is a real asset to the team. 

“Charlotte comes to us with a real passion for forestry and a determination to learn as much as she can about the role. We’re delighted to have them both.”

The Estate’s Forestry Team manages 3,500 acres of woodland which makes up over one-quarter the Englefield Estate. With a production cycle of a century or more, the woodlands are managed under a long-term plan which ensures that a sustainable timber crop is harvested, while the woodland also provides habitats for a diverse range of species and airs an enjoyable space for walking and horse riding.

The Englefield Estate is committed to training the next generation of foresters and has a long-standing partnership with the Royal Forestry Society.