A Day in the Life of an Assistant Forestry Consultant

Wednesday 15th January

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A Day in the Life Of Georgia Harvey: Assistant Forestry Consultant
Since joining the forestry team at Maydencroft, my first eight months have been full of many new experiences and countless learning opportunities. Two days are never the same when working in the forestry industry; one day, I work in the office, and the next, I walk through a woodland. To give you an insight into the job of an Assistant Forestry Consultant, I will take you through some typical days of a week in my life.


The week starts with an early Monday morning on-site to carry out a pre-commencement meeting with the tree planting team, who will plant over 12,000 trees to restock the woodland after an extensive harvesting operation to fell dead ash trees during the summer period. Due to the size of the site and the intensity of the work that would be taking place, I was on site most of the morning. My responsibilities included meeting the contracting team on-site and showing the team manager around the three compartments requiring tree restocking. I also provided several detailed site maps and ensured the preliminary site risk assessments and method statements were read and understood. This is vital to any initial meeting, as health and safety are the top priorities.


I am back on-site Tuesday morning to check on the restocking work that began the previous day. Conducting regular site visits during forest operations is essential as it allows you to address any contractors' queries. Still, if any issues arise, they can be dealt with on-site immediately, preventing a minor issue from becoming a big problem later. Once finished with my first site meeting, I go on my second, which is only a short drive away. This visit aims to check on some mulching work that has taken place to prepare the site and ground for restocking.


Wednesdays are a dedicated office day every week, and I am very grateful to have these recurring office days. They provide the perfect opportunity to speak to my colleagues about queries that have come up during the past week and catch up with one another, which is also lovely.
The rest of the week consisted of mapping on QGIS and completing RPA claims forms for various summer work at several sites we manage. This work included rhododendron removal, deer exclosure plots, and the installation of deer high seats.


Some weeks, I am fortunate to attend training courses that significantly contribute to my Continuous Professional Development. In my first 8 months at Maydencroft, I have participated in six training courses, each of which has equipped me with new skills and knowledge. These courses have boosted my confidence in taking the lead in on-site meetings, contributing to woodland management plans, and engaging with clients. The level of investment I’ve received as an employee from both the forestry team and Maydencroft as a company has been invaluable. It has accelerated my professional growth and reinforced my commitment to delivering the best outcomes for the environment and the clients I work with. This ongoing support and development are a testament to Maydencroft’s dedication to fostering talent and promoting excellence in forestry.

Forestry consulting offers something new every day. It’s a profession driven by diversity, continuous learning, problem-solving, and a deep love for nature.

If you are interested in a Forestry career, please email us at forestry@maydencroft.co.uk for opportunities.

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