Overseas Forestry Companies have successful summer forestry internships for young people to get an insight into what forestry has to offer. Could this help to encourage more young people to choose forestry as a career path?
When people hear the word “forestry” in the UK, they often picture large-scale tree clearances or heavy log trucks on narrow roads. In reality, professionals understand that forestry encompasses forest management, conservation, machinery manufacturing and sales, timber haulage, wood processing, engineering, ecosystem services, research, and recreation. Public perception remains limited.
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That’s a remarkable amount of work hours for a single machine, the Norcar 600 owned by Erkki Rinne is taken well care of, it even has the original Diesel engine.
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Kieran Anders is a forestry contractor working in the lake district. His work involves hand cutting and extracting timber using a skidder and tractor-trailer forwarder.
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It is not possible to eliminate chain shot, but there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.
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Arwel takes great pride in the fact that the mill has no waste whatsoever, “the peelings are used for children’s playgrounds, gardens and for farm animals in barns in the winter and the sawdust has multiple uses in gardens and farms as well.
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Timber hauliers need to encourage young blood in, and also look after the hauliers we have, we need make the sector a safe and positive place to work.
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n the UK, we do a poor job of promoting forestry and its benefits. For example, I recently read about the Swedish company, Södra, which recruits 16-18-year-olds for four-week summer internships in forests or wood-processing plants. This showcases the variety of work available to young people and gives them an insight into the industry.
Currently, amid worldwide uncertainties influencing many industries, the UK forestry sector faces not only variations in demand but also an ongoing skills shortage. This problem persists even during downturns, making it difficult to respond to potential surges in demand for homegrown timber.
Internships might be a strategic solution for addressing the industry’s skills shortage. They would showcase the variety of careers available in forestry and help inspire young people to join the sector. Schools, government, and forestry organisations could collaborate, providing financial support and working with companies to create meaningful placements.
I am sure that this would be welcomed by most areas of the industry, and it could lead to interns being offered permanent positions.
Leveraging today’s digital channels, a successful internship program could quickly generate positive publicity. If interns share their experiences online, it may motivate others to pursue placements, supporting greater awareness about forestry.
While only a small percentage of interns may ultimately join the sector, offering hundreds of holiday placements across the UK and Ireland would build momentum and broaden the industry’s exposure.
Lack of tree planting risks a timber shortfall and delays net-zero goals. Proactively offering internships could help reverse these trends, keeping the industry resilient and guaranteeing those setbacks remain temporary.
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Written by loggers for loggers and dedicated solely to the equipment used in forestry operations.