Wild Areas Officer

Forestry England’s Biodiversity Plan sets out a bold ambition of nature recovery in the Nation’s Forests. Working across five principal focus areas, Forestry England aims to restore resilient biodiversity in the nation’s forests, delivering our vision to ensure that these forests provide the most valuable places for wildlife to thrive and expand in England.

Established in 2022, Forestry England’s Forest Wilding Programme brings together two of these focus areas as part of a co-ordinated effort to deliver a step-change in nature recovery. Our species recovery work focuses on the reintroduction of key influential species, with more than 30 projects nationwide to re-establish populations of beaver, wildcat, pine marten, white-tailed eagle, golden eagle and wood ants. Alongside this nationwide effort, we have established Wild Areas on over 14,000ha of the nation’s forests, bringing innovative approaches together with a sound evidence base to recover and enhance nature through restoring natural processes.

Working as part of the national Forest Wilding Programme team, and with the Wild Areas Manager, you will use your skills and experience in nature recovery and project management to implement work packages aligned with the strategic delivery of Wild Areas across England.

You will work as part of Forestry England’s Forest Wilding Programme Team, a small but growing group of dedicated professionals, whose primary focus is implementing evidence-based nature recovery on the ground. Though dispersed across the country, we work closely and collaboratively together and with our district teams, to seize the opportunity presented by our Defra funding, to bend the curve on nature recovery, working at scale and pace. We work alongside colleagues whose focus is on improving designated sites management, accelerating the restoration of ancient woodlands, establishing nature networks, and improving the resilience of timber production across the nation’s forests. Making a difference for nature is our passion, but so too is our wellbeing, and we have a supportive working environment, which champions mutual support, and maintaining a good work/life balance.

Please see the job description for more information and details about what we need from you.