futures MARCH 2009
futures2
SHARE YOUR STORIES: Write to Futures, The Whitehaven News, 148 Queen Street, Whitehaven CA28 7AZ
Editorial
Clare Kinrade
01900 607629
Published by Cumbrian Newspapers Ltd,
Dalston Rd, Carlisle, CA2 5UA. Printed by
Cumbrian Newsprint, Dalston Rd, Carlisle
Advertising
Susan Heyworth
01228 612246
The next edition of futures will be
published in The Whitehaven News
and the Times & Star w/e March 27
Seeing how
the land lies
Careers in
farming and
on the land
Focus
PAGES 2-5
Cumbria
gets creative
Flagship
programme
is making
an impact
Schools
PAGES 6-9
Arresting
courses
Degree in
policing fits
the bill
for Kier
Higher & Further
PAGE 11
A change
of direction
How a new
career
dawned
for Dawn
PAGE 12
Wrap
artists
Latest female
apprentices
settling in
at Alcan
In the workplace
PAGE 15
Retraining
Forestry � it's not
just for the fellers
FOCUS CAREERS ON THE LAND
F
ORESTRY in the 21st century is
certainly not about macho men in
checked shirts and heavy boots
wielding chainsaws and yelling
`timber'. Sophisticated machinery,
operated just as easily by men and
women in commercial plantations, has
largely removed the need for brawn, and
woodlands across the world are also
sensitively managed for recreation,
landscape, biodiversity and conservation.
David Robson, head of the University of
Cumbria's National School of Forestry,
believes the role of forester has changed
dramatically. "Modern forestry is about
landscape use, carbon offsets and
bio-energy production but it also about
how society uses and enjoys trees," he
says. "There is greater diversity in what a
forester needs to understand and manage
and that calls for a greater diversity of
people learning about forestry."
While the profession in the UK is still
male-dominated � about 90 per cent of
forestry undergraduates are men � more
and more women are signing up.
Tom Dutson, senior lecturer in forestry
at the University of Cumbria's Newton
Rigg Campus, agrees that while some
women do find work in `softer' areas of
forestry such as recreation and public
engagement, they are increasingly doing
well in other areas too. "Female foresters
succeed in many roles; in management
positions, as site-based foresters, in
research and in the business of forestry
itself," he says. "The misconception that
forestry is just about felling trees or that it
is purely a man's world needs shattering."
Forestry particularly welcomes men
and women from all walks of life and
ages, and also from people seeking career
changes.
Here we profile three women who
recently completed forestry courses run
by the University of Cumbria's National
School of Forestry at the Newton Rigg
Campus, near Penrith.
SHARON RODHOUSE
SHARON was in her forties when she
made the dramatic career change from
midwifery to forestry. "I had always been
interested in the environment and
long-term sustainability but I had no
preconceived ideas about a career in this
area," she says. "It was purely by chance
that I picked up a prospectus about
forestry at the Newton Rigg Campus. I
made a telephone call, the person on the
other end of the phone was really positive
and he sold it to me there and then."
Four years later, having gained a first
class degree in forestry and woodland
management, which included a year's
work placement in Sherwood Forest and a
three-week course in agri-forestry in
Spain, she now works for the Forestry
Commission in Coed y Gororau in Wales
as a forest design planner.
Design plans are used to demonstrate
sustainable forest management and
specify an approved ten-year programme.
The plan must reflect the competing
social, environmental and economic uses
of woodlands. "My job involves reviewing
existing design plans at the five year point
and asking if it is doing what it is
supposed to do," explains Sharon.
She never wants to venture far from the
woods themselves. "I love the operational
side of forestry and I don't want to get too
removed from the ground. Bring outside,
getting wet and muddy in these great
woods is a privilege," she says.
Sharon has no regrets about changing
career in mid-life. Her advice to other
women considering forestry. "Don't hold
preconceived ideas about what it is and
just do it!"
ROS LARGE
ROS was formerly a stage manager; now
she works with the Forestry Commission
in central Scotland. After switching
careers in her mid-20s, she signed up for a
foundation degree in forestry and gained
a distinction in the subject three years
later.
"I was the only woman on the course at
the time but it was not a problem for me,"
she says. "You just have to be brave and
go for it!"
During work experience for the
Forestry Commission at Selkirk, she
learned about all aspects of forest
management and recreational
developments, while her account of a
forestry study tour in Germany won an
award for the best article by Forestry and
Timber News.
Her current role as programme
manager (in a huge area of central
Scotland covering Edinburgh, Glasgow
and Stirling) puts her at the heart of work
plans which cover forest operations such
as felling or path construction. "I'm the
person in the middle getting everyone to
talk to each other," she says.
JOANNE MASON
JOANNE says: "I wouldn't dissuade any
woman thinking of coming into the
industry. It's a very rewarding and
satisfying career with lots of
opportunities and you will never get
bored. A lot of it is about challenging
boundaries and there is always something
new to learn."
Originally from Surrey, Joanne, 32,
studied biological sciences at Salford
before gaining valuable experience
working for the Groundwork Trust, the
Prince's Trust and a regional park
authority in recreational management.
After joining the Forestry Commission,
initially as a recreation ranger but later
moving into an operational role, she
signed up for an HND in Forestry at
Newton Rigg, studying part-time over
three years.
If you are interested in studying forestry at
the University of Cumbria call 0845 6061144.
ROS LARGE: Her advice to women in
forestry? `Just be brave and go for it!'
JOANNE MASON: `It's a very rewarding and
satisfying career � you will never get bored'
SHARON RODHOUSE: `Don't hold
preconceived ideas about what it is'


The misconception
that forestry is just
about felling trees
or that it is purely
a man's world
needs shattering
TOM DUTSON, NEWTON RIGG

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