24 AUGUST 2019 FORESTRYJOURNAL.CO.UK
NEWS
LATEST UPDATE FROM THE GLOBAL FORESTRY INDUSTRY
A Cumbria University
forestry student is
celebrating after winning
an award for his
dissertation, and is now
undertaking a graduate
programme with Tilhill
Forestry.
Robert Baker, 23,
received the accolade for
‘Best Dissertation’ on his
course, BSc (Hons) Forestry
Management. As well as winning
the award, Robert was one of a small number
of students accepted onto Tilhill Forestry’s
graduate programme this year.
In recognition of his win, Robert was
presented with a specially carved wooden
trophy in the shape of an acorn by Tilhill
Forestry director, Tim Liddon, along with
£250.
Robert said: “I am settling in very well at
Tilhill Forestry; it is great to have started my
job role and to be out in the district taking in
all aspects of the business.
“Winning the award justifies the decision
I took three years ago to pursue a career in
forestry. Coming into the course with no level
three qualifications made me unsure of how
I would be able to progress, but in the end I
couldn’t be happier with my final results.
“Cumbria was able to give me a route into
university that I didn’t think was possible.
They appreciated my background and
gave me an opportunity where
many other universities
wouldn’t. I would not be
where I am now if they
hadn’t taken a chance
on me and for that I am
extremely grateful.
“I hope now to have
found a career that
I will enjoy for many
years to come and will
continue to take every
opportunity to learn and
progress. I would also like
to thank James Jones and Sons
Ltd who generously donated time and
resources to support my dissertation project.”
Tim Liddon added: “We run an awards
programme with a number of universities
across the UK. We’re delighted to continue to
support Cumbria University and recognise
the hard work of students. It’s an excellent
university which regularly feeds students
into our graduate trainee programme. It
is especially rewarding when winning
graduates choose to work with Tilhill.”Student’s
forestry
career off to
a good start
GOLD FOR
GERAINT
HEAD forester for the Duchy of
Cornwall, Geraint Richards, has
been presented with the Royal
Forestry Society (RFS) Gold Medal
for distinguished services to forestry
by His Royal Highness the Duke of
Cornwall.
The Gold Medal is the highest
honour awarded by the RFS for
services to forestry and Geraint
Richards is only the 40th person
to have been awarded it since the
medal was instituted in 1960. The
Prince of Wales was president of the
RFS from 1982–1984.
Receiving the award, Geraint
said: “The RFS was the first forestry
organisation that I became a
member of when, as a teenager, I
decided to pursue a career as a
forester. Ever since then the RFS
has played an incredibly important
part in my career, teaching me so
much through its people, events
and publications. I have had the
privilege of hosting many RFS field
meetings on the Duchy of Cornwall’s
estate, including two Whole Society
Meetings, and these have been very
special days for me.
“As I consider the previous
recipients of the RFS Gold Medal
I can scarcely believe that my
name can be added to such a
distinguished list; many of my
forestry heroes are included there
and it means more to me than you
can imagine to join their ranks.”TOP ‘FROM WOODLAND TO WORKSHOP’
STUDENT SEES GROWTH IN FORESTRY
A Scottish farmer who is diversifying into sawmilling was
the top student to take part in Woodland Heritage’s From
Woodland to Workshop training course in 2018.
Neil Girvan is a partner on the family farm in the
Cheviot Uplands of the Scottish Borders. Extending
to 850 acres (including 60 acres of woodland), Neil
is hoping to develop its forestry management by
establishing an oak woodland on the farm, as well adding
value by increasing their timber processing by cutting
and drying more hardwood timber in their own sawmill.
The unanimous tutors’ choice on last year’s course,
Neil received the Prince of Wales Award at Woodland
Heritage’s recent field weekend.
Guy Corbett-Marshall, Woodland Heritage’s chief
executive, said: “Neil had read about our From Woodland
to Workshop courses many times and was keen to
take part. For him, an important element of our course
was measuring timber and learning about the drying
process, as well as spending a whole day in the Duchy’s
Timberline and Mary Glover woodlands.”
The next From Woodland to Workshop course is
planned for 23–25 September.