'Forestry sector offers a plethora of exciting opportunities'

That includes those working to look after our iconic woodlands and forests – with many right here in Cumbria.

The forestry sector offers a plethora of exciting opportunities – from forester to ecologist, woodland officer to business planner – there really is something for everyone.

Gender should not be a barrier to this; we must do more to create a more diverse and inclusive sector. 

There’s no better inspiration for this than the Lumberjills Story exhibition happening right here in Cumbria at Grizedale Forest.

The exhibition celebrates the contribution of the Women’s Timber Corps, a part of the Women’s Land Army, during the Second World War. Nearly 5,000 women carried out a whole range of forestry tasks during this time; including felling trees, loading trucks, and operating sawmills.

Given an axe or the keys to a tractor, today’s women can also make roots in a sector that is so fundamental to the country’s tree planting and net zero ambitions. 

Forestry England’s ‘People’s Picture’ mosaic at the exhibition demonstrates the strong female representation and interest in the industry and we are proud that the Forestry Commission have a workforce where over 40% are female. But we still need to do more, now more than ever. 

At home in Cumbria and the North-West, I have experienced first-hand how trees are at the heart of our community, essential to supporting wellbeing and improving our quality of life. My family and I are fortunate enough to benefit from some of the country’s most exceptional woodlands near us, from Dodd Wood to Ennerdale Forest.

Beyond this, I am delighted that we are helping new woodlands to be created in the North-West, such as the City of Trees in Greater Manchester and the Mersey Forest, as part of our £750m Nature for Climate Fund.

Last year, we enabled the planting of over a million trees, with the Northern Forest alone creating 150 hectares of trees in the North-West.

The immediate benefits of these new woodlands include improving biodiversity, water quality and helping to reduce flood risk and combating climate change.

Woodland creation is crucial to our fight against climate change and biodiversity decline and key to reaching our net zero targets. In England, our landmark Environmental Improvement Plan commits to trebling tree planting rates by the end of Parliament, and sets a legal target requiring tree canopy to cover 16.5% of England’s land area by 2050.

Each and every tree planted will absorb up to 150kg of carbon per year, while our tree planting initiatives will help create more local job opportunities and support the economy. The forestry sector is projected to employ 30,000 people and contribute more than £2 billion to our economy every year. 

It is truly incredible having outstanding people, and in particular outstanding women, committed to managing our nation’s forests. The value they bring to the sector is enormous.

I hope more talented women will continue to play such a fundamental role in the protection and restoration of British nature.