Community Woodland Communication and Interpretation Officer

Posting date:	27 August 2025
Salary:	£29,171 per year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	14 September 2025
Location:	GL8 8QS
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Temporary
Job reference:	424004/1

Summary

What you’ll do…

You will work alongside the Project Manager and the Engagement Officer to support the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. There will also be support from the Marketing and Communications Team to increase your skills and knowledge, as well as opportunities to contribute to other engagement projects in development at the arboretum.

This role delivers the communications and interpretation-based outcomes of the project, which is focused on regenerating 5 hectares of clear-felled woodland in Silk Wood due to an ash dieback outbreak. You will be responsible for informing visitors about the threats our trees face, how Westonbirt is working to make Silk Wood more resilient, and how people can get involved and support the activity.

You will tell the story of the Community Woodland through signage, managing photography and videography, producing blogs and video content and liaising with the local press. You will work closely with volunteers to capture stories and experiences, and with the Marketing Team to ensure consistent communications with all stakeholders. The Project Team will also support report writing and communication to funders.

This role will involve some year-round outdoor work in all weathers and on rough ground. An enhanced DBS check is required as this role will involve working with schools and community groups, including those with vulnerable adults. This may also include leading and/or working with small groups and in one-to-one situations.

Where you’ll work…

Westonbirt, the National Arboretum (www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt-the-nationalarboretum) is one of the UK’s most famous botanical tree collections and is internationally renowned both for its tree collection and historic landscape. It was founded in 1829 by Robert Holford and is classed as Grade 1 on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens and is one of the world’s greatest examples of an arboretum laid out in the ‘picturesque’ style. As well as holding five National Collections the site has over 130 champion trees - the largest of their kind in Britain. It’s home to some of the rarest trees in the world with trees from Australia, China as well as native trees and a semi-ancient woodland.

Communications actively participate with the wider site team, ensuring effective internal and external communication. work with our marketing team to promote the project within the community through production of publicity and marketing materials as required. continually document the project through photography, film, and other media, ensuring appropriate GDPR and safeguarding processes are followed. Programme delivery manage the delivery of key interpretation projects including developing briefs, working with external designers / contractors, writing content / sourcing imagery, installation and project management to ensure delivery on time and budget. update digital interpretive channels. develop and supervise engagement activities with participants and members of the public Building long term capacity assist with implementing a rigorous evaluation process that captures both the success of projects and allows us to refine our ways of working, ensuring timely and accurate reporting to funders. assist with boosting Westonbirts profile and the integration of the project within the arboretum’s visitor offering. support with key milestones of project, such as celebration events, legacy activities and future projects And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.