Recreation Craftsperson - New Forest
| Posting date: | 27 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £26,959 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 February 2026 |
| Location: | BH24 4HS |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 446085/1 |
Summary
We are looking for a Recreation Craftsperson to complement our current team. You will be working as an integral part of the Forestry England New Forest Recreation Craftsperson team to maintain recreation facilities and site infrastructure: Car parks, cycle routes and trails within the forest to ensure that we deliver a high-quality visitor experience. Working across The New Forest, you will also work with the wider Beat teams to maintain our visitor facilities, making sure our visitors have a smooth, inclusive and enjoyable experience. You will help cultivate a supportive and positive work environment that encourages teamwork, productivity and individual growth.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.
Where you’ll work…
South District We are Forestry England. We are the country’s largest land manager, caring for the nation’s forests for people, nature and the economy. The foundation of our organisation is our world-class sustainable management of the nation’s forests.
Our South England Forest District team is made up of around 170 people with a diverse range of roles - from foresters and wildlife rangers to civil engineers, and ecologists to marketing professionals. We all contribute towards the management of 46,000 hectares of public forest estate that stretch from Sussex to Dorset, and from Berkshire to the Isle of Wight. Nearly all of our forests are within either a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Much of this forest is of high national importance for nature conservation and wildlife, and of international importance for biodiversity. South England Forest District is therefore responsible for land that includes Special Areas of Conservation (for habitats), Special Protection Areas (for birds) and Ramsar sites (for wetlands). We also provide public access and recreation in our forests, with nearly 50 million visits every year to South England Forest District.
Key responsibilities & accountabilities
- Act as the face of Forestry England on site, by being approachable for questions and engage with visitors in a polite and appropriate manner.
- Inspect, manage, and maintain recreational facilities in line with Forestry England’s Health & Safety standards to ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.
- Undertake forest estate management operations. This includes reporting of fly-tipping, litter picking, maintenance of equipment, restoration and creation of various habitats, and improvement of the landscape such as felling, fencing, pruning, and planting of trees and shrubs.
- Manage vegetation along recreation trails, cycle paths and car parks through use of chainsaw and brush cutters.
- Contribute to the delivery of key programmes by providing a support service in delivering essential surveys, events, and sales.
- Work closely with volunteers to ensure they have a safe and positive experience in line with our volunteer management processes.
- Assist with onsite communication between recreation and land management teams, franchise operations, neighbours and wider stakeholders to maintain close working relationships and to improve the customer experience.
And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.
Typical tasks include, but not exclusively:
- Install and repair signs, gates, benches and barriers
- Upgrading car park and trails surfaces
- Litter picking and removal of illegal fly tipping
- Fencing
- Vegetation cutting
- Trail safety inspection and trail repairs
- Clear and repair culverts
- Yard maintenance
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme