Charborough Estate woodsmen honoured

Every member of the Charborough Estate Forestry Department near Wareham has been presented with a Long Service Award by the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) after clocking up an accumulated 188 years between them.

Estate owner Richard Drax said the work of the five woodsmen – including one who has retired – had benefited the estate immensely, and added: “They are highly skilled and adaptable individuals who in the course of their careers have seen a complete transformation of an industry that had remained largely unchanged for centuries. We are delighted to see their work and commitment recognised.”

The Charborough Estate is close to Wareham, Blandford Forum and Wimborne Minster, and has been in the Drax family since the 16th Century. It includes around 770 hectares of productive estate woods as well as areas of amenity and landscape planting.

The awards were made during a visit by the RFS Somerset and Dorset Division to the estate.

Royal Forestry Society President John Besent said: “Forestry and woodland management needs to be planned and executed over many decades, and the estate will have gained from the long term knowledge that all five woodsmen have brought to their work.

“The challenge for forestry as a whole is to attract new people into an industry which for many becomes a way of life. Modern forestry requires not only the knowledge passed down from one generation to the next, but also the skills that are taught through many colleges and universities around the country. As these five woodsmen have all demonstrated, it is a career that can last a lifetime.”

Those receiving awards at Charborough were:

Colin Burbidge: Joined the estate in October 1968, aged 21, and attended an RFS Woodmen’s course at Newton Rigg in 1971. During his 40 years on the estate he has turned his hand to most aspects of woodland management and is now specifically responsible for squirrel and mole control.

Ray Carter: Joined the estate in February 1971, aged 26, and was, for many years, specifically responsible for the sawmill operations, seeing this grow to a turnover of considerably over £100,000 pa and then retract to a much smaller concern due to the changing age structure of the estate woods, and the impact of imported fencing material. Has now completed 38 years and retires this month (May 09).

Brian Gale: Joined the estate in November 1967, aged 27, and completed 37 years before retiring in 2005. He was present when the sawmill was at full production, and took on the role of general amenity forestry and mole and squirrel control prior to retirement.

Robert Slade: Joined the estate in June 1969, aged 21, and has worked across almost every aspect of forestry over the years. He reaches his 40th anniversary in June this year. He carries out most of the larger felling (roadside/park trees) and is known to many for his role supporting the Head Forester in the forestry presentation to children on estate visits.

Leon Green: Joined the estate in May 1975, aged 25, and has operated the forwarder with great skill for many years, notably after the storms of 1987 and 1990. He is a very capable mechanic and also provides valuable back up to the farm staff during the peak of harvest. He completes 34 years service this month (May 09).

The Royal Forestry Society is dedicated to the wise management of trees and to increasing people’s understanding of forestry. Members include landowners and managers, ecologists and students as well as others with an interest in woodland management. There are 21 Divisions and more than 100 woodland meetings are held every year.