Team Leader – Woodland and Estate

Grade 2* listed Haigh Hall and its woodland park is a much loved local Wigan attraction with
over half a million visitors annually. The 300 acre estate is undergoing major renovation,
transforming it into a cultural, gastronomic, and horticultural attraction of regional and
national importance. The project has received significant council capital investment as well as
funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund and the Government’s Levelling Up fund. Haigh
is grounded in the local community and their participation is integral to the process and
success of this endeavour. Haigh not only has enormous potential as a northwest horticultural
destination, but also as inspiration for sustainable and inclusive heritage regeneration.

The Woodland and Estate Team Leader will play a central role in bringing this vision to life. Working with
the Head of Horticulture, the TL will establish and manage a team of arborists, volunteers and
apprentices whilst also overseeing the conservation, improvement, and future management of the
woodland and wider Haigh Hall estate.

Mandatory statement

The Council is committed to complying with the European General Data Protection Regulations
(GDPR) and meeting the requirements of the Information Commissioner’s office (regulating data
protection compliance in the UK). It is your responsibility to ensure that the work you
undertake is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulations.

In this job you will

In the next 12 months, you will:

• Work in close collaboration with the Head of Horticulture, Creative Directors and Wigan
  Council on the rejuvenation of the Haigh estate
• Together with the Head of Horticulture, help create and implement a woodland management
  plan for the estate as part of the wider Haigh masterplan
• Work with a ‘light touch’ to improve habitats and increase biodiversity as part of the
  woodland management plan
• Implement essential ecosystem services, including carbon, nutrient and water cycling as
  well as flood and erosion control
• Be able to undertake tree inspections and surveys and implement appropriate remedial action
• Help establish and lead a motivated and highly skilled team of staff, volunteers and
  apprentices

On an ongoing basis you will:

• Advise and plan the expansion of the tree collection and arboreta as part of a broader
  planting programme across the estate
• Proactive in identifying areas that can be improved/redesigned or where maintenance
  practices can be streamlined
• Facilitate the management of invasive species across the estate
• Ensure that all work in the woodland is carried out safely and complies with H&S
  legislation
• Help develop and implement a future arboricultural training programme at Haigh in
  collaboration with local and regional further education providers
• Be committed to inclusive, collaborative and ecologically conscious arboriculture and
  woodland management
• Benefit the local community through the creation and management of spaces for recreation
  and wellbeing
• Ensure you operate within GDPR guidelines by regularly reviewing data held and destroying
  information in line with retention schedules

In this job you will need

You must be able to demonstrate the following essential requirements:

• A degree/higher diploma in ecology, environmental science, with a specialism in
  conservation, woodland management, or significant equivalent experience
• At least five years experience as a woodland manager, preferably on sites that are open to
  the public
• Broad practical tree knowledge, including carrying out surveys and inspections
• Experience of working on complex woodland regeneration projects
• At least two years experience managing a team
• Experience of managing woodland invasive species (flora and fauna)
• Some teaching or mentoring experience
• An advocate and mentor for careers in woodland and conservation management and a desire to
  inspire all those who engage with Haigh
• Machinery and/or chainsaw tickets – e.g., chainsaw maintenance, felling and processing
  trees, tractor, trailer and front end loader (or similar)
• A clean UK driver’s license
• Computer literacy in Excel, PowerPoint and Word

Hours: 37 per week