March saw Finance, Administration and Membership Officer Kelly set off for a new adventure. Here are a few words from Kelly recapping on her time with Woodland Heritage.
The Woodland to Workshop course has a lot to answer for.
Having joined a forestry contracting company as an office manager in 2015, I sought out some training courses in order to learn a bit more about the industry and happened upon Woodland Heritage. With a typically warm welcome from Belinda (my predecessor), those three days have set me on the trajectory I am now on.
Photo by Peter Goodwin - Woodland to Workshop, May 2016. Kelly turning wood whilst Gavin Munro watches on.
The course opened my eyes to the wider process and introduced me to a diverse group of people including Peter Goodwin and Lewis Scott. When the opportunity to work for Woodland Heritage arose in early 2019, I jumped at the chance. In the first three months alone, I got stuck into a Field Weekend, a Woodland to Workshop course and the 25th-anniversary party at Highgrove meeting our Patron, HRH the former Prince of Wales.
Over the past four years, the journey has continued to be as interesting and varied and the opportunities afforded to me through the work at the charity lead to a deep interest in all aspects of forestry, timber processing and silviculture. I attended the Irregular Silviculture In The Lowlands: Transformation In Practice Course, run by David Pengelly and Andy Poore of SelectFor Ltd in May 2022 encouraged by WH’s former Chief Executive Guy Corbett-Marshall, which was the final nudge towards the decision to apply for the Masters in Forestry at Bangor University. I started the course in September 2022 and will now be focusing my time on my studies and gaining more experience in the practical aspects.
Photo by Kelly Morss - Field Weekend at Bathurst Estate
I may be heading off for new adventures but this is not goodbye. This feels more like moving out of home and going to live next door and as you all know, the forestry world being the size it is, means our paths are likely to cross again.
Finally, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this journey. To my colleagues who have been the foundation of my world for the past few years who will remain friends. To the trustees who all give their time and energy so generously when they already have full-time lives to lead. To the people who have listened to me enthuse about trees and timber albeit sometimes with a glazed look. To the WH family and members who were so welcoming. To the people who have taken the time to share their experience with me and who have infused me with their knowledge and appreciation of all things trees and timber. Thank you.
Woodland Heritage wishes Kelly all the best!