Recreation Craftsperson - Forest of Dean

About the Role

Forestry England is looking for a Recreation Craftsperson to support the recreation team in the Forest of Dean. The role focuses on keeping visitor areas and car parks clean, orderly, and well cared for, while helping maintain safe and usable facilities for the public.

This is a permanent position based at Beechenhurst, GL16 7EL, with work carried out across the Forest of Dean.

Key Duties

• Empty bins, collect waste daily, and make sure rubbish is removed and disposed of correctly.
• Carry out litter picking and other routine upkeep tasks across visitor sites and parking areas.
• Open site gates and barriers each morning according to a schedule that changes throughout the year.
• Support the recreation team so that visitors receive a positive experience and facilities stay safe and functional.
• Work on a seven-day rota that includes alternate weekends, regular public holidays, and occasional out-of-hours events.

Working Pattern and Pay

The salary for this position is £26,959 per year. The role is full time at 37 hours per week and includes regular weekend working.

Benefits

• Membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, with Forestry England contributing an average of 28.97% towards the pension.
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by one day each year up to 30 days, pro-rated for part-time staff, plus additional time off such as bank holidays.
• Access to the STaR employee benefits scheme, which includes discounts on supermarket shopping, hotel stays, clothing, mobile phones, electrical items, insurance, holidays, gym memberships, household bills, and the Headspace wellbeing app.
• Free parking at Forestry England locations and free entry to the National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
• Support for continuous learning and career growth, including professional development, individual learning plans, and sponsorship of professional memberships.

Application and Assessment

Applicants must provide a 200-word statement describing relevant experience and career history, plus a personal statement of up to 500 words. Both statements will be used during the initial sift. The interview process will also include assessment of a technical skill.

Interview assessment will also cover the following behaviours: communicating and influencing, working together, making effective decisions, and managing a quality service.

Successful candidates will be required to complete a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.

If reasonable adjustments are needed, applicants can contact the recruitment team by email.

Additional Information

Candidates using AI to support their application should review the organisation’s guidance before applying. Forestry England also provides information about its application process and working arrangements on its website.

Nationality requirements apply to this role. Applicants must also be able to communicate accurately in spoken English, as required under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016.

As part of the Civil Service, Forestry England participates in the Disability Confident Scheme, the Redeployment Interview Scheme for at-risk civil servants, and initiatives supporting veterans and prison leavers. Recruitment is based on fair and open competition and merit in line with Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. Complaints about the recruitment process can be sent to the HR services email address provided by the employer.

Employer Overview

Forestry England describes itself as an organisation focused on forests, nature, and public enjoyment of woodland spaces. Its work includes improving landscapes for the future, creating places for recreation, supporting wildlife habitats, cleaning the air, and producing sustainable timber.