Profile
![Photo:](https://imaproject.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Capture-150x150.jpg)
Mark Child
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About Me:
Hi! I’m Mark, and I work for the Great Northumberland Forest. I think trees are awesome. Outside of work I like rowing, running and walking my dog.
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I grew up in Surrey where I went to school and did my A Levels. I then studied Forestry at University of Wales, Bangor. I now work for Northumberland County Council on a project called the Great Northumberland Forest.
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My pronouns are:
he/him
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My Work:
I am the project manager of the Great Northumberland Forest, which is a project to increase tree cover across the county.
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My job is about encouraging people to plant trees. This can range from farmers, landowners to community groups and schools. They key thing is to explain how trees could benefit the land and what they can do for us.
Before this job I worked in Forests like Kielder, managing the forest to produce timber, replant areas which were felled, and manage habitats for protected species like red squirrels and ospreys.
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Education:
I went to school at Bishop Want C of E secondary school in Sunbury up to GCSEs. Then I went to Strode’s sixth form college in Egham to do my A Levels. Finally I went to University of Wales, Bangor to study Forestry.
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Qualifications:
GCSEs in English, Maths, Science, Art, Graphic Design, History, French and Religious studies
AS Levels in Environmental Science and Sociology
A Levels in Law and History
BSc Hons in Forestry
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Work History:
After graduating from uni I started as a Forest Works Supervisor in Sherwood Forest, where I supervised forest operations such as thinning, clearfelling and replanting.
I then moved to the North East to take on the Beat Forester role at Hamsterley in County Durham. In this role, I organised the forest operations and the beat team.
After a spell of 5 years there I moved up to Kielder as a Beat Forester with a focus on continuous cover forestry (no clear felling) which focused around Kielder Water
I then moved into the Head of Planning and Environment for North Forest District, leading on the creation of forest design plans (which bits to fell, when, and what to replant with) and the work to conserve and protect important species and habitats such as Red Squirrels and peat bogs.
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Current Job:
Programme Manager for the Great Northumberland Forest
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Employer:
Northumberland County Council
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
I loved the idea of designing ships but discovered forestry during my A levels and never looked back.
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Rowing coach
Who is your favourite singer or band?
McFly
What's your favourite food?
Steak
Tell us a joke.
What did the dung beetle say when he walked into a bar? Is this stool taken?
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