A HEAD forester has received tree-mendous recognition for his work on an estate in north Herefordshire.
Andrew Birch was rewarded by the Royal Forestry Society for his 30 years of work on the Foxley Estate.
Among his many tasks over the past three decades has been to develop the estate’s woodlands.
His most unusual task was identifying eight big larch trees which he and other estate woodland staff felled and helped convert to boat timbers for the River Wye Trow project held for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in June 2012.
Mr Birch, who lives in Mansel Lacy, spent his childhood in the Weobley area before applying to the nearby Foxley Estate to sponsor him as a Youth Training Scheme trainee after leaving school in 1984.
While doing this he attended a forestry course at Holme Lacy College
In August 1984 he started work on the estate’s timber treatment plant as a full time employee and in March 2003 was promoted to head forester.
He is now responsible for the estate’s woodlands and other aspects of estate maintenance.
Foxley Estate owner David Davenport said: "He has high standards and is a hardworking, knowledgeable and skilled forester who leads his team by example."
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