What made you become a member of RSFS?
My former employer RTS Forestry was a member and I started to attend events through them. My old manager Mike Thomson was on the Central Committee and asked me to take over from him when he stepped down.
Where did your interest in forestry begin?
Climbing trees and playing in the woods as a kid, then I became aware of issues surrounding trees and woodland management around 1996 when they built the Newbury bypass through parts of The Chase and Pen Wood near where I grew up in West Berkshire.
Where is a great place in Scotland that not everyone knows about? I
Samalaman Bay a magical sheltered little bay near Glenuig on the west coast
Do you have a favourite tree and why?
There is a magnificent silver birch in someone’s front garden in Linlithgow where I live with a beautifully balanced canopy and cascading foliage which I admire throughout the seasons.
Can you give us a book, movie, TV show or podcast recommendation? It doesn’t have to be forestry related!
I recently watch Train Dreams on Netflix about a logger on the Pacific Northwest. It was really good although quietly devastating
What do you think is an important issue in forestry today?
All roads lead back to deer management!
Outside of forestry, what is a hobby or activity you enjoy?
Swimming, music and the many adventures of a 5yr old and an 8yr old.
What was your first job?
I worked in a café in a shopping centre after school and I got paid £1.90/hr
What do you love most about forests or forestry?
The fresh air, the landscapes, the encounters with wildlife, the cool machines and the people are generally pretty sound!