I’m currently working on a John Deere forwarder, so I go into the forest after the harvester has cut the trees down, take them out and stack them by the roadside, ready for the lorry drivers to take off site. Normally I can move 100 plus tons a day, but I always make sure I do it as neatly as I can.

Safety’s a big concern for us, so first thing I do each morning is check my machine. At the end of the day, I carry out any maintenance that’s needed, top up the fuel, oil and grease then walk around the vehicle to make sure everything's OK. I’m qualified to drive a harvester as well, but I really prefer using the forwarder.

There are some days when the weather’s a bit wild and that’s when we have to spend more time doing brashing. That’s using branches to provide more support on tracks and haulage routes, which keeps the machine from getting stuck. Damage to the ground is also reduced, which is better for the habitats and landscapes we’re working in.

My company’s given me a lot of support, especially during my apprenticeship, so it’s been easier to learn from any mistakes I’ve made.

The best bit about my job is that you're always doing different things. Sometimes you could be lifting timber, the next day you could be building bridges or clearing out drains to keep water courses clean.

I’m really into machines, so I love having a job that involves driving into the forest and managing woodland. It’s a pretty rewarding career.