Case study - Robin
Robin Fuller works for Forestry Commission Scotland, but he is not your idea of a normal forester.
He doesn’t spend his days wearing a checked shirt and chopping logs.
Instead, as Community and Education Officer, Robin works just as hard to get people to explore the woods around Ae Forest District near Dumfries.
There is a lot to Robin’s job, which changes from day to day. He can find himself organising school visits or public events or improving paths which join up nearby towns to the forest.
Another important part of Robin’s job is showing people how a visit to their local forest can be good for their health and make them feel happier.
Robin (33) says: "I’ve been with Forestry Commission Scotland for six years now and I love being able to work outdoors and meet different people.
"I work with everyone from primary school children to older people to help them realise their local woods are amazing places to visit to exercise or relax."
Since he was young, Robin has always loved the outdoors and, during school, he spent some time at Lake District National Park, which got him thinking about a job in the outdoors.
He studied for A levels in Geology, Geography and Biology, and was accepted on to the University of Stirling’s Environmental Science course. At university, he spent much of his spare time doing volunteer work with nature charities.
After graduating in 1996, Robin studied for an HNC in Habitat Surveying for Wildlife Conservation, which helped him learn practical skills.
Robin used those skills in his first job as Red Squirrel Officer, working with local forest managers in Dumfries and Galloway to look after the squirrel population by making sure they had enough food and shelter.
When he heard that a Forestry Commission job was available at Ae Forest District, he jumped at the chance.
Robin says: "People might think that you need a forestry degree to work for the Commission and, while that’s true for some positions, there are a lot of other exciting options which you can think about."
For more information visit jobs with Forestry Commission Scotland.