 The sector suffers from a macho lumberjack male image ( Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror) The Government's vow to plant 90 to 120 million trees by 2024 is under threat. As much as there is a lack of young men entering the field to combat the ageing workforce, the industry also acutely needs to attract more women. Although I might not be exactly what they need, working with trees in the beautiful woods was better than being in an office, and spending all day in nature is very calming. That is until Dave, after a lengthy demonstration, passes me a chainsaw. My first task is to practise on a log which is on a stand parallel to the ground. 'Just be wary of the kick-back, and support the chainsaw once you've cut through the wood,' says Dave. All didn't go to plan on the trip to the south west! ( Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror) 'Wha){kind=link}
The Government’s vow to plant 90 to 120 million trees by 2024 is under threat so getting the climbing spikes on, there was only one thing for it – becoming a ‘lumber-jill’ for the day!
I’m a lumberjack and I’m OK, really… I’m OK, I mutter to myself for encouragement as I dangle from an 80ft tree.
Having the upper body strength of a yoghurt, I am not a natural climber, but I was doing OK until I kicked my shoe spike into a loose bit of bark, lost my balance and fell from the trunk.
It is the first time I’ve worn climbing spikes, and thankfully, my instructor Dave Dobedoe is holding the security rope, so there is no chance of me plunging to my death. Instead, I’m just red-faced and swinging in a harness like Boris Johnson on the Olympics zipline â Union Jacks not included.
I’m not just doing this for fun, I’m in Devon on a lumberjack experience day to see what it’s like to be a “lumber-jill” because skill shortages in arboriculture and forestry are at critical levels.