One of Britain’s most highly respected and longest serving head foresters is retiring after 27 years with Clinton Devon Estates, having the set the path for a major change in woodland management to cope with a range of challenges, from tree disease to climate change.
John Wilding, MBE is handing over his role as head of forestry and reserves to Rob Coventry, who has joined the Estate from a private forest management and consultancy business on the Wiltshire-Somerset border.
John was responsible for the management of the Clinton Devon Estate’s 1,900 hectares (770 acres) of woodland as well as overseeing the work of the National Nature Reserves Team on East Devon’s Pebblebed Heaths and Otter Estuary. He also led on renewable energy projects and deputised for the Estate’s Chief Executive, John Varley.
John Wilding assesses young woodland on Otterton Hill
John Varley said: “John Wilding has been absolutely central to the smooth running of the Estate over many years. He will be much missed. His dedication and expertise in forestry has helped enormously in meeting our aims of running a financially sustainable operation in a way that cares for the environment and always looks to the future. We welcome Rob to the team and look forward to the continuing success of our forestry operations under his management.”
Rob Coventry will inherit a commercially sustainable woodland operation with a focus on growing quality timber for use in a range of applications. John’s policy of allowing species, like Douglas Fir, to grow for more than 70 years is producing specialist timber for using in construction projects like large scale timber frame buildings where wide span supports are needed.
Rob, who studied forest and nature management in Germany and Denmark before working in various roles across research and policy with the Forestry Commission, is a Chartered Forester. His last job was in private consultancy and forest management.
He said of his new role: “I am really looking forward to getting to know the woodland – and, of course, the people and working with the team – I couldn’t really ask for a better team to come to.” Rob said he was also keen to play a part in the wider Estate operations, including the Lower Otter Restoration. “There’s a lot of great work going on in the nature reserves,” he said.
John Wilding paid tribute to the skills and hard work of his colleagues in the Forestry and Reserves Team and to the Clinton family and Estate Trustees for their willingness to change course in the way the woodlands are managed to meet changing environmental circumstances.
“I will miss the people I have worked with,” he said. “It’s a great team and the Estate, the family and the trustees have always shown a good and forward-thinking philosophy, which has made it a pleasure to work here.” John worked closely with the late Lord Clinton, who passed away in April and who always took a deep interest in the forestry.
John plans to keep busy in retirement. He is a keen country sportsman, with a particular interest in game-fishing and also enjoys riding his motorcycle. He said: “I have got a lot of interests and an expanding family with grandchildren arriving in the last couple of years. I am well aware that life is not a rehearsal – and I plan to live it!”