Women have long played an important role in the forestry sector. From the trailblazing work of the Lumberjills of the past to today's women working in a range of roles across the nation's forests, we celebrate their connection to these special places.
An innovative celebration of women in forestry
The Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research, supported by Defra, commissioned The People’s Picture to create a photo mosaic featuring stories from women across the forestry sector now and in the past.
Visit the link below to explore the mosaic and discover some of their stories.
The Lumberjills
During the Second World War, a demand for wood and lack of male forestry workers created a need for women to join the Women's Timber Corp, part of the Women's Land Army.
Known as the Lumberjills, thousands of women took on the physically demanding tasks of forestry, from felling and loading trees to driving tractors and operating sawmills.
Discover their story online.
Roles for women in forestry today
As tree planting increases across the country, so too does the demand for a diverse, skilled forestry workforce.
There is a range of careers in forestry available to women of all backgrounds, from foresters, ecologists and tree surgeons to working in conservation and scientific research. There are also lots of exciting wider roles linked to the nation’s forests, from business planning and management to leisure and tourism.
