Our passion and dedication to forestry has helped us create a diverse and skilled team to serve our clients’ best interests.
Encompassing a wide range of specialisms within our organisation, we can excel in all that we do. You are invited to take the opportunity to read a profile on each member of the management and technical forestry team.
Ian Barrington BSc. (For), FICFor
Managing Director
Ian is a graduate of Bangor University (1998), and a member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (2001). He joined Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in 1999 as an assistant forest manager, where he worked for approaching 7 years. Following a period with a larger organisation, Ian returned in 2009 to further develop the management of the Company’s Welsh portfolio. He became a Director in 2011, and a fellow of the ICF in 2016.
Specialising in the management of mainly commercial forest assets, Ian also has a wealth of experience in the management of lowland mixed woodland, and in other areas where his interest in continuous cover forestry management principles can be applied.
Ian oversees the technical forestry team in Wales and Scotland, as well as providing investment and consultancy services throughout the UK
Location: Stirling Office
Contact:
Chris Hamill BA. (Bus), MSc. (Env For), MICFor
Operations Director – North
Chris has a degree in Business Management from Northumbria University and ran a successful IT company in the North-east for 15 years. A strong desire to work in the forestry sector led to him re-training and gaining a Master’s in Environmental Forestry with Distinction from Bangor University.
Chris joined Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in 2015 and attained professional membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters in 2019. He has been involved in the production of woodland management plans, and overseeing harvesting and restocking operations, including those in sensitive SSSI woodlands. Chris utilises his business experience and desire for long term sustainability to ensure that clients maximise profits, whilst minimising environmental impact. This is realised through an increased use of IT systems to improve quality and efficiency of forest operations.
Chris oversees the management of client properties in Southern Scotland, and the English counties of Northumberland, Cumbria & Yorkshire.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Julian Burchby BSc. (For) MICFor
Operations Director – South
Julian is a graduate of Bangor University (2001). He began his career initially in Devon and Somerset, where he worked on forestry and landscape contracting projects until 2006.
After a period of intense commercial contracting, undertaking forestry, landscaping and ground maintenance operations on a wide variety of sites including landfills, military training areas, quarries, airports and new roads, Julian later joined a small ecological consultancy company in 2011 to run their in house contracting operations. There he gained experience of protected species legislation, mitigation and work on large scale flood alleviation schemes and aquatic enhancement works, much of which was done in an urban situation, and the challenges that working environment can present.
Julian joined Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in early 2012 to focus on estate based woodland management, and brings with him experience of contracting, especially woodland establishment and planning, overseeing a wide range of operations, utilising direct labour and contractors, and ensuring the most suitable team and machinery is on site for the required task.
Julian oversees the forest management team in southern England, as well as managing key client properties in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
Location: South West Office
Contact:
Andrew Sowerby BSc (Hons) For, FICFor
Operations Director – West
Andrew has 15 years’ experience managing extensive public sector forests in Wales. Having become a chartered forester in 2006, he is an active member of the ICF, and held positions of secretary, vice chair and lead for the 2014 winter conference in Machynlleth. In 2017, Andrew was elected to ICF Council, representing the Wales Region. He also holds the position of Finance Officer on the Executive Committee and became a Fellow of the Institute in 2018.
Prior to joining Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in 2016, he developed Forestry Commission GB’s guidance for producing forest design plans and led national forest planning on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate. Most recently, he led a successful harvesting programme in South Wales to mitigate the effects of Phytophthora ramorum in larch. He delivered over 400,000 m3 of timber per year to market, leading a team of 15 staff in collaboration with customers holding 5-year long term standing and roadside contracts.
Andrew leads a group of volunteers in Wales that supports tree planting in rural Uganda. He values the global impact that local forests have on the economy and environment when they are sustainably managed. Andrew is a Welsh speaker.
Location: Wales Office
Contact:
Arthur Wiggins BSc. (For)
Senior Forest Manager
Arthur graduated from Bangor University in 2003. His forestry career began as a survey forester working all over the UK, before he settled on Mid Wales to become a forest manager. He joined Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in 2009, following an active period for a large forest management company.
He has developed a very sound understanding of upland forestry, and specialises in the management of large commercial assets for investment clients. Over the past decade, Arthur has been responsible for the management of over 3,000 hectares of forest across Wales, and during the same period, delivered a broad range of forestry contracting services for a variety of client types.
Arthur is responsible for client properties in mid-Powys and Ceredigion.
Location: Wales Office
Contact:
Ben Butler BSc. (Hons) For
Forest Manager
Ben joined the firm in September 2016 after graduating with a Forestry with honours degree from Bangor University, which included a year’s placement with Northern Ireland Forest Service.
Ben brings a wide range of skills from previous roles outside of forestry that he can apply effectively in the planning and supervising forest maintenance and re-stocking operations in Mid and North Wales, north Herefordshire and the Marches.
With interests in forest health and establishment, he covers all aspects of forestry in the upland and lowlands. Ben is applying a full range of silvicultural approaches that is necessary for such a varied portfolio, to meet client objectives.
Location: North Wales & Marches Office
Contact:
Stephen Knight BSc. (Hons) For, MSc. (Ecol)
Senior Forest Manager
Stephen graduated from Newton Rigg in 1997 before becoming a beat forester with the Forestry Commission. Responsible for the management of a wide range of both conifer and broadleaved woodlands spanning from Lincolnshire to Bedfordshire, he successfully implemented a large scale ancient woodland restoration programme and the management of several high profile SSSI and NNR sites.
In 2008, Stephen was promoted to lead a team of Technical Foresters and Conservation and Heritage managers covering mid and north Wales. His team was responsible for planning an annual programme of 280,000 m3 of clearfell and thinning, and an annual restock programme of 300 ha.
Stephen gained a Masters in Ecology and Conservation with Distinction from Stafford University in 2013. Stephen’s research project investigated how bats use different silvicultural systems in commercial upland conifer forests.
Stephen joined Pryor and Rickett Silviculture in 2017 and is responsible for the North Marches, Mid and North Wales portfolio. Among Stephen’s numerous interests is how to continue to bring valuable timber to the market whilst still enhancing the forest’s natural habitats and species richness. Stephen also lectures part time in ecology and environmental science subjects at a local University.
Location: North Wales & Marches Office
Contact:
Samuel Roberts BSc. (Hons), MSc. (Env For)
Woodland Creation and Carbon Manager
Sam followed his BSc. in Conservation Biology at the University of Plymouth with a Distinction in MSc. Environmental and Forest Management at the University of Aberdeen and has since had papers published in both Energy Reports and the Journal of Cleaner Production.
After joining the Brecon office in early 2018, Sam set to work building a GIS department, streamlining IT processes and developing the use of drones to assist Forest Managers. Having moved north to the Carlisle office, he became responsible for executing and maintaining digital mapping projects, 3D modelling, running drone operations, and keeping company IT systems in order. From January 2023, Sam began his new role project managing Pryor & Rickett’s afforestation schemes from conception through to operational handover.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Jim Wright BA, MSc. (For)
Forest Manager
Jim joined the Brecon office on a placement in 2019 which led to a full time position as a Forester, supporting the delivery of the mid Wales portfolio, and subsequently full Forest Manager status. Coping with the complexities of both lowland estate forestry and large scale commercial operations in mid Wales and the Marches, he oversees a broad range of public and private sector clients, including woodland creation for timber, amenity, habitat and archaeological restoration.
Jim achieved a distinction in his MSc. in Forest Management by distance learning from Bangor in summer 2021. His thesis involved contributing to a study on soil amendment and mycorrhizal inoculation as a vector for enhanced carbon capture at a forest in nearby Llandovery.
Location: Wales Office
Contact:
Norbert Kovacs MICFor
Senior Forest Manager
Norbert studied forest engineering in Hungary (2006) and worked for the Hungarian Forest Service as woodland planner creating woodland management plans for over 6,000ha of forests, before relocating to the UK in 2009.
After establishing himself in the country Norbert managed woodlands and contracts in the South East of England and in Scotland, ranging from 7 hectares to 5000 hectares. Pursuing his interest in digital mapping he completed a postgraduate diploma in Geographic Information Systems at Coleraine (2014) and worked for an industry leading arboricultural consultancy, developing their GIS database in Bristol. More recently Norbert became a professional member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters and successfully introduced active woodland management for a wide range of military establishments (through the creation and delivery of management plans) covering the southern half of the country, working on a large MOD contract.
Norbert joined the Exeter office in 2019 and is based just outside Bristol and plays a vital role linking up the offices and delivering our services along the M4/M5 corridor. He provides expertise on GIS and useful insights into continental forestry and silviculture.
Location: South West Office
Contact:
Adam Sharman BSc. (Hons) Arb., MArborA
Regional Manager – South / Arboricultural Consultant
Adam has worked within a range of sales and marketing roles, before a change of direction in 2011, fuelled by a love of trees, allowed him to undertake and graduate with a BSc (Hons) in Arboriculture from the University of Northampton in 2014. During this time, he gained practical experience, tickets and qualifications across a broad range of areas of Arboriculture.
Following graduation, Adam worked as a Lecturer in Arboriculture at a well-established East Midlands College. He delivered training and education across a range of Arboricultural subjects, including chainsaw use, tree climbing, pest and diseases to business and contract management, to a wide range of students of all ages, from 16 to 70+!
Adam joined the Central England office as our Tree Surveyor in 2019 to allow Pryor & Rickett Silviculture to offer a full range of consultancy services to our portfolio of clients, including roadside, parkland and property tree risk management, advice, guidance and expertise on tree-based issues.
Location: Central England Office
Contact:
Tom Whitchurch BSc. (Hons), MICFor
Senior Forest Manager
Tom graduated from Aberystwyth University in 2010 with a degree in Countryside Management, before working in the forest nursery sector for 3 years. He then joined the Forestry Commission as a Harvesting Operations Supervisor and Harvesting Manager within Natural Resources Wales based out of their Aberystwyth Office. During his time with NRW, Tom managed a wide range of harvesting operations from small scale hardwood thinning to large complex softwood clearfelling. In 2017 he then moved to the private sector working for a small forest management company based in South West Wales, looking after a large assortment of estates and overseeing their planting and harvesting programmes.
Tom joined Pryor & Rickett in 2020 based out of their Hereford Office and assists with the management of a portfolio of primarily lowland estates, bringing with him experience with Ash Dieback and woodland creation. He is working towards attaining full chartered status within the ICF.
Location: Hereford Office
Contact:
Matthew Walker BSc. (Hons)
Forest Manager
Matthew graduated from Bangor University with a First Class Honours degree in Forestry in 2020. He started his career working for a small woodland management firm in central Scotland before joining Pryor and Rickett’s graduate training scheme in 2021. Matthew has recently taken over the forestry portfolio in the new Central England office in Banbury and previously was based in the Hereford office where he assisted with the management of local estates and working with Forest Managers from the Brecon, Mixbury and South West offices to gain a breadth of experience from across the company. Having developed an interest in GIS whilst at university, Matthew has subsequently developed his expertise in this area and provides digital mapping support to the South region. He is currently working towards attaining full chartered status with the ICF
Location: Central England Office
Contact:
Christopher Rawlinson BSc. (Hons)
Assistant Ecologist
Chris holds a first-class BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences from the University of Bath. He joined the North Wales and Marches office with previous experience working for an ecological consultancy and having worked leading projects throughout Wales as a Fieldwork Tutor. Chris is also a qualified chainsaw operator and has experience working both within the commercial forestry sector and as a full-time volunteer Woodland Ranger with the National Trust, the latter involving work on PAWS restoration sites and SSSIs.
He is currently on track to receive a distinction in an MSc in Environmental Forestry with Bangor University and is particularly interested in the interface between scientific evidence and management decisions. He is currently undertaking his dissertation project investigating the habitat requirements of hairy wood ants in an upland oak woodland, and how these requirements may feasibly be incorporated into the site’s management plan.
Chris is continuously looking to develop himself through courses and industry involvement. This trait is characterised by his active involvement at Bangor University as Course Representative for his peer group and as Secretary of the Bangor Forestry Students’ Association.
Location: North Wales & Marches Office
Contact:
Kate Harvey BSc. (Hons)
Forest Manager
Having graduated from Plymouth University in 2014 with a first class (Hons) in Environmental Science, Kate began her forestry career with the Technical Services Unit at Forest Research, Alice Holt. There, she gained experience in practical field work and an appreciation for the “science behind the guidance”. In 2016, Kate started with the Woodland Trust as an Assistant Site Manager, and then Site Manager, managing sites of high conservation value, ancient woodlands, PAWS, and woodland creation projects across the Woodland Trust estate in parts of Surrey, West Sussex and Oxfordshire.
Kate joined Pryor & Rickett in May 2021 as the Assistant Forest Manager in the South East region, based in Surrey. She brings a passion for making woodlands work for wildlife, timber production, and provide ecosystem services. She is working towards attaining full chartered status within the ICF.
Location: South East Office
Contact:
Samuel Rowley BSc. (Hons) For
Forester Manager
Sam graduated at Bangor University with a BSc hons in Forestry in 2021, joining Pryor and Rickett shortly after as a Forester. Sam started his career on an estate in Gloucestershire, assisting with harvesting, restocking and establishment operations. He then went on to complete a Forestry degree which included a placement year with a mensuration and surveying company, carrying out a variety of forestry surveys across Wales and Scotland. Sam now assists with the management and supervision of maintenance, restocking and harvesting operations across West and Mid Wales. He is working towards attaining full chartered status with the ICF.
Location: Wales Office
Contact:
Graham Preece MSc. (Env. For)
Senior Forest Manager
Initially starting a career in engineering, Graham retrained as a forester obtaining a Master’s Degree in Environmental Forestry from Bangor University. He has over 15 years’ experience in commercial forestry working primarily with national forest management companies, managing a diverse portfolio of woodlands, from commercial conifer plantations, mixed broadleaved woodland including SSSI’s and land fill restoration projects. Graham has developed broad ranging skills in forest management with an excellent working knowledge of production forestry; with a particular interest in CCF systems and PAWS restoration, and experience in woodland creation, design & establishment.
Location: South West Office
Contact:
Dr Kate Palmer BSc (Math), MSc and PhD (Low Carbon Tech), AMICFor
Key Client Manager
Kate is a recent career changer, coming from a strongly research and policy background. Kate achieved a PhD in low carbon technologies from the University of Leeds, where she was awarded the Piers Sellers Excellence in PhD award, the most highly cited paper award from the Applied Energy Journal in 2018, and her research was covered by dozens of news outlets across the world. She built on this by working in a sustainability role, first at the International Energy Agency in Paris then within a smart city consultancy in Dundee. She is currently studying a distance learning MSc in Forestry at Bangor University, where she has already achieved the Phil Johnson memorial prize for Best Silviculture Student (2021).
Kate joined Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in 2022 and is working towards attaining professional membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. She is involved in running the day-to-day operations in the east of Scotland portfolio, and has a special interest in the role of forestry in mitigating climate change.
Location: Stirling Office
Contact:
Samuel Huddleston BSc. Hons (For), MICFor
Senior Forest Manager
Samuel graduated from the University of Bangor (2016) with a Bsc. Hons in Forestry. During his studies he spent a placement year Forest Enterprise Scotland in the Galloway Forest District establishing a good grounding in forest operations and managing upland commercial woodland. Upon graduation Samuel received the ICF student award for academic achievement. As a qualified professional Samuel has worked across both public and private sectors over a period of 7+ years becoming a professional member of the ICF in 2019. Joining PRS in 2022, he now oversees a wide portfolio of properties in North England, South Scotland and Argyll. His key responsibilities include operational delivery of forestry projects, new woodland creation and managing certification.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Roland Stonex MSc. (Env Sci.)
Forest Manager
Roland gained a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Policy and Planning (University of Bath 1996). He began his career in Devon working on practical estate forestry, countryside and landscaping projects.
Roland joined the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) in 1997 and worked as a Farm Conservation Adviser in Somerset for a number of years. After a spell with a commercial forestry/ countryside contractor in the mid 2000s, he moved to Devon to take up a Senior Adviser and Team Manager role with FWAG which carried on until 2020. During this time Roland gained extensive experience of advising farmers and landowners on agri-environmental and farm woodland management opportunities appropriate to their businesses/ needs and he has delivered a high number of successful schemes. He has worked closely with the Forestry Commission, Natural England, Environment Agency and various Local Authorities on a variety of farmland environmental contracts and initiatives. Roland’s farm advisory work became increasingly focused on woodlands and he has delivered successful farm woodland ‘cluster’ and ‘Woods for water’ projects in East Devon, as well as planning and implementing numerous woodland creation and woodland management schemes for individual farmers and landowners.
Roland gained Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) status in 2007.
Since 2020 he has been working as a Woodland Creation Officer with the Forestry Commission covering Devon, West/ South Somerset and West Dorset. During that time he advised on and approved a number of large scale woodland creation schemes in the region.
Roland joined Pryor and Rickett Silviculture in mid 2022 and will be taking on managing a portfolio of woodland estates in Devon and Cornwall and brings with him extensive experience of woodland creation and farm woodland opportunities.
Location: Exeter Office
Contact:
Tom Blythe BSc. (For.)
Senior Forest Manager
Tom joined Pryor and Rickett Silviculture in 2022, having previously worked across Scotland, Wales and England during his 16 year career. He graduated from the National School of Forestry with a BSc (hons) in Forestry and Woodland Management in 2005. His extensive knowledge and experience comes from managing a very wide range of sites, including everything from large scale upland forestry to lowland ancient woodland, particularly on protected sites. He has developed a reputation for sensitive but also highly productive working which will be a great advantage in this role working, principally for small woodland owners and rural estates.
Tom will be based from the Hereford office managing the portfolio in the Welsh Marches.
Location: Hereford Office
Contact:
Matthew Roderick BSc. (Hons)
Forester
Matthew graduated at University of Birmingham with a BSc Geography degree in 2022, joining Pryor and Rickett in the autumn. Matthew is mainly tasked with assisting two forest managers in large scale commercial operations in mid Wales.
Born and raised on a family farm, Matthew has a strong understanding of the concepts involved in growing and producing high quality goods for consumers. An agricultural upbringing places him perfectly for working in rural Wales and helps bridge the divide between farmers and foresters.
Matthew has a keen practical judgement having worked in the arboriculture sector for four years alongside his degree. Matthew is a competent chainsaw operator and capable ground worker.
Having recently joined the ICF as an associate member, Matthew aspires to one day achieve full chartered status.
Location: Wales Office
Contact:
James Bruce BA. (Bus).
Forester
Having achieved a BA. in Business & Management from the Leeds Business School, James worked as an international recruitment consultant for 2 years focussing on engineering, medical devices, and maritime transportation industries.
Following a desire to work in the outdoors and support climate mitigation activities, James retrained as a Forester undertaking a HNC from the SRUC Barony. During his studies he had the opportunity to undertake practical experience in tree planting, climbing, and forwarder operations. He also holds tickets for his First Aid +F, Chainsaw Maintenance & Cross cutting, and Small Tree Felling.
Having joined the company in late Autumn 2022, James has been involved supporting senior Foresters with surveying, GIS mapping, and planting operations. He hopes to achieve his ICF Charted Status and to begin taking steps towards his MSc. Forestry in the coming years.
Location: Stirling Office
Contact:
Kendric Main BSc. (For), MICFor
Senior Forest Manager
Kendric is a graduate of the University of Cumbria (2016) with a degree in Forestry & Woodland Conservation. Before university, Kendric worked as a gardener and volunteered as a forester with charity organisations in the Lake District to gain practical experience. In 2016, Kendric began his career surveying ancient woodlands and moved to Scotland to work as a Forest Manager in 2017.
Joining Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in 2022, Kendric brings a broad range of skills from working in both the commercial and conservation sectors of Forestry, allowing clients to have a tailored approach to the management of their properties in line with their objectives. Kendric has worked in both upland and lowland forestry across the whole of Scotland gaining a wealth of experience in forest management.
Kendric has been involved in the delivery of a wide variety of projects, from complex woodland creations within national parks to the creation of large-scale forest plans for estates and private clients. During quieter periods, Kendric provides lectures to universities on Forest Plan design and is an active member of the ICF.
Kendric oversees the management of properties in West, Central, East and Northern Scotland.
Location: Stirling Office
Contact:
Ryan Nortier BTech. For
Forest Manager
Ryan started his forestry career in 2002 after graduating with a National Diploma in Forestry, from Saasveld part of the Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. Whilst working as commercial forester he completed his Baccalaureus Technologiae (BTech), Forestry degree a decade later also from the Saasveld Campus, Nelson Mandela University.
He has 18 years of commercial silviculture, harvesting & fire protection experience whilst based in South Africa, managing between 3000 to 4000 hectares of Eucalyptus, Australian wattle and Pine plantations grown for pulp, building & fencing and sawtimber markets using own staff and medium to large contractors.
In 2019 he immigrated to the United Kingdom with his family and spend 3 years in the Utility Arboriculture sector becoming familiar with UK Standards before joining Pryor & Rickett as a Forestry Manager in November 2022.
Location: Exeter Office
Contact:
Sarah Farrimond BSc. (Hons)
Forester
In June 2022 Sarah graduated from the National School of Forestry, University of Cumbria with a First-Class Honours degree in Woodland Ecology & Conservation. Having previously been self-employed, gaining experience in financial planning, safeguarding and client liaison; a strong interest in woodland creation and forestry led Sarah to retrain in 2019.
Sarah joined the Carlisle team in November 2022 and will support the Forest Managers with woodland planning, management and forestry operations throughout the Northern region. She has an interest in PAWS restoration and multi-function forestry and is keen to develop her GIS skills. She is working towards attaining full chartered status of the ICF.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Ailsa Forgie
Forester
Ailsa joins the company in early 2023 and is in the process of studying part-time for a BSc (Hons) Environmental Science degree with the Open University. Ailsa is coming to forestry as a complete career change, she has previously worked as a school cook whilst raising her family. She loves being outdoors and has a keen interest in nature, wildlife, conservation, and sustainability. She is keen to learn and find ways to develop her knowledge around her interests. While continuing her studies, Ailsa will be a student member of the ICF and will be working from the Carlisle office.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Dan Haslam BSc. (Hons)
Forest Manager
Dan started his career studying Arboriculture and Forestry whilst working as tree surgeon based in South Devon before progressing onto the University of Cumbria where he graduated in Woodland Management. Following more forestry studying and working in California and Canada, Dan has since worked across the UK in both the private sector and public sector.
Predominantly working in the private sector in Scotland for a large forest management company where he delivered all aspects of forest management for a wide range of clients covering a portfolio of over 4000ha, including working in designated areas and developing many grant funded projects comprising of road construction, forest plans, and new woodland creation.
Moving back to Devon in 2021 he took a position working for the MOD as a Woodland Creation Officer where he advised on highly constrained woodland creation schemes across England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
In March 2023 Dan joined Pryor and Rickett as a Forester, working out of the Exeter office. He is an associate member of the ICF.
Location: Exeter Office
Contact:
John Anderson BSc. (Hons)
Forester
John is a recent career changer, coming from a background in studying Environmental Resource management with a focus on Forestry. John achieved a 2:1 second class honours from SRUC and the University of Edinburgh. John studied a range of environmental topics but focused his studies on his interests which included GIS mapping, Climate Change mitigation and Woodland Management. He has skills in literature research, report writing and field work activities through a combination of dissertation work and volunteering. He has worked in the water industry for three years prior to joining forestry, liaising with businesses, customers and water wholesalers.
John joined Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in 2023, he is involved in running the operations of the central and west coast sites which PRS manage. John has been involved with supporting senior Foresters with planting operations and survey work. He hopes to work towards ICF Charted Status over the next few years.
Location: Stirling Office
Contact:
Brendon Leslie BSc. (Hons) For.
Forester
Brendon started with Pryor and Rickett Silviculture in late spring of 2023 after graduating from Bangor University in 2022 with a BSc (Hons) For. Brendon also studied in arboriculture and was able to attain his Chainsaw Maintenance, Cross Cutting, and Tree Felling qualifications as well as his Aerial Rescue and Using a Chainsaw in a Tree qualifications. These skills bring a unique perspective from the woodland floor, that Brendon hopes will be able to give a unique point of view to the company. Brendon will be working in the Hereford office in a supporting role for the increasing client base throughout the Marches & Forest of Dean areas.
Location: Hereford Office
Contact:
Alfie Allingham FDSc BSc (Hons)
Senior Forest Manager
After completing a Bachelor of Science in countryside management, heritage management and conservation as well as an FDSc in Agriculture and farm management from the Royal Agricultural university, Alfie Set up his own Arboricultural, forestry and consultancy company based in the southeast before moving to New Zealand in 2018 to continue his career in forestry carrying out large scale harvesting operations as well as infrastructure and haulage planning.
In 2021 Alfie moved back from New Zealand to work for a Consultancy firm in the Scottish borders carrying out Tree safety surveys and managing a portfolio of clients before moving back down to the southeast and starting with Pryor and Rickett Silviculture in May 2023.
Location: South East Office
Contact:
James Beedle BSc (Hons)
Forester
After working in banking for two years James began to develop an interest in forestry by volunteering with the Woodland Trust in his local woodland which led him to pursue a degree in forestry at Bangor University. James graduated from Bangor University in 2023 with a BSc (Hons) in Forestry. During which time he completed a placement year with National Resources Wales, working with the forest operations and land management teams in the Brecon Beacons. After graduating, James promptly joined Pryor and Rickett Silviculture as a Forester working primarily in mid to north Wales and the marches.
James supports Forest Managers in the management and supervision of harvesting and restocking operations as well as GIS mapping. After becoming student member of the ICF during his time at university, James intends to pursue chartership as he begins his career in forestry.
Location: North Wales & Marches Office
Contact:
Philip Roe MSc. (For), MICFor
Forest Manager
Phil started his career in the late 1980s managing Rural Development Forestry (RDF) and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) projects in India before returning to the UK where he studied his MSc Forest Business Management at Aberdeen University. Phil then secured a place on the graduate trainee programme with Forest Enterprise Scotland in Galloway before achieving his HND Forestry qualification from Newton Rigg. He has also worked on native woodland creation projects with Borders Forest Trust, and private mixed estate management at Moray Estates in Scotland.
Before joining Pryor & Rickett Silviculture, Phil worked for Forestry England (North Yorkshire) for 10 years specialising in the management of commercial forests and working on the creation of climate proof species mixtures.
Phil is a member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, and is interested in continuous cover silviculture, wildlife biology, and conservation.
Phil currently oversees the management of client properties across the West of Scotland.
Location: Stirling Office
Contact:
Thomas Ruck BSc (Hons)
Forester
Thomas graduated from Bangor University in 2021 attaining a First-Class Honours degree in Forestry and joined the company in 2023 to start their career. Their earlier work-life has been within the customer service, care and voluntary sectors. A passion to fight climate change and bio-diversity collapse led their move into the forestry and land management field. At university they were an active student member of the ICF and are aiming for chartered status.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Anthony Geddes
Head of Investment
Anthony is a forestry professional with an extensive background in asset and investment management, including previously working within the energy and built environment sectors. Having crossed over into the forestry sector in 2012, he joined John Clegg & Co. as a Forestry Investment Surveyor and subsequently moved to Confor as their National Manager for Wales. He has continued to develop his forestry skills becoming a Chartered Forester in 2022 and will be key in further developing the investment arm of Pryor & Rickett.
Anthony will support both new and existing clients in developing their forestry portfolios by matching client investment objectives to both ‘on market’ and ‘off market’ opportunities. Forest and land ownership is evolving and requires expertise to support clients who value socially responsible investment, with such benefits as biodiversity improvement, soil conservation and flood management, alongside fiscal and timber incomes. His experience of policy and lobbying environments matched to his investment experience, will provide leadership within the business to maximise Pryor & Rickett’s offering to clients.
Location: Brecon Office
Contact:
Stefan Rijnbeek MSc (Hons) and BA (Hons)
Contract Supervisor
Stefan initially attained a BA degree in Industrial Design from Brunel University in 2015, and went on to co-found a design and expeditions company within the outdoor industry. However, his lifetime experience of managing and utilising family Taiga forests (going back 4 generations) drew him back from his polar and other adventures and into academia, by completing an MSc course in Environmental Forestry at Bangor University in 2023. Stefan has strong interests in wood science, having researched this subject within the Bangor BioComposites department, and is practiced in alternative and ancient silvicultural methods of natural timber preservation techniques.
Within the UK environment, Stefan has experience in operations and biomass production in his native home counties, but since joining Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in 2023, he is now based in Peeblesshire within the operations and woodland creation team. Outside of work, Stefan is a keen backcountry skier and has a passion for challenge and adventure in all its forms.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Tim Bennett BSc (Hons)
Forester
Tim Graduated with a Countryside Management degree from Aberystwyth in 2005, spending a short stint in river restoration before following his real passion for tree work and returning to Wales to work as a woodsman for National Trust.
Tim spent 17 years covering Mid and SE Wales for National Trust with on the ground experience from seed collection right through various silvicultural practices and landscape infrastructure to final timber product. A competent chainsaw user with experience in large trees, multiple windblow and ash die-back as well as tractor based FMO operator for winching and forwarding. These skills bring a strong understanding of the work involved in operations. This work was undertaken across a wide variety of lowland to upland sites and has included tree safety and veteran tree works.
Having been part of the 2023 ICF/Clore Emerging Leaders Programme further developed Tim’s desire to extend his interest in trees and take up a position with Pryor and Rickett in late 2023 where he will support the Brecon based Forest Managers whilst building his knowledge and working towards ICF chartered status.
Location: Brecon Office
Contact:
Gareth Edwards
Forester
Prior to Gareth working for PRS he gained over ten years of invaluable experience in the forestry sector working for the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales (NRW) & Euroforest. He began as a site supervisor in the Wye Valley for NRW before progressing to a Contract Manager role and then A team leader for the South of Wales. In his role he led a successful harvesting programme to mitigate the effects of Phytophthora ramorum in larch, delivering over 400,000 m3 of timber per year to market, leading a team of 20 staff in collaboration with customers holding 5-year long term standing and roadside contracts.
Gareth was responsible for purchasing and managing timber harvesting sites from initial valuation of standing and roadside timber, to ensuring all operations are undertaken in line with Euroforest and industry standards, as well as guaranteeing a consistent supply of timber to customers. He has a broad range of experience working in the sites of Wales from thinning to clear fell and has particular expertise in challenging steep winch sites.
Location: Hereford Office
Contact:
Huw Jones
Professional Forester Degree Apprentice
Huw joined the business 2023 as part of the University of Cumbria’s 3-year Professional Forester Degree Apprenticeship. Huw’s time is divided between working for Pryor & Rickett Silviculture and Euroforest, providing him experience in both forest management and harvesting operations. Prior to this, Huw spent 7 years coordinating operations in the risk sector before deciding to pursue a career change after developing an interest in forestry after a period of volunteering at a Dorset country park.
As part of his apprenticeship, Huw shadows and assists the Pryor & Rickett forest management team throughout the southwest area. Through this experience, he further builds on the skills and knowledge taught in the degree curriculum.
Location: Exeter Office
Contact:
Daniel Clavey BSc. (Hons)
Forester Apprentice
Following a degree in Environmental Science Dan has entered the industry through the Professional Forester Degree Apprenticeship. He will be completing a 3 year BSc. Professional Forester’s Degree whilst doing his placements between PRS and Euroforest. Dan is eager to expand his knowledge of the sector, and to develop his skills with particular interest to woodland creation and harvesting ops.
With the University of Cumbria, he has already been involved with a commercial crop tariffing procedure and new woodland creation management plan proposal, for both productive conifer woodland and native broadleaved woodlands.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Sam Wallis BSc. (Hons)
Planning Forester
Sam Graduated in 2022 with a 2:1 degree in Environmental Science and Technology from Abertay University. He spent a year working as a GIS technician for HarperCollins Publishers where he developed his GIS skills with a variety of projects that ranged from data capture to the production of global mapping intended for publication.
Desiring a change of career Sam started at PRS in late 2023 as a Planning Forester. He has since begun developing his knowledge of forestry sector and has quickly put his GIS skills to use supporting both the Carlisle and Stirling offices.
Sam’s main responsibilities are to support the Stirling and Carlisle offices in the creation of Long Term Forest Plans, New Woodland Creation and to provide technical support.
He hopes to work towards his Chartered Forester status in the near future.
Location: Stirling Office
Contact:
Simon Chalder
Forester
Simon joined the Carlisle office at the end of 2023 with the goal of helping to manage new and ongoing projects in the north east of England. He is currently studying a MSc in Forestry at Bangor University and is a student member of the ICF and the Arboricultural Association. Previously he has studied land and wildlife management at Houghall College in Durham after leaving a 12 year career with the North East Ambulance Service and working on practical woodland management for a small estate in Northumberland. He has also worked as a volunteer on projects including the management of riparian, lowland heath, and grassland habitats. He has a keen interest in striking a balance between the demands of commercial forestry and continuing to maintain our natural habitats and biodiversity as well as the role that technology can play in realising these goals.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Ross MacGarvie BA, MSc
Forest Manager
Ross studied a joint honours of Geography and Planning at Newcastle University graduating in 2018. Before going on to study a Masters of Environmental and Forest Management in 2019 at the University of Aberdeen. Following his studies he got a graduate role at Scottish Woodlands, where he stayed for four years becoming an Assistant Forest Manager particularly developing his skills in NWC’s, forest maintenance and restock establishment. He joined Pryor & Rickett Silviculture as a Forest Manager in 2024 and works in the Carlisle office, where he manages a portfolio of sites focusing on the Southwest of Scotland. He continues to progress his development as he is currently working towards becoming a Chartered Forester.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Matt Gregory FdSc (Env Con).
Forester
Matt joined the business in April 2024 as a forester for the southwest region. Prior to this he spent 6 months working for a private estate in Wiltshire, carrying out woodland management tasks and completing a large-scale woodland creation scheme. Matt found an interest in forestry while studying for an FdSc Environmental Conservation and Heritage Management at the Royal Agricultural University and brings with him a broad range of experience gained through volunteer roles completed alongside his studies.
Location: Exeter Office
Contact:
David Johnson BSc. (Hons)
Forester Manager
David joined the business in June 2024 as a Forest Manager, working out of the Carlisle office. After graduating from the Scottish Agricultural College in 2010 with a degree in Countryside Management, in which he focused his studies on multi-purpose woodland management and GIS. He started his career in operational forestry as qualified forest harvester operator and then as a harvesting manager.
David has worked for the last 15 years in both private and public forestry sectors in a variety of roles and has experience in the planning and delivery of forestry and rural land management projects for private and institutional clients.
Most recently he worked for Scottish Forestry’s central conservancy, specialising in complex forest grant scheme and regulatory case work, he has a unique knowledge and prospective of navigating forestry grant and regulatory system within Scotland particularly in relation to new woodland creation, and forest planning.
Location: Carlisle Office
Contact:
Iain Walker BSc. (Hons)
Forest Manager
Iain has a degree in Ecological Science, with Hons in Forestry from Edinburgh University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Geospatial technology from Aberdeen University. He has worked for Forestry & Land Scotland for 7 years as a Planning Forester in West Argyll as well as in Moray & Aberdeenshire. This also included some time working as a Forest Liaison Officer where he participated in wind farm development on the national forest estate. He has also worked for Tilhill as a Forest Manager in Cowal for 4 years where he gained valuable experience of managing upland conifer plantations.
Most recently he has worked as an independent Forest Consultant for 3.5 years, where he offered a specialist service to several clients which included forest planning, woodland creation, landscape appraisals, visualizations, QGIS training, data management and tree establishment.
Iain joined Pryor & Rickett in June 2024 and is working to attain professional membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. He is involved in the day-to-day operations in the west of Scotland.
Location: Stirling Office
Contact:
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