A DORSET forester ‘born with a billhook in his hand’ has been recognised with an award from the Royal Forestry Society.

John White received the long service award for working for 35 years at the award-winning Shaftesbury Estate woodlands.

Stewart Hand, of Shaftesbury Estate, said: “John was practically born with a billhook.

“He has helped us to manage 1,000 acres of mixed woodland for timber production, conser-vation and shooting over the decades, and his knowledge and skills have been invaluable.”

Mr White, who retired earlier in the year, began working with his father in the woods at a young age. He joined the estate’s forestry team in 1978 and helped them to jointly win the Duke of Cornwall Award for Multipurpose Forestry in 1992.

Royal Forestry Society pres-ident Nick Halsey presented the award to Mr White at the group’s AGM at Forde Abbey near Chard. He said: “The skills that are learned, honed and passed down over decades from forester to forester have helped shape our woodlands.

“The expertise of foresters such as John, combined with new research and practices, will be vital in helping the UK to combat the increasing threat of pests and diseases to our woodlands. We wish John every success in his retirement and congratulate him on the legacy he has helped create in the woodlands at Shaftesbury Estate.”

The Royal Forestry Society has around 4,000 members across the UK who include woodland owners, land managers, foresters, students, keen amateurs arborists, landscapers, timber users and ecologists.

The society also awards formal qualifications to promote wise management of woodlands and provides information to the public.

For more information, visit rfs.org.uk.