FORESTRY Commission England has announced the launch of a new apprenticeship scheme that will employ and train four apprentices in Halwill.

The news is part of an announcement of 20 new apprenticeships by the Forestry Commission across the country.

Based at locations across the Public Forest Estate in England, each apprentice will be given the opportunity to learn and work their way to professional qualifications and longer-term employment opportunities within the forestry sector.

The four apprentices in Devon will be based at Halwill, but their work will cover a wider area across North Devon, including Abbeyford Woods near Okehampton.

Pam Warhurst, Forestry Commision chair, said: 'Forestry is at the heart of our aspirations for a green economy, but there are some real issues around skills shortages that threaten to undermine its potential.

'A national review carried out in 2008 identified key problems for the forestry sector associated with both an aging workforce and lack of skilled new recruits.

'We are delighted to be in the position to recruit 20 new apprentices.

'We believe it is essential to attract new people into the forest industry and believe this apprenticeship scheme will provide the high level of practical training we will need our future employees to have.

'It is vital that the sector has a strong well skilled workforce to fully contribute to the green economy.

'Forests and woodland are already an important part of the rural economy. Forestry in England supports around 110,000 jobs — twice as many people as work in the mining and quarrying industries.

'With considerable growth in the woodfuel and firewood markets, rising timber prices, the boom in forest leisure activities and the rise of low-carbon fuels, all these things point to an even brighter future for the forestry sector.'

For more information on the apprenticeships, visit http://www.forestry.gov.uk/vacancies">www.forestry.gov.uk/vacancies and follow the link for the North Devon apprenticeship vacancies.