Matilda Mason, Countryside Ranger

What I do

I work in the forestry yard at Chatsworth House, which is a stately home in Derbyshire. I’m part of the team that makes sure the woodlands are looked after and used in a sustainable way.

Most of my job is based in the yard, where we process cut-down trees into firewood using some specialist machines. The firewood goes to local customers, the farm shop and even helps heat homes on the estate using a biomass boiler. I also get involved in planting new trees and looking after equipment. We’re helping to look after the land for the future.

Matilda, wearing a protective visor, using a chainsaw to cut logs.

How I became a technician

At school I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I picked geography, sociology and French for my GCSEs. Geography was the only subject I really enjoyed because it felt real. I didn't get into my school's sixth form, and at the time I thought that it was the end of the world.

How I became a technician

Then someone suggested I look at land-based colleges. I went to Broomfield, part of Derby College, and it changed everything for me. I started on a countryside conservation course, which helped me grow in confidence and meet people with the same interests as me.

How I became a technician

After a year, I moved to a forestry and arboriculture skills course. I loved working with trees and knew this was what I wanted to do. I later spotted an apprenticeship opportunity at Chatsworth and decided to give it a go. I didn’t drive at the time and was lucky Chatsworth offered me accommodation nearby. That apprenticeship turned into a full-time job, and I’ve now been here for three years.

A typical day in my working life

I usually start work around 7.30am with a 30-minute team briefing (which normally involves a cup of tea). Depending on the plan, I might be operating the log processor, using the log tumbler or loading bags for deliveries. I also help out with other forestry activities, like tree planting, tree felling and weeding.

A typical day in my working life

Some days I get to drive the JCB or use a chainsaw, which I love. I recently got my JCB licence, which was really exciting. There's a lot of variety, one day I might be doing machine maintenance, another day I might be planting trees. You never know exactly what you're going to do, which is part of the fun.

What I love about my job

Being outside is my favourite part. I struggled at school with undiagnosed autism and ADHD, so learning in a classroom wasn’t easy for me. College opened my eyes to land-based work and made me realise there were careers I could enjoy and be good at.

I love that I’ve found something I actually want to do every day, I honestly only thought I’d ever find a job I’d tolerate, not something I love. It’s really rewarding to see the results of what we do, from heating homes with wood we’ve processed to planting new trees and watching them grow.

The skills I use most

You definitely need to be up for working outdoors in all weather. You need resilience too, and this job has really helped me develop that. I’ve also had to learn how to use lots of different machines safely, like chainsaws and the JCB. You need to stay calm and careful when handling big equipment, one wrong move can be dangerous. Being organised is important too, especially when dealing with large orders. I’ve learned a lot doing this job, including how to fix things when they go wrong. Sometimes just reading the manual saves the day!

School wasn’t the easiest time for me - I struggled with traditional learning.

I thought my world had ended when I didn’t get into sixth form. But if that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have found this job.

I love that I’ve found something I actually want to do every day.

A little more about my everyday role

The best part of working in a team

We’ve got a great team at Chatsworth. In our yard team there’s usually three or four of us, and we all bring different strengths. Everyone supports each other and it makes a big difference when we’re working hard or out in bad weather.

My favourite piece of equipment

It’s got to be the chainsaw! I love using it and doing the maintenance like sharpening the chain. It’s been great to get experience of felling trees and crosscutting logs, I’ve gained confidence every time. I also like the Avant, which is a small green machine a bit like a mini-JCB. It was the first thing I ever drove, and it’s great for getting into tight spaces. I still love using it now.

What I like to do in my spare time

I love hiking and taking photos of nature. I’m really lucky to live in the Peak District, so I can just step out my front door and be on a trail in minutes. Music is another big part of my life. I listen to everything from rock and metal to pop. I spend a lot of my wages going to concerts and festivals. I don’t play any instruments (I’ve tried!), but I absolutely love seeing live music.

My school days

School wasn’t the easiest time for me. I struggled with traditional learning and didn’t realise I had autism and ADHD until later. That made things tough, especially in academic subjects. I liked geography because it felt real and connected to the world. I had no idea you could study land-based subjects at college or do jobs like this. I thought the only options were university, hairdressing or construction. I wish someone had told me sooner about all the other possibilities out there.

The most exciting thing I’ve achieved so far in my job

Finishing my apprenticeship was a huge achievement for me. I’m proud that I stuck with it. I’ve gone from not enjoying school, to having a full-time job that I genuinely love every day.

A surprising fact about my job

It might surprise people how sustainable cutting down trees can be. At Chatsworth, the wood we process not only goes to sawmills but also heats homes on the estate through biomass boilers and log burners. We also replace any trees that we fell. On average we plant around 100,000 trees a year! We’re not just chopping down trees, we’re helping to manage and protect the woodlands for the future.

The next steps in my career journey

I want to keep learning new skills, especially more machine licences so I can drive other types of equipment. I’d love to keep progressing within forestry and maybe one day help train apprentices myself.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Don’t panic if things don’t go to plan - honestly, it might turn out better than you could ever imagine. I thought my world had ended when I didn’t get into sixth form. But if that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have found this job. There are so many different paths out there, and one of them could lead to your perfect job.