WITH its 7,000 hectares of forest and 3,000 ha of open land, it has more than earned its reputation as 'mini Scotland'. Now, you could oversee it all. 

A new forester is being sought for Arran, just off the country's west coast, to look after Forestry and Land Scotland's (FLS) operations on the island. 

This includes restocking and planting around 100-110 ha each year and harvesting operations across 80,000/m3. 

The opportunity comes after previous forester Andy Walker retired in March. 

Of working on the island, he said: “This is the ideal job for someone who is ready to manage their own forest. It’s about being in charge of every step of the forest cycle, from cultivation, tree establishment, right through to the final stage of tree harvesting.  

“But there’s also the challenge of looking after the recreation facilities that are vital in such a tourist-orientated destination, and all the conservation work, whether that’s habitats, wildlife or even archaeology." 

Known affectionally as ‘mini Scotland’, with its lowlands to the south and the mountain ranges in the north, Arran is the place to be for anyone who loves outdoor pursuits.

It is also an ideal place to bring up a family. There is a primary school in each village, an island secondary school and the main ferry terminal at Ardrossan is only an hour away from the Scottish mainland.

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Andy added: “It’s quite a unique opportunity and as our representative on the island the lucky person who lands the role will be liaising with the community and wide range of people with an even wider range of interests.

“Arran is a great place to live – and an even better place to work.”

Anyone keen on finding out more details or applying for the job can check online