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This website is for planters interested in working in the UK over the winter months.
Our goal is to be open and upfront with our planters while offering a unique experience here in the UK.
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- About Us -
- Flat Cap Forestry Ltd. was officially founded in 2007, after three previous years of sub-contracting work in the UK
- Both owners have dual Canadian-British citizenship and a combined 30 years in the reforestation industry in Canada
- Contact Us -
011 44 7758 122 419 from outside the UK
- What (Not) to Expect Overall -
- Although
wide-scale tree-planting has been around in the UK for 200 years, it has
generally not reached the same level of development, organization and productive
capabilities as it has in Canada
- Having said that, Flat Cap Forestry (in its own little way) is working to
change this - we offer, by far, the closest experience to Canadian-style
tree-planting in the UK
- While many contractors in Britain are used to working half-days and irregular
shifts, we have continuously turned heads in the industry by covering vast
swaths of land with top quality trees in short periods
- Although it can and has happened, DO NOT expect to come over and make
thousands and thousands of pounds to pay off debts like you might in a short
period in Canada, weather, Forest Industry disorganization and nursery issues can cause some
delays and interrupt the perfect 4-and-1 style shifts
- Planters have to be prepared to take advantage of these slow periods early in
the season by having the means to independently support themselves. Unexpected
days off can be enjoyed as we are often staying in beautiful locations across
the UK, often in close proximity to major centers like Glasgow, Edinburgh,
Newcastle, Stirling, etc.
- The happiest planters are those with travel ambitions and extra cash that
would like to use this employment as a springboard to travel the UK and/or
Europe
- This is particularly true of anyone wanting to plant from December - February.
You run the risk of downtime due to frost, and it is advisable to have a Plan B
(eg: travel plans plus disposable income)
- Accommodation/Camp Life -
- Most
planters have found living conditions in the UK much more comfortable than most
Canadian camps
- Flat Cap provides accommodation ranging from Caravan Parks (Trailer Parks)
with static trailers, to hotel suites, to urban hostels depending on the
situation - this usually includes electricity, hot showers, kitchen, TV, and
sometimes internet etc.
- Often planters have done elaborate crew-cooking rotations to keep costs down
and share cooking duties, since food must be purchased on one's own. We are
often located within walking distance to some type of grocery store, if not
regular trips in the van are made to the nearest town.
- A set camp cost is usually around £12-£20 a day depending on the place, which
includes a bed and ride out to work (fuel/van rental/insurance/maintenance).
- You are welcome to look for your own accom as well. If you are completely
independent in this way you will not have to pay any camp costs to Flat Cap
Forestry but you will also be responsible for finding your own way to work from
the place you have chosen to live. You could also choose to find your own
accommodation close to the work-site and use Flat Cap’s transport and just be
charged for your share of transport costs.
- You will be charged EVERY DAY, working days and non-working days that you are
living in a hotel, hostel, chalet or commercial caravan park. If you are to take
impromptu days off to do little trips you will still be responsible for your
share of the rent for the time that you are away. If your trip away from work
has been pre-arranged and we have advance notice of your plans and if there is
another planter to take your place, we may reduce camp costs or waive them. If
you are in a camp situation (with a trailer that we own) you will not be charged
for days off.
- Please bear with us here, this is something few companies offer. Yes, camp
costs are considerably higher than Canadian standards, but the UK is expensive
and we are simply trying to find the best, least expensive accommodation
available nearest to a given work site. This is not something we have ever made
money on, in fact we have often subsidized these costs in order to make it
cheaper for the planter. Please understand this is not the oil industry with
thousands to waste on living allowances - we do our absolute best to keep costs
down because we incur them too. Margins are thin.
- 'Being a Team' - OK, there's no need to go on a Team Building retreat here,
and we are sure that most of you don’t need to be reminded, but seriously, we
need planters who can handle living in close quarters with other planters - do
your dishes, be creative and proactive with job-sharing schemes, keep things
tidy, be respectful of others' space and things and don't be late everyday when
the van is ready to leave for work.
- Visas -
- You will need a Visa to work for Flat Cap Forestry, or
otherwise be legal to work in the UK (eg: European/British citizenship) – No
exceptions.
- You will also have to apply for a British National Insurance Number within 7
days of arriving in the UK. You must supply Flat Cap Forestry with documentary
evidence of your work visa. (Photocopies will do)
- You can find information at
www.ukvisas.gov.uk - What used to be called the
'Working Holiday Maker' is now called the “Tier Five Temporary Work Permit”,
under the Youth Mobility Scheme. This is the one that you need.
- Students who are attending a UK university are also able work on their student
visas
- Use this address when filling out the
appropriate part of the visa application:
Hugh Gilmour - Director of Flat Cap Forestry Ltd. Flat 1/1 60 Belville St
Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland PA15 4UT phone: 01475 732113
- Terms of Employment and Payment -
- You will
be working as self-employed sub-contractors and paid by Flat Cap Forestry Ltd.
- A contract will be signed confirming this. You are free to leave at any time
with no deduction in tree price. This “self-employed” contract enables you to
receive your pay without deductions. As a self-employed contractor you will be
responsible for your own Tax and deductions but only if you are to make above
the basic personal exemption of £4,700
- You will need to open a UK bank account (cash advances will be limited) for
which we will provide the necessary documents. Choose the Clydesdale Bank for
immediate wire transfers when it comes time for advances/payment.
- You need to have enough money with you to last at least the first 6 weeks. For the first part of the season it is impossible for us to give large advances. It takes 30 banking days for us to receive payment from the Forestry Commission after we have invoiced for our first week of work. After this period we aim to deposit money into your British bank account every two weeks.
- The season starts in the first week of November and usually runs in to mid April. In past years the season even extended into June. (This was an exceptional circumstance and we plan on finishing mid-April in the future) The most productive periods are November to early December and Mid-February till the end of April. We take two weeks off over the Xmas holidays. You are on your own from around the 20th of December till about the 7th of January. In past years we have sometimes organized a group trip to Europe during this time.
- The Planting -
- The trees are mainly Sitka Spruce but often we can be planting a variety of species, including some hardwoods. All the trees are bare root and you must ensure that no roots are sticking out of your hole. Trees must be planted deep, firm and erect! Trees should be heeled in rather than pressed in with your hand. Bring an appropriate shovel for bare root trees, one with a decently sized blade. We recommend that you bring your bag and shovel with you, as good tree planting equipment is almost impossible to find in the UK. Most of the ground is mounded but there is some Direct (raw, un-prepped) planting as well. In Britain it is called “Flat” planting – though the ground is rarely flat! They like to see the trees in very straight uniform rows and at a density of 2800 stems per ha. Similarly, in the mounds, the ideal density is 2800 stems /ha. There will also be “fill” planting or what is referred to as “beat-up” in The UK. This involves replacing dead or nearly dead trees in an area that was planted previously. It is very important here that you try and maintain the prescribed inter-tree spacing of a maximum of 1.9 meters and a minimum of 1.5. You have to use your eyes here as these areas are often covered in grass.
- Pesticides – In the new year some of the trees are treated with pesticides. You can research the following to find out more information: Alpha C 6ED - Technea Chemicals. You will be required to wear nitrile gloves and chemically resistant rain gear. Gloves and chemical rain gear is issued to the planter at cost but must be worn when planting treated trees. During the wet cold days of January and February most planters appreciate the gear. In March when the weather gets a bit warmer we may be allowed to wear just “bib and brace” rain trousers with longer gloves and forego the wearing of the jacket.
- Some Scenarios - The Good, the Bad the Ugly-
At Flat Cap Forestry, we aim to be up-front. We don’t want you here under any misconceptions. Here are a couple of scenarios that should help to round out an understanding of what you're getting yourself into.
The Good - "When the frost hit, I said to hell with it and flew to Spain and ‘woofed’ on a farm for a couple weeks. When I got back in February, I was making roughly £100 a day on fairly regular 4-day shifts. This allowed me to leave again for another month of travel, before I came back to finish off the last month of work. All in all, I ended up taking money back home and seeing a good chunk of Europe. As far as the UK goes, I actually feel like I gained a real cultural experience, rather than typical touristy ventures that are more common. Living and working in several different locations around the UK was an invaluable experience."
The Bad - "The frozen spells over the winter were tough, but I was able to do lots of hiking and small trips into Glasgow and Edinburgh on the frost days. In some ways, it was very nice. I was able to get lots of reading done and play lots of guitar, even exploring old castles while still working enough to at least break even for the tough months. When things cleared up, I was saving enough money to travel Europe for a month before I flew home."
The Ugly - "I showed up broke in early December to two weeks of frost. I had student loans to pay off and was stuck in a log cabin with 6 people frozen out of work. I was paying £14 a day plus food and going further into debt. I was at the foot of the beautiful Scottish Highlands, but had no extra cash to do any hiking or traveling. By the time February rolled around, I had only cleared my flight there and back."
- Flat Cap's Perspective -
Look, at the end of the day this company is simply two former Canadian planters, looking to create a unique work experience in the UK over the winter months. We want to offer planters the opportunity of living and working in the UK with the ability to travel, see and experience the vibrant cultures and histories that the UK and Europe has to offer. Any experienced planter knows the nature of the business. Things don't always go the way they should, but we pledge to take care of our planters like no other company in the UK. No planter has ever gone without getting paid, no planter has ever gone without a roof over his/her head and no planter has gone hungry! We want to have a good time and we want our planters to have a good time. Try not to compare the UK planting experience with your ideal Canadian experience. It’s different, and there are just some things that are beyond our control (weather, bureaucratic and systemic inefficiencies etc.), Never-the-less you can be assured of a unique planting experience and an opportunity to make some money while living and traveling in the UK and Europe.