Forwoods Team

ABOUT US

Forwoods was established in 2012 by Matt Brocklehurst MICFor.
The business has seen steady expansion with Charles Cuthbert supporting in all aspects of the business.

Meet the Team

Matt Brocklehurst MICFor BSc (Hons)

Matt graduated from Newton Rigg College with a BSc Honours degree in Forestry in 1999. He attained chartered status of the Institute of Chartered Foresters in 2012.

Between 1994 and 2008, Matt worked for the Forestry Commission at Thetford and Sherwood forests as Planning, Harvesting and Beat Foresters covering the management of over 4,500 hectares of mixed productive woodlands. Matt covered all aspects of forest planning and operations including; tree establishment, planning, timber measurement and valuation, harvesting, marketing and contract management alongside conservation activities including wetland and heathland restoration.

Matt joined the National Forest Company in 2008 as Head of Forestry to lead on woodland creation, land acquisition and strategic planning across the 200 square miles of the National Forest. Matt increased woodland cover by 1,000 hectares during his tenure, adding over 1m trees to the Forest. This varied role included partnership working, contract and grant management, budgetary control of up to £1m/annum alongside leading on all forestry matters.

Independent of his role at the National Forest Company, Matt setup Forwoods in 2012, taking the step to run the business full time in 2014. Matt leads Forwoods and is responsible for all aspects of management, strategic direction and delivery.

Charles Cuthbert MICFor BSc (Hons)

Charles graduated from the University of Sussex with a BSc Hons degree in Ecology and Conservation in 2000.

After a period working in outdoor and environmental education, Charles moved on to work for the National Trust managing a suite of 16 countryside properties in Northumberland between 2004 and 2009.

From there, Charles joined Forest Enterprise Scotland as a Conservation Officer in the productive upland areas of the Scottish Borders. Working within the operational delivery team, Charles completed PAWS work and upland bog restorations, along with ecological survey work.

Charles joined the Forestry Commission’s Forest Services team in 2013 as Woodland Officer in the East and East Midlands area, delivering grant incentives and regulations across the counties of Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. In 2021, Charles was promoted to the role of Field Team Manager supervising staff covering all private forestry regulations and incentives from the Humber estuary to Epping Forest.

With over 20 years of experience of countryside and forestry management, including specific knowledge of grant offers available to the sector, Charles brings wide ranging knowledge of land management and forestry from across the country.