Confor appoints new Wales Manager

Mr Geddes, who lives in Monmouthshire, is an experienced industry professional who is well-known in Wales.

Andrew Heald, Confor's Technical Director, welcomed the appointment. He said: "The major challenge for forestry in Wales is to turn around the graph on new woodland creation and hold the Welsh Government to its annual target of 4,000 hectares of new planting. 

"Anthony brings many years of experience in both land management and renewable energy projects. Brexit offers an opportunity for a more integrated approach to land management and rural development, and it is great to have Anthony as part of the team.”

Mr Geddes, 37, takes up his post on 26 November.   

He said: "Forestry and timber has been a central part of my career for the last decade and I'm delighted to be joining Confor to use my experience to keep building the sector’s influence in Wales on behalf of members. 

"I'm passionate about communicating the positive forestry and timber story in Wales to all Confor's stakeholders and to the general public."  

Mr Geddes added: "I understand the political, environmental and fiscal challenges facing the sector, but I think we have a really great opportunity to press the environmental, economic and social case for more tree planting and greater use of timber in Wales."

Stuart Goodall, Confor CEO, said: "I'm very pleased to have Anthony on board. I would also like to thank our Policy Researcher Eleanor Harris, who has worked tirelessly in Wales in recent months to ensure we did not lose the momentum that Martin Bishop had created before his tragic death in a flying accident. I'm confident that Anthony will now build on Martin's legacy."