Master Forester

Michael CresswellA Bangor University student who had a passion for forestry from a very young age and an ongoing quest to implement good forest management graduated this week with an MSc in Forestry with distinction.

Michael Cresswell, 26, from Lingen, Shropshire initially completed two years of the BSc Forestry degree, and the associated sandwich placement with Forestry Commission Scotland in the Highlands and Islands, before applying and obtaining a job as a Woodland Manager in South Wales with Forestry Commission Wales.  This resulted in Michael having to prematurely leave Bangor University.  With his academic aspirations still unfulfilled, just one year later, he enrolled onto  the MSc Forestry distance learning programme.

Reflecting on his success on the part-time MSc Forestry programme, Michael said:

“This led to three very tough years working full-time in a demanding job, as well as spending the majority of my spare-time either reading research papers, working on group projects, attending residential programmes, writing assignments or preparing for exams.  During this time I changed jobs to become the Land Management Officer for the east of the Brecon Beacons National Park for Natural Resources Wales and also become the Wales Regional Secretary for the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF).

On choosing to study and about his time at Bangor University, Michael said:

“I’ve always wanted to study at Bangor University, as it seemed the best place for me to study forestry.It has a very good reputation in this field.  The School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography provides a well-balanced learning experience, which is ideally suited to modern forest management and enabled me to be more effective in my role with Natural Resources Wales.

“The main highlight of my time at Bangor was the sandwich placement, which I completed as part of my first degree. This enabled me to meet some fantastic people, but I also got to visit a lot of the Scottish Highlands looking at forestry first hand, developing the information, knowledge, ideas and practices that I had learnt about during the preceding two years at Bangor. This gave me the confidence to apply for and secure a Forest Manager’s job and greatly developed me as a forester.

About graduation day and his future, Michael said:

“It is an amazing feeling mixed with a lot of relief..

“All of the hard work and dedication paid off and I’ve earned an MSc in Forestry with distinction, as well as a much greater appreciation for spare time outside of work.”

“I hope to continue learning and implementing forestry to better myself as a forester and to be in a position where I can influence the natural resource management sector, hopefully for the betterment of our forests, our landscapes and our society.”

Publication date: 15 December 2016