Axeman plans swinging retirement (From Gazette & Herald)

Axeman plans swinging retirement

ONE of the longest serving foresters in the North York Moors is to retire, after a 43-year career in which he nurtured woodlands - and brought rock'n'roll to the hills.

Peter Green, 59, district forester with the Forestry Commission, based at Dalby Forest, near Thornton-le-Dale, will hang up his axe this month. Over four decades Peter has overseen the planting of millions of trees, supervised felling operations and lately, as District Forester, looked after the hundreds of historic monuments in the wood, working with English Heritage.

He has also contributed to a massive expansion of walking and biking routes, and played a key role in devising new plans for a multi-million pound upgrade to visitor facilities at Dalby.

But Peter's most high-profile role has been to mastermind the huge summer concerts in Dalby Forest, which began in 2001, and have featured the likes of Status Quo, Pulp and Jools Holland.

Last year's two gigs attracted more than 7,000 revellers.

"It's impossible to imagine what my old boss would have made of me staging concerts in the woods," said Peter, who lives in Pickering with his wife, Dorothy, and who has two daughters.

"Back in the Sixties it was all about growing the best quality timber we could and making sure rabbits and deer didn't eat the trees. But things have changed out of all recognition.

"These days I'm just as used to talking to music agents as timber merchants. I'll certainly miss the buzz."

Peter's lifelong passion for trees started in the Forest of Bowland, near his birthplace in Clitheroe. He then went to college to train in forestry and then moved to a Forestry Commission nursery in Wykeham, near Scarborough.

Peter plans to spend his retirement golfing. Stepping into his shoes as district forester and concert organiser will be colleague Paul Cody, 44.

Updated: 12:09 Friday, January 09, 2004