Information for students at Westonbirt Arboretum

Join Westonbirt Arboretum for your work experience placement or as a young volunteer, find out about green careers, and read the latest forest research for your studies.

Work experience and placements

We are now fully booked for 2025 for Y10 to Y13 and FE students. We have one HE placement available working with the Engagement Team.  We are accepting other enquiries for 2026 onwards. 

We offer mixed-role week-long placements for students in Y10 and above, and longer placement opportunities with the Engagement Team for HE students.

Please email learning.westonbirt@forestryengland.uk for 2025 work experience applications and for any general work experience enquiries. 

Young volunteers

If you are between 14 - 18 years old, you can join our waiting list to become a young volunteer in the school holidays. 

Gain experience working with an enthusiastic team of learning staff and volunteers, engaging with families taking part in our events programme.  Help younger children discover more about trees and wildlife, and help them to create tree crafts. Email for further details.

Early Careers Hub

Think you might be interested in a career in Forestry? Visit our Early Careers hub to learn more about the range of roles you could do at Forestry England.

Wild Westonbirt

Join our youth team, Wild Westonbirt, and get involved in practical conservation, learn bush craft skills and create and test new ideas for young people at Westonbirt. 

Research

There is a wealth of research and information available to support your studies:

• Forest Research: sustainable forest management; trees, forests and climate change; biosecurity, pest and diseases; and ecosystem services.
• Forestry Commission: wood fuel and biomass energy; urban forestry; and forest certification.