Benjamin Ringwood

My responsibilities as a Gardener:

• Performed wide range of garden-related tasks including weeding, mowing, strimming, pruning, hedge trimming and planting.
• Checked plants regularly to detect diseases early on.
• Created compost heaps from garden waste, improving soil fertility over time.
• Maintained clean paths and patios for an organised outdoor space.
• Took care of gardening equipment, prolonging its lifespan.
• Installed watering systems, ensuring efficient irrigation of plants.
• Removed weeds regularly, promoting healthier growth for desired plants.

My main responsibilities as a Silviculture Forester:

• Plan seasonal activities, including planting, weeding, and fire prevention, to ensure the plantation is well-maintained throughout the year.

• Ensure the infield trees and the saplings at the holding nursery are healthy and pest and disease free through daily inspections.

• Watercourse delineation when re-establishing harvested areas.

• Ensure fire prevention and control measures are in place and effective.

• Take limited management of burning operations as part of land management practices.

• Attend community forum meetings to engage with local stakeholders and address any concerns.

• Plan both my own activities and those of contractors on a monthly basis to ensure smooth operations.

Key achievements:
• Along with the contractor establishing 400 hectares of eucalyptus and pine tree compartments in one month.
• Gaining valuable offroad driving experience.
• Our team was able to greatly reduce the impact of a large forest fire burning through Mpumalanga forestry area.

• I worked a season preparing commercial film sets. My role was creating and maintaining fake and live plants in the film sets. I had to perform the tasks to an international design and quality standard. I often worked overtime to ensure the plants were tidy and healthy. I also accompanied the buyer, sourcing plant material for the sets.