The People who work in Santon Downham
![Santon Downham is the centre for Forest Enterprise's activities in Thetford Forest, where some 200,000t of timber are harvested every year. Courtesy of the Forestry Commission. > Simply click to enlarge... then use the [Back] button to return](images/sd14.jpg)
Staff based in Santon Downham carry out a multitude of roles -
some of the men and women work as recreation or conservation rangers, others
deal with forest mangement, harvesting, marketing, administration, provision of
roads or as mechanical engineers looking after the harvesters and vehicles.
There are also staff at offices in North Norfolk, Sandlings, Lavenham and in the
east end of London. In all, the region employs about 95staff - 90 based in the
village - though contractors add to the numbers working in the forest.
Most of the harvesting and extraction is carried out directly by Forest
Enterprise staff, delivering it to the roadside for haulage contractors to take
away. ![sd01.jpg courtesy of the Forestry Commission > Simply click to enlarge... then use the [Back] button to return](images/sd01.jpg)
In
some areas, the fungal infection Heterobasidion annosum means that stumps need
to be dug up to prevent the spread of infection which would create a rot within
growing timber. "Our own men and women are involved in the removal of
the stumps and the cultivation of the ground and the preparation for the new
young trees," explains Mr Lyon.