Forestry England

The Challenge
Forestry England manages over 1,500 forests and woodland areas, covering approximately 250,000 hectares of public land and welcoming more than 230 million visitors annually. Staff operate across a diverse range of environments, from busy visitor centres and car parks to remote woodland trails. While most interactions with the public are positive, incidents involving abusive or frustrated individuals – often linked to car park disputes or enforcement issues – were placing frontline staff at risk, particularly in dispersed outdoor locations or during lone-working. Forestry England required a training partner that could provide a consistent, values-led approach to de-escalation across a widely spread and varied workforce.

Why Stand2 Was Chosen
Stand2 was selected for its expertise in delivering practical, scenario-driven conflict management and personal safety training for public-facing teams in unpredictable environments. Forestry England valued Stand2’s ability to customise content to reflect the specific challenges staff face in forests, visitor hubs, and remote sites while aligning with the organisation’s values around visitor experience, conservation, and community engagement.

What Training Was Delivered
Stand2 delivered a tailored programme for operational, visitor-facing, and supervisory staff. Training covered recognising early warning signs of aggression, professional communication, de-escalation strategies, and safe decision-making in both open and confined spaces. Scenario exercises were built around real locations and situations, from car park disputes to trail interactions, ensuring practical applicability. Lone-working considerations were embedded throughout to address the realities of dispersed forest operations.

Outcomes & Impact
Staff reported increased confidence and improved ability to handle difficult or abusive behaviour, with scenarios feeling authentic to their daily operational environments. The training enhanced personal safety and reduced anxiety around confrontational encounters. It established a consistent professional approach across Forestry England’s vast estate. Ultimately, the programme reinforced the organisation’s mission to provide safe, welcoming, and thriving forests for visitors, wildlife, and communities.