John Clegg & Co, Strutt & Parker’s forestry division, has appointed Alex Brearley to head up the business. He joins at a pivotal time for the sector as commercial environmentalism continues to attract unprecedented levels of interest from commercial forestry buyers and financial institutions.

Alex has over 20 years’ specialist experience within the forestry sector. Most recently, he was Forest Management Director for Forestry England, responsible for the timber, recreation and estate management of 35,000ha of forests, leading a team of 180 people across the east and south east of England. Alex has also held key roles with the Forestry Commission, where he developed and delivered flagship green space projects in the East of England and London, and is a former Committee member on the East Land Quality Forum.

Rhodri Thomas, Head of Rural at Strutt & Parker, said: “Recruiting Alex to the business shows our commitment to reinforcing the strength our forestry business and our desire to capitalise on the important opportunities surrounding natural capital and woodland creation.”

Alex added: “Now is a golden age for forestry, and I’m excited to be taking on a leading role for John Clegg & Co. I am looking forward to working with experienced colleagues across the UK to ensure we are taking a leading role in the forestry market, building on the strong credentials of the business and taking advantage of being part of the global BNP Paribas Group.”

John Clegg & Co, has been advising private individuals and traditional rural estates with amenity woodlands through to government agencies and institutional or private investment funds for over 50-years.