Owen is a Research Technician in the tree improvement team. His role involves practical and technical activities such as evaluation of genetic trials, seed extraction, grafting, propagation and controlled pollination.

Owen has a degree in Forestry from Bangor, is a Royal Horticultural Society gold medallist and is working towards an MRes in Forestry Management at Harper Adams University, on a project involving testing the impact of supplemental mass pollination on seed quantity and quality in Sitka spruce seed orchards.

Owen joined the tree improvement group in 2022 on secondment from Forestry England’s Plant and Seed Supply branch. Prior to joining the tree improvement group, Owen had a spell with FR’s Technical Services Unit at Wykeham and has horticultural experience from public and private tree nurseries.