PRINCE Charles' head forester, responsible for all woodlands on the Duchy of Cornwall estate, has been appointed assistant minister of Emmanuel Evangelical Church in Newport.

Geraint Richards, 35, who manages 4,000 acres of the estate spread between Cornwall and Herefordshire, says he "jumped at the chance" of coming back to Celtic lands after working in the South of England.

After reading forestry at the University of Wales, Bangor, Geraint worked for the Forestry Commission in Kent and Sussex.

"My mother is from St Fagans and my father is Cornish, so the Celt in me always wanted to move westward.

"I was delighted to be offered the head forester's job for the Duchy of Cornwall, even though the interview took place on my honeymoon. "The job is based at Liskeard, in Cornwall, but for the past five years I've been increasingly concerned with the Herefordshire part of the estate, which is nice and close to Newport.

"Obviously I've met Prince Charles a number of times. It's a fascinating job with a good boss and I love nature, or the created world, as I call it.

"My job helping Rev Graham Harrison will include preaching and pastoral work, and helping with the youth club and Sunday school work.

"We have an active congregation of about 150 and quite simply believe that the Holy Bible is the message for all people, even though that message is not always popular."

Mr Richards lives at Rhiwderin, near Bassaleg, and is married to Anne. They have four children, Ieuan, seven, Lamorna, five, Morgan, two, and Iestyn, born on Christmas Day.