ONLY weeks after his wedding, 35-year-old Andrew Rothwell was off to college. Switching careers and returning home from college to new wife Sarah only at weekends was not exactly an orthodox start to married life.

But five years later Andrew is enjoying his new life as a wildlife ranger in Hamsterley Forest in County Durham, where he lives with young son Thomas and Sarah, who teaches at Barnard Castle School.

This week Andrew marked two years in his Forestry Commission job, which also involves him working in Slaley Forest in Northumberland.

Andrew grew up on a farm, but when he left school he served an apprenticeship as a motor mechanic.

“I didn’t really know what to do when I left school and my parents wanted me to have an apprenticeship and a trade,” he said.

“My grandparents and parents were farmers and I grew up in the country, but never saw it at the time as a career option.”

Andrew moved into the building industry and worked in maintenance on the railways for 12 years, before becoming property manager at an independent school.

“But it wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life,” said Andrew.

One Sunday afternoon he was sitting in the pub with the prospect ahead of another Monday morning at work.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that work for another 30 years. It wasn’t what I wanted to do with life,” he said.

He decided to take a two-year college course on wildlife and countryside management, followed by a year-long placement with the Forestry Commission at Grizedale Forest in the Lake District.

He said: “Being away at college during the week and having no financial help was not easy, but my wife was very supportive.”

Then Andrew landed the Hamsterley job, which involves protecting the young tree crop and forest habitats, as well as wildlife ranging from black grouse and brown hare to the seven different species of bats in the forest.

“I think the forests are a fantastic asset for the public,” said Andrew.