Time to cut down forest for first book in series (3,6)

I believe the answer is:

the warden

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'first book in series' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'time to cut down forest' is the wordplay.
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'to cut down' becomes 'hew' (I've seen this in another clue).
'forest' becomes 'arden' (forest in Shakespeare's As You Like It).
't'+'hew'+'arden'='THE WARDEN'

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for the warden that I've seen before include "book" , "Septimus Harding" , "Novel" , "Narrow sword" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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