Arboriculturist

Arboriculturists positively impact the countryside and green spaces of towns and cities by protecting and caring for trees

As an arboriculturist, you'll cultivate and manage trees, hedgerows and shrubs. The work is undertaken in both rural and urban settings and includes all aspects of felling, preserving, planting and protecting trees, sometimes using heavy equipment.

You'll also provide information and advice on specific tree-related issues and may be involved in maintaining a safe relationship between the trees, their immediate environment and the general public.

Types of arboriculturist

Arboriculturists usually specialise in an area of work, such as:

• tree climbing and maintenance
• tree preservation and conservation
• parks and gardens
• planning
• tree survey and inspection.

Arboriculturists who do only hands-on tree and shrub maintenance may be called arborists.

Responsibilities

As an arboriculturist, you'll need to:

• plant trees and shrubs
• undertake thinning and tree surgery using a range of equipment
• carry out groundwork using a chainsaw and a chipper
• select plants and design landscaping schemes
• apply knowledge of tree biology for effective tree maintenance
• follow and negotiate clients' requirements
• manage tree care and tree-planting contracts
• carry out tree inspections and surveys
• write reports for engineers, solicitors and mortgage and insurance companies, providing information relating to trees - for example if a tree root system is damaging, or likely to damage, a building or cause subsidence
• review and respond to planning applications
• provide training for junior colleagues and volunteers
• conduct development site surveys and give pre-planning advice on topics such as the effect a proposed development may have on trees in the area and how best to retain them and incorporate them into the finished project
• reclaim abandoned industrial sites - if required
• prune tree growth away from electrical cables and public access routes - where necessary
• develop practical solutions to environmental issues
• advise on suitable trees for development sites.

Salary

• Entry-level jobs such as graduate/assistant/technician arboriculturist, arborist and arborist craftsperson, attract starting salaries of around £20,000.
• Skilled and senior aborists, arboriculturists, arboricultural officers and tree officers with a few years' experience can expect a salary in the region of £30,000 to £45,000.
• Some entry-level positions are short term only and may be paid weekly or even on a daily rate. Salaries vary depending on experience, the type of work and the location. Managerial and consultancy roles offer the highest salaries, as do jobs in the South East.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Hours vary according to the nature of the employer, the contract, location of the job or employer, and whether you're self-employed. It's not uncommon to work evenings and weekends. Part-time work is more likely in the public sector.

What to expect

• Working in a self-employed or freelance capacity is often possible. This is usually at contractor level, with a high demand for skilled tree climbers or at consultant level for those who have developed the necessary specialist knowledge and experience.
• Women are currently under-represented in this profession, but the Women in Arboriculture Working Group promotes arboriculture as a career for women and helps them develop relevant skills.
• There are good employment opportunities for skilled and qualified people. Expansion within the arboriculture industry has led to a significant increase in demand for arboriculture specialists who can work alongside allied professionals such as planners, landscape architects and environmental consultants. Competition is strong for work within well-established companies.
• The role can be physically demanding, especially in more junior/trainee positions. A good head for heights is needed and the high-risk nature of the work means insurance costs can be very high for self-employed arborists and arboriculturists.
• There is frequent travel within the working day with occasional overnight absence from home.

Qualifications

A degree is not essential, but without one you'll need to have successfully completed several of the City & Guilds NPTC assessment units and have around three years' experience.

Relevant degree and HND subjects include:

• agriculture
• arboriculture
• biology
• ecology
• forestry
• horticulture/plant sciences
• land/estate/property management
• woodland ecology and conservation.

Graduates from other disciplines can apply if they possess relevant experience, especially at arborist and craft level. Some forestry or horticultural HNDs and foundation degrees offer modules of relevance to arboriculture, such as urban forestry or woodland management.

The Arboricultural Association has a list of colleges and training providers offering an arborist apprenticeship.

BSc and foundation degree courses in arboriculture are provided by specialist institutions such as Myerscough College. For example, the BSc (Hons) Arboriculture and Urban Forestry and the Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture (Top-up).

Level 2 and Level 3 courses in forestry and arboriculture are offered at other institutions, including Bicton College.

The Royal Forestry Society (RFS) offers the Level 2 RFS Certificate in Arboriculture. Certain eligibility criteria applies, see the RFS website for more details.

The University of Aberdeen runs an MSc in environmental management and forest management. Other institutions, such as Bangor University and the University of Cumbria offer Masters courses and research opportunities specialising in environmental forestry, agroforestry, forest management, sustainable tropical forestry, and woodland ecology and conservation.

You'll need to obtain a certificate of competence for certain work activities, including operating a chainsaw. A variety of training providers offer these City & Guilds and Lantra-approved courses and your employer may pay for the course and grant you the time to complete it.

The Arboricultural Association provides A Guide to Qualifications and Careers in Arboriculture and the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) has a useful Education and Research section on its website.

You can also find general information about a career in arboriculture on the Forestry Commission and Lantra (Sector Skills Council for the land-based and environmental industries) websites.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• a good level of physical fitness
• confidence working at heights
• stamina for holding equipment, such as a chainsaw
• a driving licence for working in different locations and transporting equipment
• an aptitude for working outdoors.

Work experience

Pre-entry experience in areas such as project work (landscaping and urban reclamation), tree maintenance or planting work is essential. Conservation organisations and charities may offer voluntary work.

After gaining some direct or related experience, it's advisable to look for a trainee post as an arboricultural assistant with an employer willing to provide the necessary training, support or additional experience. Experience in the nursery production of trees and shrubs is considered particularly valuable, as this shows you'll have learned to identify different types.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Typical employers include:

• commercial tree care companies
• local authority planning and environment departments employing arboriculture or tree preservation officers
• conservation organisations, such as the National Trust, covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the National Trust for Scotland and English Heritage
• government departments, particularly the Forestry Commission
• botanic gardens, such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
• universities, colleges and schools - for teaching posts.

You may be able to find work overseas, especially where there is extensive timber production, for example in New Zealand, Canada and Scandinavia.

Self-employment is another option, either as a craftsperson or as a consultant working for a variety of clients, such as domestic sites, private estates or businesses.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Arbjobs
• Countryside Jobs Service (CJS)
• CTC Recruitment - recruitment agency that specialises only in arboriculture
• Forestry Commission
• Horticulture Jobs
• Local Government Jobs

Professional development

A vocational qualification such as the RFS Certificate in Arboriculture, which combines written and practical elements with experience, can help you to progress to more experienced posts.

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), based in the United States, promotes the professional practice of arboriculture through research, technology and education. Membership benefits include networking opportunities, education and professional development - including certification.

Membership of relevant professional bodies, such as The Arboricultural Association and the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF), provides access to seminars and other continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities.

Specialist institutions, such as Myerscough College and Lantra, provide short training courses designed to develop skills. These include areas such as woodland management and tree hazard evaluation.

The National Association of Tree Officers provides support and information to tree officers through its corporate (available to local authorities in the UK) and individual membership.

Career prospects

Entry to the profession is usually as an arborist or arboricultural assistant with a commercial tree care company, commercial contracting company or local authority.

Your progression route will depend on your starting point, but if you take the academic, vocational and professional training available, a range of opportunities are open to you. See Arboricultural Association - Progress your Career for details of opportunities for holders of Level 2 through to Level 5 qualifications.

On advancing to more senior roles, you'll be involved in additional duties such as advising on planning applications, supervising tree care work and possibly supervising staff.

In a management or specialist role, you could work in specific area, such as utility arboriculture and community woodlands. Another option is consultancy work, either working for an established commercial consultancy, or setting up your own. With substantial experience it may be possible to secure an academic job, such as head of school, and this may attract a higher salary.