Tree surgeon

Tree surgeons are responsible for the planting, care and maintenance of trees and shrubs, mainly to enhance their appearance. The work can also involve site inspections, report writing, giving advice and supervising workers. Tree surgeons work for local authorities, public bodies such as National Park Authorities, and private tree care and planting companies.

Also known as:

Arboriculture Technician
Arborist

Work activities

Tree surgeons manage the planting, care and maintenance of individual trees and shrubs, and whole woodlands and planting developments. There are two main types of work in tree surgery: practical work, such as tree surgery, and supervisory, advice giving work, for example, within private companies, local authorities or in consultancy.

The main focus of tree surgery is amenity, which means the use of trees as pleasant, environmentally important features. Forestry, on the other hand, is usually more to do with producing timber for profit. At craft level, tree surgeons are involved in tree climbing and pruning, using tools such as chainsaws, chippers and stump grinders, and generally maintaining the health of trees. People who work at this level might have titles such as “arborist craftsperson”, “groundsperson” or “tree surgeon”.

Tree care and maintenance includes removing dead and dangerous branches, applying treatments to diseased trees, and dismantling whole trees. With further experience and qualifications, tree surgeons can move into a number of roles, some with managerial responsibility. Tree surgeons who work for local authorities inspect and survey all the trees within that local area, for example, on streets, in public parks and gardens, and in woodland development areas. For example, they identify species and report on the condition of trees. They note branches that overhang pavements or trees that are in danger of falling on to buildings and prioritise the care and maintenance work they need to do. They might write reports on individual trees, including their recommendations. They might also keep and update computer database records on the trees in the local area.

Local authority tree surgeons also enforce Tree Preservation Order legislation, preventing people from harming trees that form an important part of an area’s character, or which may be of importance to local wildlife. They will comment on planning applications for work that could damage trees on the site, giving advice to local authority planning departments. Tree surgeons who do this sometimes have to appear at public enquiries and in court cases. For local authorities and private tree planting companies, they are responsible for the planning and planting of new trees. For example, they could be developing a new woodland area or reclaiming an abandoned industrial site. They might have overall responsibility for development budgets and for selecting the plants, machinery, equipment and other resources they will use. Tree surgeons will select trees used in schemes based on the space available and on desirable features, such as the colour of leaves, flowers or fruit.

Before new planting begins, they might need to carry out site inspections and produce reports on conditions such as soil type, topography and water below ground. They use their findings to advise local authorities and companies. They will then be responsible for planting and irrigation, and for the care and protection of the trees as they develop. Tree surgeons in National Parks are responsible for the conservation of the trees within the Parks’ boundaries. They identify species, monitor damage and disease, and carry out maintenance. Tree surgeons also work as consultants, providing an advice and problem-solving service.

Some tree surgeons supervise workers and are responsible for recruitment and training. They are responsible for health and safety, maintaining equipment, and the security of equipment and sites. At craft level, or for any practical work, they have to wear protective clothing such as hard hats with hearing and eye protection, gloves, chainsaw trousers and special boots.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a tree surgeon you’ll need:

Strong knowledge of trees and shrubs, including biological topics such as growth, nutrition, pests and diseases.
Willingness to work at height and outdoors, including in bad weather.
Physical fitness for the practical side of the work.
The ability to use tools and equipment properly and safely.
Good communication skills, for example, for supervising teams, giving advice to planning departments and dealing with the public.
A sense of responsibility, with the ability to follow health and safety procedures for using equipment and chemicals.
Willingness to keep up to date with legislation, for example, on tree protection and health and safety issues.

Computer skills are an advantage, for example, for updating databases and producing reports. Tree surgeons who enforce legislation to protect trees will need to be tactful but firm and confident when dealing with the public. The ability to read and follow maps and diagrams is an advantage.

Pay and opportunities

Salary rates vary depending on employer and responsibilities. The pay rates given are approximate. Tree surgeons start off earning around £21,000, with pay increasing to £34,000 with experienced.

They usually work 41-43 hours per week. However, early starts and some weekend work may be required.

Employers include local authorities, National Park Authorities and public bodies, private arboriculture companies and contractors. Opportunities for tree surgeons occur in towns, cities and rural areas throughout the UK.

There are opportunities for tree surgeons to become self-employed, as consultants or in contract tree surgery.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local/national newspapers, on the website of the Institute of Horticulture, on the Government’s Find a Job and Find an Apprenticeship services, and on job boards (general job boards as well as ones that are just for arboriculture jobs).

Entry routes and training

While it is possible to enter this career without qualifications, tree surgeons must gain appropriate training, qualifications and experience. A level 2 (intermediate) apprenticeship as an arborist is a good way into this career path. To do this, you will need GCSEs in English and maths, although if you do not have these you may be able to complete them alongside your apprenticeship programme.

Because of the practical tasks involved, such as using and maintaining chainsaws, there is a legal requirement to be suitably trained and competent. During you training, you would complete approved qualifications, leading to City & Guilds Land Based Services awards, certificates and diplomas in areas such as chainsaw use, pesticide application and tree climbing. Training leading to assessment is available through land-based colleges and independent trainers registered with Lantra Awards (Lantra is the sector skills council for land-based industries), or City & Guilds Land Based Services.

A small number of universities and colleges of higher education offer courses in arboriculture. You could try to arrange relevant work experience through local authority parks departments, landscapers, gardeners, tree surgeons, forestry contractors or conservation bodies.

With the right level of skills, knowledge, training and qualifications, you can enter, or work your way up to, supervisory, team leader or management-level posts. In a local authority, promotion could be to a tree officer position, responsible for the care and management of trees within the local area. In the private sector, you could set yourself up as a self-employed contractor for craft-level work. At higher levels, you could own and run your own consultancy firm, for example, giving advice to property developers, landowners and local authorities.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Colleges will usually consider applications from adults who don’t meet their usual entry requirements. You should check the admissions policy of individual colleges. You’ll need to achieve competence-based awards to do tree surgery tasks such as using a chainsaw and applying pesticides.

Related careers

Botanist
Countryside ranger
Forest worker
Forester
Horticultural worker