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Arboricultural officer

Arboricultural officers manage and maintain trees for local councils and arboricultural contractors.

Potential salary
£20,000 to £40,000
Working hours
35 to 40 a week
  • knowledge of geography
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • administration skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • knowledge of maths
  • persistence and determination
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

  • advising on tree protection and preservation orders in planning applications
  • managing trees in parks, on housing estates and at the roadside
  • organising tree planting schemes
  • carrying out tree surveys and monitoring tree numbers, using technology
  • supervising tree care and tree planting contracts on site
  • giving demonstrations and talks on arboriculture and woodlands to schools and community groups
  • assessing tree damage after storms
  • training new staff and volunteers

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

You could work in woodland, in an office, in parks and gardens or on the streets.

Your working environment may be at height and outdoors in all weathers.

With experience, you could manage a team of arboricultural officers, for example in a local authority, and co-ordinate work with outside contractors.

You could also work as a consultant, advising organisations on tree management, conservation and safety.

You may find opportunities with training providers who offer courses in arboriculture.

You can find out more about working in arboriculture from The Arboricultural Association and the Royal Forestry Society.

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