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Arboricultural Worker/Tree Surgeon

Do you want to become a Arboricultural Worker/Tree Surgeon? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Arboricultural workers plant and cultivate trees and shrubs in city, countryside and conservation areas. They undertake a variety of activities and work as planters, climbers (also known as tree surgeons) and ground staff. Some arboricultural workers undertake all of these activities.

• Climbers work at great heights using specialist climbing equipment such as hoists and harnesses. They use heavy equipment such as chainsaws to prune trees and remove diseased or weak branches. Climbers also cut down dead or dangerous trees.
• Ground staff maintain the safety of the site by keeping people and vehicles away from the work area. They also provide support to climbers and clear the debris removed from the tree with specialist machinery such as wood chippers and shredders.
• Workers also prepare sites for new trees, plant young trees and apply pesticides and fertilisers.

They usually work around 40 hours a week, but there are often opportunities for paid overtime. They work in country and urban parks, public amenity woodlands, botanical gardens, privately owned gardens, or on public highways. 
 
Salaries range from £11,000 for new entrants, to up to £24,000 for experienced workers.

An arboricultural worker should: 

• have the ability to undertake practical tasks
• be happy to work outdoors in all weathers.
   

Although there are no set minimum entry requirements for arboricultural workers, they must have competence certificates for the tasks that they undertake. They also need a reasonable standard of literacy and numeracy and must be physically fit. There is no upper age limit, but the physical nature of the work may make it unsuitable for mature workers.

The main employers are specialist contractors who carry out work for commercial enterprises, local authorities, public bodies, and utility companies. There are opportunities to work abroad.

Arboricultural workers can progress to working as supervisors, contracts managers or, with further training, managing directors.

 

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