The Tree Experts: A History of Professional Arboriculture with Dr. Mark Johnston

Ever since Roman times when amenity trees were first planted in Britain, caring for those trees has required specialist skills. This is largely because of the challenges of successfully integrating large trees into the urban environment and the risks involved in working with them, often at height and in close proximity to people, buildings and roads. But who are the people with the specialist expertise to care for our amenity trees? While professionals such as horticulturists, landscape architects, conservationists and foresters have a role to play, it is the arboriculturists who are the ‘tree experts’. This talk traces the history of Britain’s professional tree experts, from the Roman arborator to the modern chartered arboriculturist. It also describes the influences from continental Europe and North America that have helped shape British arboriculture over the centuries.

The talk draws on many of the stunning images and original research that contribute to the speaker’s recent book entitled ‘The Tree Experts: A History of Professional Arboriculture in Britain’. The book is available from the usual internet outlets and from the Arboricultural Association’s online bookshop at: https://www.trees.org.uk/Book-Shop/Products/The-Tree-Experts-A-History-of-Professional-Arboriculture-in-Britain