Tree Surgeon

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A career as a Tree Surgeon

Tree Surgeons carry out tree work including planting, cutting down, maintenance and hazard assessments, sometimes with heavy equipment. Ground Workers make sure a site is safe by keeping people and vehicles away, and assist Tree Surgeons by passing tools, refuelling chainsaws and clearing away dead branches and debris.

Tree surgery is often performed to improve the health of a tree, to improve its appearance or for safety reasons. A Tree Surgeon will have knowledge of trees as living organisms and understand when, how and why specialist care is needed.

To work professionally in the Forestry and Arboriculture industry, you need to achieve training and qualifications in order to meet the knowledge, skills and competence required to operate in the industry. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have set out requirements on the level of training and assessment for the UK, whereas the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has overall responsibility for the administration and enforcement of health and safety at work in Ireland.

Also known as: Arborist, Tree Climber, Arboriculturist

Skills/Knowledge

You'll need:

  • strong knowledge of trees and shrubs, including growth, nutrition, pests and diseases

  • physical skills like movement and co-ordination, and a reasonable level of fitness

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail

  • good communication skills and be able to work well with others

  • knowledge of public safety and security

  • to use, repair and maintain machines and tools

  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations

  • to keep up to date with legislation on tree protection and health and safety issues

  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You’ll need training to work with different types of hand and power tools including chainsaws, hedge cutters, mechanical shredders and strimmers.

Salary

NB These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary depending on the employer and the skills and experience of the employee.

£18,000
Typical salaries
range from
£32,000
Typical Hours

37-40 hours per week. This job could involve working weekends or undertaking jobs at short notice, especially emergency tree care following storm damage.

Day to Day
  • Plant trees and plants

  • Identify hazards posed by trees

  • Assess tree health and treatment

  • Climb trees to cut back or remove branches

  • Cut down and remove trees and stumps

  • Cut logs and branches

  • Service equipment like chainsaws and chippers

  • Produce tree survey reports for clients

  • Deal with clients and complete administrative tasks

Working Environment

Most of the work will be outdoors in all weathers. The work can be very noisy, and you may be exposed to sawdust and fumes from tools, pesticides and fertilisers. You’ll wear protective clothing such as helmets, ear protectors and chainsaw protective boots, trousers and gloves. You’ll also use specialist rope access and positioning systems.

Tree surgery work is physically demanding, involving climbing each day, sometimes for many hours.

There may be a lot of travel between jobs and occasional periods may be spent working away from home.

Training Available

Training is an essential part of any job, giving you the skills and knowledge you need to do your job safely and correctly. It also helps to strengthen your current skill set and prepares you for the next stage in your career.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships help you build the experience and skills that employers want to see. No matter what stage you’re at, they’ll help set you up for a bright future. There are lots of ways to get involved.

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