I am a consultant arboriculturalist based near Ipswich.

Experience:

I have over 30 years experience working with and on behalf of local authorities as a tree officer and consultant. This gives me a detailed knowledge of tree planning requirements in Suffolk as well as being able to offer expert advice on individual tree and woodland management, tree and landscape planting schemes.

My background:

While on a ceramics course in 1981, I looked out of the window to see a team felling a very large dead elm tree and was fascinated to see the process and how they worked. This was the start of my passion and interest in trees.

My life in the horticultural industry started as a municipal gardener mowing bowling greens, maintaining shrubberies and planting carpet bedding with Brighton Borough Council. At one point this involved working with the Council’s tree gang. I climbed my first tree with rope and harness in 1985 and immediately knew it was what I wanted to do. I attended Merrist Wood College in 1987 to obtain formal arboriculture qualifications. I attained both a National Certificate in 1988 and a National Diploma in Arboriculture in 1990, for which I achieved the added accolade of being presented with the top student award for the course.

During this time an agricultural accident limited my ability to climb, leading me to re-assess my career choice as a professional tree surgeon. It steered me toward a career in tree management within local authority planning as an Arboricultural Officer.

In 2017, I returned to study at Myerscough College, Lancashire, in order to update my arboricultural qualification attaining a BSc (Hons) in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry in May 2020. Once again – 30 years on, I was awarded the accolade of Student Of The Year for the course.

Thanks for looking at my website for all things trees in Suffolk.

Please contact AlisonK-Arboriculture for more information.

Image by Katrina Martin.