The beginnings of a blog about trees. And conservation as a career.

OK, so here goes. I've decided to blog about trying to make it as a conservationist, or arborist, or forester, or preferably a mix of the lot. Why am I blogging? To see if anyone else is in a similar situation and to post a bit about things I do and learn.


I studied ecology at university - although beginning my course wanting to do more zoology subjects, I left nearly a botanist. A week after graduation I began a volunteer placement as a practical conservationist, carrying out practical work like coppicing, fencing, scrub clearance, boardwalk building and all manner of other things at nature reserves across South Yorkshire.


Soon after finishing this I was applying for seasonal ranger jobs, and got offered such a role about 250 miles away from my home, up in Ayrshire, Scotland. Living and working on a beautiful country park is without a doubt one of the best things I've decided to do. The variety of work kept things interesting and there wonderful and the atmosphere of living and socialising with other people on the park was brilliant. I further developed my passion for trees by wondering through the stunning woodland gardens on site, identifying and learning as much as I could.


I recorded trees for the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Hunt (www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk), did tree work with foresters, monitored biodiversity on the park, taught endless school groups, dressed as both a dinosaur and a witch for various events, and strimmed countless paths and glades. In short, I really enjoyed it, and learnt as much about the flora and fauna there as I could.

After taking a more office-based conservation job at the end of this, I realised I wanted to be doing more work with trees, and learning about them and how to conserve them. This led me to research different courses that could take me towards a forestry or arboriculture job, and I began volunteering with organisations like the Wildlife Trust to learn more about trees and how to work with them. I also decided to go back to seasonal rangering, which gave me a chance to do more work with foresters and learn more about trees, and eventually ended up with a choice between two arboriculture courses that will hopefully further my knowledge of trees. So here goes...