Arboriculture and ecology
by Jon Price BA Hons, AATech Cert Arb
of Ecosulis Ltd

This is the first of an occasional series of articles attempting to bring together strands of interest to both the professional arboriculturalist and ecologist, it’s not aimed as a definitive guide to the two disciplines but rather personal observations and thoughts from someone who finds a foot in both camps (both feet being left, and both occasionally, in his mouth!)

In a media-led and internet-driven web-wide World, a brief interrogation of Google gives the following definitions:
Arboriculture: ‘The management of individual trees or groups of trees primarily for their amenity value’, or, ‘the science of growth and development of trees, and tree care practices’ (Google: ‘Define: Arboriculture’). The definitions are endless and depend on the book read, the colleague/manager listened to or the college/course attended. Ecology gives us a similarly diverse swathe of definitions; Ecology, or ecological science, is: ‘the scientific study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms and how these properties are affected by interactions between the organisms and their environment’ (www.wikipeadia.com) plus ‘The study of the relationship between plants and animals (including humans) and their environment’ (Google: ‘Define: Ecology’). I feel both definitions effectively demonstrate where the two disciplines find themselves in the UK today. Arboriculture may be seen to have developed from the craft-based practical discipline, of say, 20 years ago, to the multi-skilled interdisciplinary science it is today. Ecology, though even today treated like an upstart by the ‘pure’ sciences, has very much developed from rarer academic roots. ‘The scientific rigour of the ecologist must be developed further through practical field and laboratory work and reading The good arborist has an equal amount of sustained ‘hours on the clock’, but often, though not exclusively, gained through quite different routes (and usually a great deal more cursing!). More and more often today, ecologists and arborists are involved and consulted at various stages in projects and developments that require a combination of their skills, expertise and experience. This is often required to fulfil statutory obligations stemming from different routes and to implement practical conservation techniques. The new British Standard BS5837 (2005) and Policy Planning Statement 9 in England ‘Biodiversity and Geological Conservation’ (2005) are ideal examples of how legislation, guidance and recommendations are catching up with the need for effective land use policy and workable sustainable development. (I don’t suggest you Google that particular buzz phrase unless your computer has a cast-carbon constitution and your room is well ventilated!). Ecologists and arborists are essential in implementing many vital parts in the delivery of that sustainable development.

I feel it is the beginning of a renaissance for arboriculture and one where arborists can add value to ecological projects and jobs and contribute very real conservation benefits and biodiversity gains. For example, the finest Woodland Management Plans can be written, informed by the best survey data possible, the most thorough desk study research and recommendations, work plans considered and prescribed in minute detail. However, if the arborists, forestry contractors and landscape professionals carrying out the actual works aren’t engaged with the process and detail of preparing the plans objectives, then things very quickly can go wrong resulting in much time and effort wasted. Although this is just an example, it’s obvious that clear and careful communication between everyone involved is essential to transmitting the key information. Sometimes with ecology there can be an issue of perception… Trying to explain to a forestry contractor that during his site clearance, he must keep his forwarder 30m away from a Badger sett until a licence is gained in July can be tricky (especially as he probably passed 4 road killed Badger on the A303 on the way to site!). Likewise an ecologist carrying out a watching brief on a development site and asking a tree surgeon to go carefully with his Predator 50 because Great Crested Newts are present (do stump grinders come with foam teeth?). Often, the arborists will have a more pragmatic and sensitive solution to a particular ecological problem that the project’s ecologist may not have thought of. Equally, the arborist may soon need to expand his powers of empathy to include Water Vole, Otter, Newts, Adders, Smooth Snakes, Lizards, Dormice and a range of other species protected by law and policy. Andrew Cowan and others have recently raised the bar through their work in increasing the profile of bats and the benefits, and potential pitfalls facing tree professionals, ecologists and conservationists working in trees and woodlands. Equally veteran trees have been more properly understood and consequently retained and protected through the combined work of many dedicated and passionate ecologists and arborists. And while good conservation and better working practices shouldn’t be solely related to species protected by law, it is often a good starting point as more often than not, certainly in an ecological consultancy context; this is what generates revenue and income.

From that starting point however, with imagination, good communication and understanding of all our roles plus a passion for the work we do, we can genuinely change the way conservation is carried out.

Jon Price is an ecological consultant based in the west country