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The Tree Experts: A History of Professional Arboriculture in Britain
Trees are now in the public eye as never before. The threat of tree diseases, the felling of street trees and the challenge of climate change are just some of the issues that have put trees in the media spotlight. At the same time, the trees in our parks, gardens and streets are a vital resource that can deliver environmental, social and economic benefits that make our towns and cities attractive, green and healthy places.
Ever since Roman times when amenity trees were first planted in Britain, caring for those trees has required specialist skills. This is mainly 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’. For centuries arboriculture was often synonymous with forestry or considered an aspect of horticulture, until it emerged in the nineteenth century as a separate discipline. There are now some 22,000 people employed in Britain’s arboricultural industry, including practical tree surgeons and arborists, local authority tree officers and arboricultural consultants.
This is the first book to trace the history of Britain’s professional tree experts, from the Roman arborator to the modern chartered arboriculturist. It also discusses the influences from continental Europe and North America that have helped to shape British arboriculture over the centuries. The Tree Experts will have particular appeal to those interested in the natural and built environment, heritage landscapes, social history and the history of gardening.
Table of Contents
List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. The Romans Bring Arboriculture to Britain
3. Keeping the Flame Alight in the Dark Ages
4. Green Shoots in Tudor and Early Stuart Times
5. Arboriculture in the Age of the Formal Garden
6. Arboriculture in the English Landscape Garden
7. Heroic Arboriculture in the Nineteenth Century
8. The Rise of the Tree Experts, 1900–1945
9. Professional Arboriculture ‘Comes of Age’, 1946–Present
Index
Ever since Roman times when amenity trees were first planted in Britain, caring for those trees has required specialist skills. This is mainly 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’. For centuries arboriculture was often synonymous with forestry or considered an aspect of horticulture, until it emerged in the nineteenth century as a separate discipline. There are now some 22,000 people employed in Britain’s arboricultural industry, including practical tree surgeons and arborists, local authority tree officers and arboricultural consultants.
This is the first book to trace the history of Britain’s professional tree experts, from the Roman arborator to the modern chartered arboriculturist. It also discusses the influences from continental Europe and North America that have helped to shape British arboriculture over the centuries. The Tree Experts will have particular appeal to those interested in the natural and built environment, heritage landscapes, social history and the history of gardening.
Table of Contents
List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. The Romans Bring Arboriculture to Britain
3. Keeping the Flame Alight in the Dark Ages
4. Green Shoots in Tudor and Early Stuart Times
5. Arboriculture in the Age of the Formal Garden
6. Arboriculture in the English Landscape Garden
7. Heroic Arboriculture in the Nineteenth Century
8. The Rise of the Tree Experts, 1900–1945
9. Professional Arboriculture ‘Comes of Age’, 1946–Present
Index
560 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2021
About the author
Mark Johnston
3 books1 followerDr Mark Johnston MBE is an independent scholar of arboriculture, landscape and urban forestry. He has nearly fifty years of experience in these fields, including working as a tree surgery contractor, tree officer in local government, consultant in private practice, government adviser and university academic. His contribution to trees and the urban environment has been widely recognised with several prestigious national and international awards. Since his official 'retirement' several years ago, his research and publications have focused on the historical aspects of urban trees, arboriculture and landscape. Mark holds dual British and Irish citizenship and is based in Belfast where he has lived for the past thirty years.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 2, 2022
I've been enjoying this densely packed history of arboriculture in Britain. From early days mainly about the foresters, we move to grand houses. Gardens were laid out for food, and fruiting trees took pride of place. Older massive trees were preserved, with some commenters sure a major oak dated to just after the Flood.
I found the geometric drawings of gardens, from the Civil War era on, fascinating. P. 261 has a gorgeous colour print of people enjoying the day, with clearly identifiable trees in a parkland and canalside by a great house in Essex. I like any illustration showing working horses, such as the handsome cover art.
Foresters were still required to provide timber for each estate and nationally, for ships and wars as well as building projects. A division grew up between foresters, who specialised in the few species suitable for this trade, and the ornamental gardeners. Societies abounded, from foresters to Kew Gardens and a proposed union for gardeners, and the RHS. Even citrus fruit trees for conservatories were the subject of comment; too many were being imported when it was thought they could be propagated in England.
Wars each affected tree skills in different ways, with greater or less dependence on timber, and a loss of workers.
The photos begin with quite early dates, one fascinating one showing a team engaged in cleaning and filling cavities in an old ash tree. Tree surgeons come along from the 1960s, including Cyril Reddick who we are told promoted use of the safety harness.
References are provided by chapter. The index is P151 - 161. The research has been extensive and detailed, and I have to thank the author for taking the time to produce this work. Many people catalogue artworks but few assemble and preserve records of arborists.
As a tree surgeon myself, I was thrilled to receive a PDF copy of this book to review. Certainly it will appeal to historians, botanists, tree lovers and those keen to learn social history. The work probably won't suit those just keen to learn a bit about how a big house managed its garden. I would recommend starting with Apricot Village by Ted Humphris, the lifelong gardener and head gardener at Aynho Park in the village of Aynho, England. Then, anyone wishing to broaden their knowledge can explore the wider history of The Tree Experts.
This is an unbiased review. I was sent a PDF copy by the author, and chose to review voluntarily in my own time.
I found the geometric drawings of gardens, from the Civil War era on, fascinating. P. 261 has a gorgeous colour print of people enjoying the day, with clearly identifiable trees in a parkland and canalside by a great house in Essex. I like any illustration showing working horses, such as the handsome cover art.
Foresters were still required to provide timber for each estate and nationally, for ships and wars as well as building projects. A division grew up between foresters, who specialised in the few species suitable for this trade, and the ornamental gardeners. Societies abounded, from foresters to Kew Gardens and a proposed union for gardeners, and the RHS. Even citrus fruit trees for conservatories were the subject of comment; too many were being imported when it was thought they could be propagated in England.
Wars each affected tree skills in different ways, with greater or less dependence on timber, and a loss of workers.
The photos begin with quite early dates, one fascinating one showing a team engaged in cleaning and filling cavities in an old ash tree. Tree surgeons come along from the 1960s, including Cyril Reddick who we are told promoted use of the safety harness.
References are provided by chapter. The index is P151 - 161. The research has been extensive and detailed, and I have to thank the author for taking the time to produce this work. Many people catalogue artworks but few assemble and preserve records of arborists.
As a tree surgeon myself, I was thrilled to receive a PDF copy of this book to review. Certainly it will appeal to historians, botanists, tree lovers and those keen to learn social history. The work probably won't suit those just keen to learn a bit about how a big house managed its garden. I would recommend starting with Apricot Village by Ted Humphris, the lifelong gardener and head gardener at Aynho Park in the village of Aynho, England. Then, anyone wishing to broaden their knowledge can explore the wider history of The Tree Experts.
This is an unbiased review. I was sent a PDF copy by the author, and chose to review voluntarily in my own time.
Displaying 1 of 1 review