Arboricultural Association
To advance the science of arboriculture for the public benefit
Careers in Local Government Arboricuture

Most Local Authorities have the need for at least one Arboricultural Officer (tree manager) on their staff. Their duties usually involve managing trees in public ownership and assisting town planners in protecting suitable trees by legislation, either through tree preservation legislation or when trees are adjacent to property development by advising on planning consents and conditions.

In some cases the Authority will retain all arboricultural staff in one section and "lend" their time to other parts of the Council as a consultant. Occasionally each department has its own arboricultural expert.

Duties of an Arboricultural Officer usually fall into two main categories:

1) Managing a Council's own trees including

  • Preparing tree strategies and management plans
  • Managing tree planting projects
  • Managing and conserving woodlands
  • Carrying out or commissioning regular tree surveys
  • Identifying pests, diseases and other causes of ill health in trees
  • Recognising signs & danger symptoms in trees
  • Preparing specifications for tree work
  • Programming tree pruning and felling to ensure public safety
  • Managing tree work contracts
  • Managing tree work contractors (monitoring personnel, working practices, arboricultural equipment etc.)
  • Day to day arboricultural issues: responding to public enquiries, advising on tree issues etc.


    • 2) Providing an arboricultural consultancy service to other parts of the Local Authority

  • Advising on the proposed location of new trees in the planning process
  • Advising on the tree protection under planning law
  • Involvement in serving Tree Preservation Orders
  • Representing the Council at planning appeals
  • Advising the Council's solicitors and insurers on the arboricultural aspects of claims against the Council
  • Advising solicitors when taking or defending prosecutions
  • Acting as witness during prosecutions
  • Advising on the likely impact of street works on trees


    • The Arboricultural Association has developed an accreditation scheme specifically for officers performing an arboricultural function in a Local Authority setting: Arboricultural Accreditation for Local Government Officers. This modular NVQ-style accreditation scheme allows Local Authority officers to submit evidence from their daily work for assessment and receive accreditation for competence without the traditional study followed by examination.
    Details of the AALGO scheme are available from the Association