A space for everyone – Part 4

Eight female consultants share their diverse stories and encourage more women to join our industry

Stella Bolam

Our industry has historically been male dominated, and undoubtedly there are various factors which have played into this bias.

Despite the evolving cultural and social landscapes beyond our working lives, this gender imbalance is proving to be pretty persistent, with women accounting for 15% of the Arboricultural Association’s membership, according to the latest available data. What’s more, in a diversity report by the London Tree Officers’ Association (LTOA) published in 2022, only 23% of respondents were female.

Since changing my career to join the sector in 2021, I’ve noticed how more women are forming networks and supporting each other to make strides into the world of arb, and, in my experience, the times appear to be gradually changing. Some might say change is happening at the sedate pace of ‘tree time’, but a shift is underway towards arboriculture becoming a more gender-balanced industry.

One powerfully simple method to propel this trend is storytelling – sharing the experiences of women working in the sector to help inspire other women to think ‘Oh! That could be me’ or (if she’s a mum) ‘Maybe that’s a possible career for my daughter.’

The arboricultural team I work in at ADAS – the UK’s largest independent provider of agricultural and environmental consultancy, policy advice and research and development – bucks the industry gender trend, with a predominantly female group of arboricultural consultants.

So, with the aim of encouraging more women into our sector, here are our stories...

Grace Isaac

MSc, Assistant Arboricultural Consultant

‘I was first drawn to arboriculture during my degree, where I researched how effectively we can forecast drought-induced tree mortality by species and how this could shape future management strategies.

That work sparked a strong interest in tree management at both national and industry levels and deepened my appreciation for the role trees play across community and ecological landscapes.

‘The appeal of arboricultural consulting was the chance to combine practical, outdoor work with the application of technical knowledge to make informed decisions that directly influence tree safety, management and conservation.

‘Before joining ADAS as an Assistant Arboricultural Consultant, I expected the biggest challenge to be the physical demands of the job. Instead, what has surprised me most is the depth of technical and legislative detail involved.

‘Bridging the gap between academic understanding and real-world application has been the steepest learning curve. While theory provides a foundation, every site presents a new and unique scenario that requires quick, on-the-spot problem-solving. Gaining an understanding of how arboriculture is approached within construction has also been essential, including recognising constraints, timelines and how arboricultural recommendations fit into the wider project.

‘Having now worked in the industry for six months, I have found the level of responsibility to be one of the most interesting aspects of the role. Decisions made during surveys, reporting or on active sites directly influence public safety, construction design and the long-term future of trees. That accountability has given me a clearer understanding of how trees are managed in practice and the real-world impact of working in arboriculture.’

This article was taken from Issue 213 Summer 2026 of the ARB Magazine, which is available to view free to members by simply logging in to the website and viewing your profile area.