Andy Gardner, Chair of the Utility Arboriculture Group
As I pause for thought while writing this article and look outside, it is easy to see how quickly time passes.
By the time this magazine is published, we will be in the middle of what seems likely to be another hot summer. Climate change and the drive towards sustainability and a carbon neutral society are all impacting how we work and what we do.
For the utility arb sector, the demand for ensuring the networks’ vegetation management programmes are delivered is becoming increasingly important.
We face the same challenges as other sectors with regard to recruitment, training and developing competent staff, which is why I am using this article, as the headline says, as a way to reboot and restart the Association’s Utility Arboriculture Group.
Over the years the UAG has had great support and we have stayed focused on our core aims:
- To promote collaboration and communication between utilities and related groups.
- To champion consistent best practice in sustainable vegetation management, and to communicate the latest innovations to UAG members, utilities and related groups.
- To be recognised as the reference body for UAG members, utilities and related groups, providing guidance and advice on matters relating to safety, environment, policy, regulation, innovation and education.
- Supporting the Arboricultural Association in delivering its strategic objectives.
To continue with these aims, we need your continued support and input to help decide where we should focus and how we can deliver what is important to you.
We will be reviewing our current targets and objectives as a core group, and in the next article I hope to be able to set out the UAG’s objectives for the coming years, showing how these align with the Association’s strategy and identifying new key areas to focus on that will help to deliver a safer utility arb sector.
So, if you would like to get involved and engage in improving our sector, please contact us by email at uag@trees.org.uk.
We look forward to hearing from you.
This article was taken from Issue 202 Autumn 2023 of the ARB Magazine, which is available to view free to members by simply logging in to the website and viewing your profile area.