Arboricultural Officer

Arboricultural officers (also titled tree officers) work for local authorities to manage the public tree stock on highways and in parks, process applications relating to Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) and conservation area tree notifications, provide arboricultural advice on planning applications, and respond to tree-related emergencies. The role combines practical tree assessment, legal knowledge, and technical advisory functions.

TPO and conservation area work involves receiving and processing applications to fell, prune, or carry out works to protected trees and trees in conservation areas; carrying out site visits to assess the amenity value and condition of trees subject to application; writing decision reports; and where necessary preparing and serving Tree Preservation Orders on significant trees at risk. Officers investigate breaches of TPOs and conservation area tree notification requirements, which are offences under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Planning consultation work involves reviewing planning applications for their impact on trees, assessing tree survey reports submitted by applicants (BS 5837 surveys are required for development near trees), and writing consultation responses that specify tree protection conditions. Officers inspect sites to verify that approved tree protection measures are in place during construction and respond to complaints about breaches.

Public tree management includes surveying the council's own tree stock using the VALID risk assessment methodology, commissioning maintenance works, and managing contracts with arboricultural contractors. Emergency response to storm damage — fallen trees blocking highways or damaging property — involves liaison with highways and emergency planning teams. Public engagement, including community tree planting programmes and urban forestry strategy development, is a growing part of the role. Professional development is through the Arboricultural Association (AA), which offers Technician and Professional Membership, and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Tree Preservation Order administration is a statutory function of local planning authorities under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 — LPAs must process TPO applications within a legally defined timeframe and have a duty to investigate breaches. The planning consultation function is similarly statutory: development affecting trees requires arboricultural assessment, and LPAs must provide that expertise or access it through shared services.

The urban forest is increasingly recognised as critical green infrastructure for climate adaptation — urban cooling, stormwater management, air quality improvement, and biodiversity support. Local authorities across the UK are committing to expanding urban tree cover through tree planting programmes and urban forest strategies, creating new demand for arboricultural expertise. The technical complexity of BS 5837 compliance, TPO law, and VALID risk assessment ensures that the role cannot be replaced by generalists. Climate change — more frequent storms, drought stress on urban trees, new pest and disease threats (ash dieback, oak processionary moth) — is increasing the management complexity and policy significance of tree management.

Morning: site visit to assess a prospective TPO on a mature oak threatened by an adjacent planning application. You complete the VALID risk assessment, photograph the tree, measure the crown spread and diameter at breast height (DBH), and score the amenity value. You return to the office and prepare the TPO serving documentation for the team leader's authorisation. Afternoon: reviewing BS 5837 tree survey reports submitted with a residential development planning application — checking that root protection areas have been correctly calculated, that retained trees are at a suitable retention category, and that the tree protection plan is adequate. Late afternoon: responding to an emergency report of a large branch failure on a highway tree, liaising with the highways team and instructing the arboricultural contractor.