The essential role Arboriculture plays in protecting our oaks
10th May, 2024
Trees have many benefits, from environmental and habitat to flood defence and their ability to contribute to improved mental health. These are just a few advantages that trees bring to the table.
But what is Arboriculture? To sum it up, Arboriculture is the care of trees.
The Arboricultural Association defines arboriculture as ‘the science and practice of the cultivation, establishment, and management of amenity trees for the benefit of society.’
‘The Arboricultural Association is a charity and a membership organisation, the professional body representing the whole spectrum of those who work in arboriculture and the home of tree care. They seek to promote the importance of trees and arboricultural professionals to the general public, politicians and other sectors.’
Did you know that the Arboricultural Association is a partner of Action Oak?
Action Oak is an initiative comprised of public and private partners. Action Oak’s partners include charities, governments, landowners and research institutions. Through collaborative working, Action Oak and its partners work hard to fund research to improve our understanding of the threats to the UK’s native oak trees, enabling them to identify priority areas for action. Knowledge exchange is another critical focus for Action Oak, which concentrates on disseminating research findings to owners and managers of oak trees and woodlands to inform management and protect the trees from various threats.
Edward II - Royal Oaks at Haresfield and Standish.
Oak trees as Amenity trees
Oak trees have a wide range of uses, from fine timber to habitat for wildlife. They also exist as amenity trees. “Amenity trees do many different things at once, including cleaning the air, reducing temperatures, alleviating the effects and environmental impact of climate change, capturing carbon, and improving our physical health and mental well-being, to name just a few. Trees and arboriculture make our communities healthier, happier, and stronger.”
Broadleaf trees like oak store more carbon in the long term, which makes their importance significant given the climate emergency. Protecting oak trees increases the likelihood that they will be able to mature, extending their carbon-capturing lifespan.
Protecting Oak Trees
Action Oak is working to protect the health of oak trees for future generations, but what is Arboriculture’s role in assessing tree health? Expert arboriculturists hold a wealth of knowledge, which is essential for diagnosing various issues relating to tree health, from accurately assessing and managing risks associated with specific trees to being on the front line managing Oak Processionary Moth outbreaks. Arboriculturists are essential in safeguarding the UK’s oak trees for future generations.
“Expert arboriculturists hold a wealth of knowledge, which is essential for diagnosing various issues relating to tree health.”
Take Action
Arboriculture plays an essential role in protecting our oak trees, but did you know that despite being a vital part of the tree management family, opportunities to become an arboriculturist are becoming increasingly difficult to come by?
According to the Arboricultural Association - Where are all the arborists?, there is a succession crisis in the arboriculture profession. They are deeply concerned about where the next generation of arboriculturists comes from and how they can ensure they are more representative of the communities in which they live and work. To take on this challenge, the Arboricultural Association is working hard to ensure that a healthy stream of people from all walks of life can enter the sector and have enough options for a long and successful career.
Read more about the Arboricultural Association’s succession in arboriculture activities and how to get involved: Arboricultural Association - Succession in Arboriculture.
Find out more about the range of roles in the tree care profession through the Arboricultural Association’s ‘What is Arboriculture?’ campaign.
If you’re interested in a career in Arboriculture and Forestry, visit:
Forestry education and careers | Arboricultural careers | ICF (charteredforesters.org)
Arboricultural Association - Careers in Arboriculture (trees.org.uk)
If you’re a prospective career changer, visit:
If you are already working in Arboriculture or Forestry and are interested in career progression, visit:
Edward II - Royal Oaks at Haresfield and Standish.
