Overview

I began full time work as an Arborist upon leaving school in July 1971, the company was named J P Lanwood 'Trees Ltd' and operated by my father. I worked as a climbing arborist for two years before completing the 10 Week Tree Surgery Course at Merrist Wood Agricultural College and graduating with distinction. After working for a further 6 years I left and formed my own company which I called 'Urban Forestry'. I became a member of the Arboricultural Association on the 7th of May 1985 and began a programme of Continued Professional Development which I perpetuate to this day. On the 7th December 1989 'Urban Forestry' became an AAAC and retains that accreditation contemporarily. Since 1979 I have worked 'on the tools' within the company whilst also developing my arboricultural knowledge and attaining various qualifications and accreditations. On the 1st January 2002 I joined the International Society of Arboriculture and became an ISA Certified Arborist on the 30th June 2002. I continued my studies toward the RFS Professional Diploma and passed the individual exams before successfully completing the Management Day exercise at Westonbirt on 20th September 2011, my pass certificate was awarded on 20th October 2011. In August 2012 I attended the ISA Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, USA and whilst there I undertook the ISA Municipal Arborist Accreditation on the 10th of that month. I continued to study and one year later on 10th October 2013 I became an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist. Because I like the American approach to arboriculture I wanted to become more professionally involved and so I applied to become a professional member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists and was accepted as a member on 29th September 2014. I travelled to Boston, Massachusetts, USA and attended the ASCA consulting Academy (24th-27th/February/2015). Having successfully completed the academy I undertook the follow-up training and became an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist (#588) on 28th January 2016. During this period I was also undergoing Bond Solon Expert Witness Training and achieved accreditation as a Cardiff Law School Expert Witness (civil) on 28th May 2016. I have since completed additional training in criminal law and can now add this discipline to my accreditation, my certificate will be presented at the Expert Witness Conference in London in November. My professional development had long been intended as a route into the Institute of Chartered Foresters and in August 2016 I submitted a membership application. I was invited to Edinburgh for interview in November 2016 and admitted to the institute as a professional member on 13th December 2016, I am now proud to be a Chartered Arboriculturist. Throughout my years running 'Urban Forestry I have been responsible for all day to day activities including meeting all training needs for myself and my employees. Since the mid eighties I have prepared reports on most aspects of arboriculture including, subsidence, safety/risk assessment, damages claims and latterly BS: 5837 surveys.