I can trace back my passion for the landscape of the Peak  District to climbing Kinder Scout  Geography field trip in 1982.  My enthusiasm for the environment took me to Liverpool University to study Botany and Geography. It was surveying trees for  Essex County Council in 1988 that become the start of a life long career and interest in trees. I started as a tree surveyor then a student woodman in ancient woodland,  before moving back to the North West working for various Local Authorities as Arboricultural Officer and in also in private consultancy dealing with a broad range tree management.

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I am always expanding my knowledge as well as Arboricultural courses and professional development. I studied for a Msc in Ecology and Environmental Management  specialising in tree and woodland ecology. I have a particular interest in  veteran and ancient trees. I  have undertaken research into  the conservation value of dead wood habitats  in ancient wood pasture sites in Derbyshire. A summary of this work  is the subject of a blog.

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