Tree officer wins RFS's Lockhart Garratt Trophy
Braintree District Council's Senior Tree and Landscape Officer, Abigail St Aubyn, has been presented with the RFS's Lockhart Garratt Trophy for Excellence in Arboriculture, at the Arboricultural Association Conference dinner in Exeter.
The trophy is awarded each year by the RFS to the top student in its Professional Diploma in Arboriculture.
Abi, who lives in Thaxted, Essex, initially trained in horticulture before branching out into the management and Local Government. She said, "The breadth of the course was outstanding, and I have found it extremely useful in my work.
Braintree in North Essex is predominantly an attractive rural area, with three market towns within the District. There is considerable pressure from development and my role involves all aspects of tree management including our own tree stock, tree preservations orders, conservation areas and new planting schemes".
Lockhart Garratt's Managing Director, Graham Garratt said, "I am delighted for Abigail in winning the Lockhart Garratt trophy ahead of a strong field of very able arboriculturists.
For me, the award is about recognising and promoting excellence in what is still a young profession in its own right, and I hope Abigail is an inspiration to others looking to progress their professional and technical skills to the highest level associated with the PDArb".
RFS President, John Besent added, "As the leading forestry educational charity, the Royal Forestry Society has been involved in formal forestry and arboriculture education for many decades and the current Professional Diploma is widely recognised as a premier qualification. The trees, woods and forests of the British Isles should have the best possible management and those holding the Professional Diploma are well qualified to provide this".
Picture: Top of the Tree: Braintree Tree Officer, Abigail St Aubyn, is awarded the RFS/Lockhart Garratt PDArb Trophy by Graham Garratt (left) and John Besent.
For further information please call Graham Garratt.
Date: October 2009
