Environmentally Concerned: A Tree Surgeon’s Duty to Heal
The Misconception
“Arborists are part of the problem.”
I’ve heard it before. When a tree is felled or a stump ground to woodchip, it’s easy to assume we’re agents of loss. But the truth is far more complex—and far more hopeful.
The Reality
Our environment is under siege. Urban sprawl, disease, and climate change threaten the very giants that clean our air, shelter our wildlife, and anchor our ecosystems. Yes, sometimes trees must come down—storm-damaged limbs, diseased ash, crown clearing and dead wood removal or hazards risking homes. But our work doesn’t end with a chainsaw. It begins there.
My Journey: From Cuts to Conservation
When I first picked up a chainsaw in 2002, I saw the contradiction too: How could cutting trees protect them? But over two decades, I’ve learned that real tree care is stewardship. It’s:
Advising homeowners on the basics of tree pruning techniques that extend a tree’s life by decades.
Replanting strategically, choosing native species to rebuild resilient ecosystems and being part of that process.
Respecting decay. Even fallen trees feed the next generation of growth. For starters I can think of 13 uses for Trees and more.
And now, with electric saws and low-impact practices, we’re proving that arboriculture can evolve.
Our Shared Responsibility
Every tree removed is a wound—but also an opportunity. When we work together, we can:
🌱 Replace thoughtfully (I’ll guide you to species that thrive in Glasgow’s soil and climate. Become part of our rewilding work too).
♻️ Recycle relentlessly (chipped wood becomes mulch; logs become habitats).
🦉 Protect fiercely (nesting seasons, bat roosts, and fungal networks dictate our timing).
This Isn’t Just a Job—It’s a Legacy
The air I breathe while working, the birdsong in the branches I prune, the saplings I plant today—these are why I do this. Not to erase trees, but to ensure their future. My future family will live in a world I am part of shaping and if I am able to be part of that, then I hope I and my team do the best job we can.
If you share this hope, let’s talk. Not just as client and contractor, but as agents for a greener Glasgow.