I have a huge respect for the Tree Council, all their ideas and motives seem to work well, with the Tree Wardens scheme being particularly useful as it has been accepted into many Parish councils and thus maintains a strong focus and immediate protection for trees in small communities by way of a local representative who is not necessarily qualified but has the best of up to date literature by way of the Tree Council.
I used to be involved with the International Tree Foundation, on a localised level. Being a complete tree anorak this suited me down to the ground, but when I went self employed being a member led to many good contracts and indeed my largest (and ongoing) client. As such I would advocate anyone in the profession in joining a similar organisation, the larger charities and trusts do some fantastic work but to be able to actually use your professionalism at a grass roots level will introduce you to potential clients and contracts as well that warm feeling after a good days tree planting.
How much does the increasing domination of super charities strip the lesser known and local yet well established charities of potential funding? Certainly in terms of PR in a country where PR is such a significant factor it is obvious that facts such as the huge increase in UK tree cover, (much of which has been the result of these lesser charities hard work and real on the ground efforts) can be abused by other groups and government to 'sex' up their own image.
There is and I can speak from experience here a real opportunity for landscaping and horticultural practitioners to highlight their own industry by way of involvement. Although commentary in this regard on here the LJN is speaking to the converted somewhat given the excellent recent charitable exploits of Gary Cobb and Rowly. But as I was taught by the eminent horticulturalist 'Peter Blake' actual presence on the committee of the local branch of a charity allows you to display your own professionalism and expand your business and profile into sectors of the industry you would never have thought possible - a mutual arrangement of huge benefit.
Now living in a country where the very idea of the huge membership of charitable organisations is simply disbelieved it is even more apparent how much of my professional life was interlinked with involvement and I miss those days of grabbing a spade and helping in the planting of a new woodland in a small community.
To assist in planting a tree the events list for this National Tree Week is here - Events 2010
Comments