What made you apply to Arbtech?
I’d been working independently for several years and started to miss the growth and dynamic that comes from being part of a larger team.
It can be harder to recognise what you don’t know when you don’t have the support and conversation of people in the same field, so I started to work out what would be my next step.
I was initially concerned that moving away from self-employment work would mean losing some of the flexibility and independence that I value. From the moment the interview became a genuine conversation about trees, however, I felt confident that this was a workplace where I could find people that I would enjoy working with and learning from.
What do you love most about the company?
Being the new kid can feel daunting, but everyone has gone out of their way to give me time, support and guidance in settling in.
In fact, I have yet to meet anyone who hasn’t been exceptionally lovely!
As a company, Arbtech has been really flexible and appears to really respect and accommodate the different ways in which people need to work and perform best.
What do you do when you are not at Arbtech?
I haven’t put away my climbing kit yet, so I try to find pockets of time – and good trees – to climb. I have a fantastic oak just down the lane, which is a joy to play in!
Different trees are so different to climb and be in – beech and oak are solid and reliable, whilst the openness of a large cedar is a far more exposed experience. I am slowly working my way through the list!
I love long walks and any excuse to go camping. We have so many great National Trails in the UK (although my elderly whippet, Zephyr, is increasingly less enthusiastic), and they often take you through unexpected places.
I recently walked the River Parrett trail, which covers beautiful countryside, scenic vistas and the bleakest stretch under a major road and through industrial estates, following the river from Source to Sea.
I am also part of a market-gardening family, so spring is taken up with lambing and summer is filled with tomatoes and canning.
I’m slowly figuring out chainsaw-carving, and I have tolerant friends and family who all claim to appreciate my badly carved bears…
And I am a solo parent to two kids who make the best adventure buddies!
What is your biggest tip to achieve the most in life?
I’ve always worked hard to make sure we have the fundamentals – good food on the table and a stable roof over our heads – then the rest is about finding the joy and getting lost in whatever the season has to offer.
Especially at work, days spent looking at trees are generally days well spent.
The seasons move so quickly – working hard to revel and absorb the detail helps slow down time a little bit.
What is the best social you’ve been on at Arbtech?
I haven’t been on any work socials yet, but I’m excited to go to my first soon!
Where do you next want to travel to?
I made the decision a few years ago not to fly for environmental reasons (which I must confess, I often regret). I tell myself now that I am saving up my lifetime worth of flights so I can one day visit the Adirondacks and visit the land of Anne LaBastille.
In the meantime, I am slowly working my way through a pilgrimage to visit a selection of the ancient and important trees around the country. I was lucky enough to see the ‘twisted beech’ in Cornwall and the world’s oldest (and oddest) ancient topiary in Leven’s Hall recently.
You don’t have to travel far to find an adventure!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Truthfully, things are pretty great right now, and I am just hoping the next five years carry on in this way.
I have a love of veteran and ancient trees and an obsession with traditional orchards (I am entrenched in Somerset), which I hope are pathways that will take me somewhere.
Really though, I love being a learner and have found (repeatedly) that it never quite takes you in the direction you plan.
I started my career in the NHS and instead ended up, joyfully, in arboriculture.
So, I try not to plan too hard and instead keep stepping forward, working hard, and staying excited to find out where it takes me.
What is a goal you have for the future, in or out of work?
More trees, more creativity, more climbing, more play, keep learning.
Jay joined Arbtech in June 2026.
