Meet our Trainee Arborist, Dec!

This week is Learning at Work Week, and in the spirit of celebrating the development and successes of our staff, we caught up with Trainee Arborist, Declan Channon to find out more about his learning journey with Landscape Services’ Arboricultural team.

Declan began his career with us in 2017, when he joined Landscape Services on a grounds maintenance apprenticeship programme. Once graduated he joined the operational team as a Grounds Maintenance Operative, until 2020 when he was recommended for a position within the Arboricultural team.

“In October I will have been with the Arboricultural team for three years. In that time I’ve done a bit of everything; basic tree surveys, maintenance, tree removals. I’ve had a go at everything, but most recently I’ve been working my way through my floor tickets – my core training – and basically at this point I’m half a tree surgeon, I’m halfway there more or less.”

Across his six years with Landscape Services, Declan has obtained a range of skills and qualifications, including basic tree inspections, branch removal, HAV awareness, tree felling and chainsaw and chipper maintenance.

“I am much more qualified now than when I started, but I reckon I’ve picked up more in terms of hands-on skills. I’d never even started a lawnmower before joining this company; It’s the same with the tree team, I’ve learned pretty much everything from scratch.

Over its 80 years of business, Landscape Services has launched a number of successful internship and apprenticeship programmes, with several long-serving employees and ex-apprentices having worked with the company for over 40 years. More recently Landscape Services recruited its first Learning and Development Coordinator, who has been working to develop detailed and necessary training plans for the company’s 70+ staff, and recruit passionate people, like Declan, into the business.

“To say I woke up one day and said I want to work with trees is farfetched, but in terms of real world and being an adult, I looked at my options after school and this career path suited me best. I liked the challenge physically and mentally, it’s intense and I love that. I don’t want an office job, I like working on the tools, learning what I do and getting pride out of it.

“Landscape Services look after me. They’ve always taken into consideration what I’ve wanted to do and given me the tools and training to get there. I can’t complain.”

Over the coming months Declan will be completing his final NPTC assessments in Tree Climbing & Aerial Rescue and Using a Chainsaw from a Rope and Harness, which will see him qualify as an arborist and join colleagues Lee and Rikki as the third ‘climber’ within the team.

Some final words from Dec;

A huge thank you to Dec for sharing about your time learning alongside the brilliant Arboricultural team at Landscape Services. If you’re interested in finding out more about what it’s like to work for Landscape Services, check out our careers page, or send us a message!