The Adventures of the Tree Detective
Join Mark Chester as he sits down to discuss the careers of fellow tree specialists.
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The Adventures of the Tree Detective Episode 2: Rob McBride Part 2
04/20/2026
The Adventures of the Tree Detective Episode 2: Rob McBride Part 2
We're back for our second episode as the Tree Detective Mark Chester continues his chat with the Tree Hunter Rob McBride. Rob McBride: After a career problem solving in IT, Rob McBride began to discover the natural world on his doorstep and especially the special ancient trees. He found that many were undiscovered, and lacking any legal protection, were vulnerable to loss from developments including road building. He spent his days exploring, finding many of these treasures and recording them and campaigning for their protection. One of the first to appreciate the tree loss in Sheffield and campaign for the urban forest there, he was also a pioneer of the annual Tree of the Year campaign. Known as the Tree Hunter, his book 'Trees of the Offa's Dyke', sharing his adventures exploring that area and the people there, will be published in 2026. Rob has appeared on The One Show, BBC Countryfile and local news programmes and is a committed campaigner for trees. Mark Chester: Mark Chester has spent more than 30 years working with trees and advising on their management as a professional consulting arborist. He is the Principal Consultant at Cedarwood Tree Consultants, which he founded in 2005. Founder of the education social enterprise Oscar's Tree Academy, which provides forest school resources for primary school aged children and their teachers, he is also the editor of The World of Woodlands, a magazine about trees. Known as The Tree Detective, he has a passion to share about trees in an accessible way. He especially campaigns to promote good practice in establishing young trees and protecting ancient trees and woodlands. Paul Naylor: Media & You is a design and marketing agency founded and owned by Paul Naylor. Based in Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent, the agency specialises in design, PR, and marketing services, particularly for books, magazines, and other printed media. Major clients include Oscar’s Tree Academy; Shropshire Business Magazine – for which he has won design awards; The Alliance of British Drivers; Happy Smiles; Fiveways Insurance and, more local to his home, Noreus – a company dealing in renewable energy. Paul is also a trustee for the charity Telford After Care Team (TACT). A role he has held since late 2019. www.theworldoftrees.org.uk www.treeconsultants.org.uk www.thetreeacademy.org.uk Email: mark.chester@treeconsultants.org.uk Landline: 01981 570426 Mobile: 07888 838360
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The Adventures of the Tree Detective Episode 1: Rob McBride Part 1
03/16/2026
The Adventures of the Tree Detective Episode 1: Rob McBride Part 1
Rob McBride: After a career problem solving in IT, Rob McBride began to discover the natural world on his doorstep and especially the special ancient trees. He found that many were undiscovered, and lacking any legal protection, were vulnerable to loss from developments including road building. He spent his days exploring, finding many of these treasures and recording them and campaigning for their protection. One of the first to appreciate the tree loss in Sheffield and campaign for the urban forest there, he was also a pioneer of the annual Tree of the Year campaign. Known as the Tree Hunter, his book 'Trees of the Offa's Dyke', sharing his adventures exploring that area and the people there, will be published in 2026. Rob has appeared on The One Show, BBC Countryfile and local news programmes and is a committed campaigner for trees. Mark Chester: Mark Chester has spent more than 30 years working with trees and advising on their management as a professional consulting arborist. He is the Principal Consultant at Cedarwood Tree Consultants, which he founded in 2005. Founder of the education social enterprise Oscar's Tree Academy, which provides forest school resources for primary school aged children and their teachers, he is also the editor of The World of Woodlands, a magazine about trees. Known as The Tree Detective, he has a passion to share about trees in an accessible way. He especially campaigns to promote good practice in establishing young trees and protecting ancient trees and woodlands. Paul Naylor: Media & You is a design and marketing agency founded and owned by Paul Naylor. Based in Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent, the agency specialises in design, PR, and marketing services, particularly for books, magazines, and other printed media. Major clients include Oscar’s Tree Academy; Shropshire Business Magazine – for which he has won design awards; The Alliance of British Drivers; Happy Smiles; Fiveways Insurance and, more local to his home, Noreus – a company dealing in renewable energy. Paul is also a trustee for the charity Telford After Care Team (TACT). A role he has held since late 2019. www.theworldoftrees.org.uk www.treeconsultants.org.uk www.thetreeacademy.org.uk Email: mark.chester@treeconsultants.org.uk Landline: 01981 570426 Mobile: 07888 838360
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A View From The Treehouse Episode 8: Kevin Martin
11/25/2024
A View From The Treehouse Episode 8: Kevin Martin
We catch up once again with Kevin Martin, Keeper of the Tree Collection at Royal Botanic Gardens. Kevin is responsible for the management of Kew’s world-renowned collection of trees, some dating from the founding of the Gardens in the 1760s. In conversation with Mark Chester, Kevin discusses his latest work and projects at Kew and in the wider world. The youngest manager at Kew as well as the youngest Keeper of the Collection, Kevin has a unique role at Kew, where he manages the trees as ‘custodian’ and ‘advisor’. He also teaches about trees on the Kew Diploma, and is part of the team contributing to a new Channel 5 documentary series. He is presently working on research into compaction damage, how trees cope with drought, trees and motion and Eco Habitat Matching. Mark Chester is editor of e-magazine The World of Trees, and is also the Principal Consultant at Cedarwood Tree Consultants and part of the team at The Tree Academy, which provides an education resource at early years and primary school ( Key Stage 1 and 2). www.theworldoftrees.org.uk www.treeconsultants.org.uk www.thetreeacademy.org.uk Email: mark.chester@treeconsultants.org.uk Landline: 01981 570426 Mobile: 07888 838360
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A View From The Treehouse Episode 7: Russell Ball
08/06/2024
A View From The Treehouse Episode 7: Russell Ball
On this episode of A View From The Treehouse we sit down with Russell Ball. Russell’s keen interest in nature stated young and led to him holding a number of key industry positions: Executive Officer for both the London Tree Officers Association and International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) – European office. He also worked as a Tree Protection Officer for Harrow Council and two years tree consulting in Madrid. He was on the technical editing committee for the Spanish national standard for protecting trees on development sites: “NTJ 03E” and in 1996 was voted Environmental Londoner of the Year, as well as jointly winning a Royal Horticultural Society (Chelsea Flower Show) silver-gilt medal for Rainforest Belize. As a Chartered Biologist his qualifications include an honours degree in botany and a post graduate diploma in landscape management. Mark Chester is editor of e-magazine The World of Trees, and is also the Principal Consultant at Cedarwood Tree Consultants and part of the team at The Tree Academy, which provides an education resource at early years and primary school ( Key Stage 1 and 2). www.theworldoftrees.org.uk www.treeconsultants.org.uk www.thetreeacademy.org.uk Email: mark.chester@treeconsultants.org.uk Landline: 01981 570426 Mobile: 07888 838360
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A View From The Treehouse Episode 6: Archie Miles Part 2
07/19/2024
A View From The Treehouse Episode 6: Archie Miles Part 2
On this episode of A View From The Treehouse we sit down once again with recognised, world-renowned photographer, author and tree enthusiast Archie Miles. Archie has a passion for landscape and natural history, working regularly with The Tree Council and The Woodland Trust. He is the author of numerous books including The Hidden Trees of Britain, Malvern Hills and Westward: Travels Through the Malverns and East Herefordshire, Silva: The Tree in Britain, The Trees that Made Britain, and A Walk in the Woods. This is the second of our three-part A View From The Treehouse chat with Archie, as he talks to Mark Chester and shares his journey. Mark Chester is editor of e-magazine The World of Trees, and is also the Principal Consultant at Cedarwood Tree Consultants and part of the team at The Tree Academy, which provides an education resource at early years and primary school ( Key Stage 1 and 2). www.theworldoftrees.org.uk www.treeconsultants.org.uk www.thetreeacademy.org.uk Email: mark.chester@treeconsultants.org.uk Landline: 01981 570426 Mobile: 07888 838360
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A View From The Treehouse Episode 5: Archie Miles Part 1
03/08/2024
A View From The Treehouse Episode 5: Archie Miles Part 1
On this episode of A View From The Treehouse we sit down with recognised, world-renowned photographer, author and tree enthusiast Archie MIles. Archie has a passion for landscape and natural history and is the author of numerous books including The Hidden Trees of Britain, Malvern Hills and Westward: Travels Through the Malverns and East Herefordshire, Silva: The Tree in Britain, The Trees that Made Britain, and A Walk in the Woods. ‘Having trained in commercial photography, and worked on a range of industrial commissions, Archie Miles took up the offer to work with a publisher exploring the Worcestershire countryside of Sir Edward Elgar. From a rural background, this renewed Miles’ interest in the natural environment and trees. He explored the potential for tree-related photography based books, and has published several masterpieces over the past two decades, working with Felix Dennis, The Woodland Trust and other sponsors. Still a photographer at heart, he is a highly engaging and sought-after speaker with a knowledge of trees beyond many. Archie joins A View From The Treehouse host Mark Chester to share about his journey, and what motivates him. Mark Chester is editor of e-magazine The World of Trees, and is also the Principal Consultant at Cedarwood Tree Consultants and part of the team at The Tree Academy, which provides an education resource at early years and primary school ( Key Stage 1 and 2). www.theworldoftrees.org.uk www.treeconsultants.org.uk www.thetreeacademy.org.uk Email: mark.chester@treeconsultants.org.uk Landline: 01981 570426 Mobile: 07888 838360
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A View From The Treehouse Episode 4: Alice Whitehead
02/25/2023
A View From The Treehouse Episode 4: Alice Whitehead
Alice Whitehead lives in Northampton and is passionate about the environment. She loves gardening, her allotment and her neighbourhood. Seeing Cherry trees in her street dying and not being replaced, she saw a worrying trend that concerned her; the local authority had not planted any street trees for fifty years. Alice decided it was time to change the situation. With a petition urging the council to fund new trees, she was soon working with the Woodland Trust to raise the profile of planting urban trees. In this episode of View From The Treehouse, Alice talks to Mark Chester and shares the journey and her plans for the future. Mark Chester is editor of e-magazine The World of Trees, and is also the Principal Consultant at Cedarwood Tree Consultants and part of the team at The Tree Academy, which provides an education resource at early years and primary school ( Key Stage 1 and 2). www.theworldoftrees.org.uk www.treeconsultants.org.uk www.thetreeacademy.org.uk Email: mark.chester@treeconsultants.org.uk Landline: 01981 570426 Mobile: 07888 838360
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A View From The Treehouse Episode 3: Kevin Martin Part Two
01/13/2023
A View From The Treehouse Episode 3: Kevin Martin Part Two
We continue our chat with Kevin Martin, Keeper of the Tree Collection at Royal Botanic Gardens. Kevin is responsible for the management of Kew’s world-renowned collection of trees, some dating from the founding of the Gardens in the 1760s. In conversation with Mark Chester, Kevin shares about life at Kew and his own journey from a commercial tree climber to working on international research projects. The youngest manager at Kew as well as the youngest Keeper of the Collection, Kevin has a unique role at Kew, where he manages the trees as ‘custodian’ and ‘advisor’. He also teaches about trees on the Kew Diploma, and is part of the team contributing to a new Channel 5 documentary series. He is presently working on research into compaction damage, how trees cope with drought, trees and motion and Eco Habitat Matching. Mark Chester is editor of e-magazine The World of Trees, and is also the Principal Consultant at Cedarwood Tree Consultants and part of the team at The Tree Academy, which provides an education resource at early years and primary school ( Key Stage 1 and 2). www.theworldoftrees.org.uk www.treeconsultants.org.uk www.thetreeacademy.org.uk Email: mark.chester@treeconsultants.org.uk Landline: 01981 570426 Mobile: 07888 838360
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A View From The Treehouse Episode 2: Kevin Martin Part One
12/16/2022
A View From The Treehouse Episode 2: Kevin Martin Part One
Kevin Martin is the Keeper of the Tree Collection at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and is responsible for the management of Kew’s world-renowned collection of trees, some dating from the founding of the Gardens in the 1760s. In conversation with Mark Chester, Kevin shares about life at Kew and his own journey from a commercial tree climber to working on international research projects in the first of this two-part interview. The youngest manager at Kew as well as the youngest Keeper of the Collection, Kevin has a unique role at Kew, where he manages the trees as ‘custodian’ and ‘advisor’. He also teaches about trees on the Kew Diploma, and is part of the team contributing to a new Channel 5 documentary series. He is presently working on research into compaction damage, how trees cope with drought, trees and motion and Eco Habitat Matching. Mark Chester is editor of e-magazine The World of Trees, and is also the Principal Consultant at Cedarwood Tree Consultants and part of the team at The Tree Academy, which provides an education resource at early years and primary school ( Key Stage 1 and 2). www.theworldoftrees.org.uk www.treeconsultants.org.uk www.thetreeacademy.org.uk Email: mark.chester@treeconsultants.org.uk Landline: 01981 570426 Mobile: 07888 838360
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A View From The Treehouse Episode 1: Lucy Saunders
11/18/2022
A View From The Treehouse Episode 1: Lucy Saunders
Lucy Saunders has managed trees for several local authorities over the past decade, so when the position of Trees and Woodlands Officer became vacant at the Lake District Council, she saw an opportunity too great to miss. She spends her days travelling through the Lake District National Park looking at trees. Her arrival coincided with Storm Arwen, the impact of which is still being felt. Her days are full, from dealing with requests to prune protected trees to identifying locations to plant trees, as well as finding trees for the Queen's Green canopy. Away from the day job? Lucy loves to go hunting for trees.... with Lucy, there is never a dull moment. Mark Chester is editor of e-magazine The World of Trees, and is also the Principal Consultant at Cedarwood Tree Consultants and part of the team at The Tree Academy, which provides an education resource at early years and primary school (Key Stage 1 and 2). www.theworldoftrees.org.uk www.treeconsultants.org.uk www.thetreeacademy.org.uk Email: mark.chester@treeconsultants.org.uk Landline: 01981 570426 Mobile: 07888 838360
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