BA (Hons)
Rich completed a Geography degree at the University of Exeter. Coming from a farming background he knew he didn’t want to be indoors and always sought more rewarding practical work. He began working in arboriculture after his degree and loved the physical and technical skills needed to be a competent tree surgeon. He pursued this by setting himself up as self-employed and passing the various NPTC qualifications needed to climb with a chainsaw whilst using ropes up a tree. He has been working with Faircloth Forestry since 2009 and became a partner in 2011.
He is currently enrolled part-time at Bicton College studying for the Royal Forestry Society Certificate in Arboriculture. He intends to complete the ABC level 4 in Arboriculture run by Tree Life Training at Westonbirt Arboretum in order to become a fully qualified tree consultant.
Update 31 August 2011: Rich has just been awarded Tree Life Training’s national scholarship for the ABC Level 4 Arb course at Westonbirt to start this October (one day a week).