Start here: tree work in the United Kingdom

This page is a map. It names the official body for each question and points to the longer guides on this site. It is not legal or immigration advice. Official page details below are as of October 5, 2026, and rules change.

Who sets the safety rules

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the regulator. It runs a tree work hub that groups its guidance under hazards such as aerial work, chainsaws, machinery, working at height and vehicles, plus workers, site management and health topics. HSE's tree climbing page says the Work at Height Regulations 2005 do not ban climbing work, and that employers have a duty to plan the work. Its aerial work page says a minimum of two people must be present during all aerial work.

HSE also hosts the Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group (AFAG), an advisory group that meets twice a year and includes the Arboricultural Association and the awarding bodies. The full run of rules and standards is in safety rules for tree work, country by country.

Tickets and certificates employers ask for

On its training page, HSE says all workers must be adequately trained and competent to do their job safely. It says employers must give this training in working hours and workers must not have to pay for it. It names City and Guilds NPTC and Lantra Awards as the awarding bodies, and says refresher training is recommended at set intervals for high-risk work such as chainsaws.

The HSE leaflet Chainsaws at work, INDG317, published in January 2013, says that before using a chainsaw on or in a tree a worker should have a relevant certificate of competence or national competence award, unless they are training and adequately supervised. The page says nothing about a licence to do tree work in general. HSE's wording is training and competence, not a licence.

On its aerial arboriculture page, Lantra says professional users must achieve the Level 2 Award in Accessing a Tree Using a Rope and Harness and the Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rescue Operations, and that its five-day tree access and rescue course is not an alternative to those qualifications. What ads name and how to pick a provider are covered in certifications by country, choosing a climbing course and apprenticeships.

The main association

One body is the Arboricultural Association, which calls itself the leading organisation in the UK for tree care professionals. Its join page says it is for people from those just starting a career as an arborist to fully qualified consultants and business owners, and lists grades from Foundation and Student to Fellow, plus business grades such as Corporate. Prices are on that page, not here. Other groups are covered in associations and reading.

Where official pay figures live

The National Careers Service has a tree surgeon job profile. The Office for National Statistics publishes pay by job code in its ASHE occupation tables, and the Skilled Worker list below shows arborists under code 5119, a group that also covers other outdoor trades.

The legal floor is on the national minimum wage page. From April 2026 it shows £12.71 an hour for ages 21 and over, £10.85 for ages 18 to 20 and £8.00 for the apprentice rate. The page says the apprentice rate applies to apprentices under 19, and to those aged 19 or over in the first year of their apprenticeship. The figures with job titles and dates are in what tree workers earn, country by country.

Reporting a tree pest

TreeAlert, run by Forest Research, takes reports of suspected tree pests and diseases found anywhere in Great Britain. Forest Research is the research agency of the Forestry Commission. The TreeAlert page sets out what it asks for. What the main pests are is covered in pests and diseases.

Checking visa and work rights from abroad

GOV.UK has a check if you need a UK visa page. It says that, depending on your nationality, you may need an electronic travel authorisation. Two routes are on GOV.UK for people from abroad.

On the Youth Mobility Scheme page, GOV.UK lists Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea at ages 18 to 35. The overview page says the visa is for up to 2 years.
On the Skilled Worker visa job page, GOV.UK says you will usually need to be paid at least £41,700 a year, or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. The eligible occupations list shows arborists under code 5119.

Only those pages decide your case. This site cannot. More on moving between countries is in working abroad.

Where events are listed

For this site, see the events page, which is a preview with sample entries. The Arboricultural Association home page has a training and events section. For jobs, see finding climbing work.

At a glance

Question	Where to look
Safety rules	HSE tree work hub
Training and tickets	HSE, City and Guilds NPTC, Lantra Awards
Association	Arboricultural Association
Pay	National Careers Service, ONS, GOV.UK
Pest report	TreeAlert, Forest Research
Visa	GOV.UK

More guides for tree work in the United Kingdom

What the law asks instead of a licence, in the licensing guide.
NPTC and Lantra tickets by their full names, in the tickets guide.
Renewals and CPD, in the keeping certified guide.
Jobs beyond climbing, in the career paths guide.
Official outlook figures, in the career outlook guide.
Line clearance as a line of work, in the utility line clearance guide.
Safety reading at no cost, in the free safety resources guide.
Crisis and support lines, in the mental health and support guide.
Local groups near you, in the chapters and branches guide.
How a tree works, in the tree biology guide.
Naming the tree in front of you, in the tree identification guide.
Planting and nursery stock rules, in the planting standards guide.
Free courses and reading, in the free learning library.
Tree preservation orders and felling licences, in the UK council rules guide.
Risk assessments and equipment records, in the site paperwork guide.
Who must report a work injury, in the injury reporting guide.
Official injury and death figures, in the injury figures guide.
Crane operator licences and lifting rules, in the cranes guide.
Minimum wages and award rates, in the minimum pay guide.
Published injury cover rates for tree work, in the injury cover rates guide.
Public lookups for a tree company, in the company checks guide.
Approved contractor and credential-check schemes, in the schemes guide.
Every regulator, licence office and scheme in one list, in the United Kingdom directory of official bodies.
Helmet standards and the markings to look for, in the helmets guide.
Visors, glasses and ear defenders, in the eye, face and hearing guide.
Chainsaw trousers, chaps and boots by label, in the chainsaw clothing guide.
Line, lanyard and friction cord ratings, in the climbing lines guide.
Saddle and harness standards, in the saddles and harnesses guide.
The numbers stamped on carabiners and pulleys, in the hardware ratings guide.
High-visibility clothing for roadside work, in the hi-vis guide.
Gear inspection and examination rules, in the gear inspection guide.
Unit conversions and green wood weights, on the tools page.