Who is behind Tree Life?

David Dowson

MAEA BA (Hons) FIC For. F.ARBOR.A Dip ARB (RFS) Tech Cert (ARBOR A) CEnv CUEW Cert Ed. FCIEA

Dave is a senior AA Registered Arboricultural Consultant and the man who started Tree Life in 1997, all told he has been in the arboricultural industry at all levels for over 35 years. Dave has now handed the reigns over to Keely Dowson but does still pop up on some of the short courses programs, the ATP programme and he is still carrying out Consultancy for the company. He is also the author of the LANTRA Professional Tree Inspection 3 Day Course.

Andrew Summerley

BSc (Hons), Dip Arb (RFS), Tech Cert (ARBOR.A), DMS, Cert FE, F.Arbor.A.CEnv

Andy joined Tree Life as a partner & director in 2004 from Moulton college and has been a great addition to our company ever since. You will see Andy pop up on some of our short courses and the ATP training programme; Andy is also the creator of our new English for Arboriculturists short course.

Keely Dowson - Business Director

BA (Hons), ICSA GRAD

Keely is the Business Director and the primary point of contact. She is always available to assist and can be reached directly. As the daughter of Tree Life’s Founder Dave, Keely now holds the reigns for Tree Life, which is a family-run business, Our work culture is built on strong family values and a collaborative environment.

Ben Lewis - Course Assessor

Dip Arb L6 (ABC), Dip Arb L4 (ABC), MArborA

Ben has nearly 15 years of arboriculture experience, starting as a ground person, then working as a climber and subcontractor, and eventually co-owning an arboricultural company handling domestic and commercial projects. Over time, he gained qualifications in Professional Tree Inspection and utility surveying. Later, as an Arboricultural Officer for a local authority, managing council-owned trees, leading surveys, and coordinating planting schemes.

 

Flora Harding - Course Assessor

 

“I have worked in the natural environment for over 30 years and have knowledge of wildlife and landscape conservation, as well as arboriculture and tree care. Throughout my career, I have had many great roles, such as Park Ranger, Local Authority Assistant Tree Officer and as an Arboricultural Consultant. They all involve trees, wildlife and people. Managing people and ensuring they understand about our natural environment has always been the foundation for all of my jobs.

As ever, I am keen to continue to learn more, as science evolves, and to share my knowledge to support others to become the confident and competent arboriculturists of the future.“

Nick Eddison - Course Assessor

BA., Dip. Arb.

“I’m an Arb professional working as a consultant, an assessor for the Arb Association’s Approved Contractor scheme, an aerial inspector for bats, a training provider for NTPC qualifications & also still, after 30+ years, as a tree surgeon.  I’ve worked in pretty much every role within arboriculture excluding the utility side of the business.  I’m still passionate about trees & tree care.  Even with the knowledge base I have I still feel every day gives me a learning opportunity.  I’m proud to be able to use my knowledge & experience to help people in the industry better their knowledge & practice.”

Island Lescure

Dip. Arb (L4)

Island Lescure is a consulting arborist with over 20 years of experience in tree related work. He has studied and worked in India, the UK and Australia but has grown-up, in part, in South India which has provided him with local knowledge coupled with international expertise. He lives in Auroville, India, and is the author of the children's book,  ‘The Life of a Tree’. (ISBN-13: 978-9353965235)

His aims regarding trees are simple; properly manage existing trees and plant more in urban environments for the benefit of all.

Christopher Jones - Course Assessor

FdSc MArborA

“I have worked in arboriculture for over 10 years and have developed a keen passion for trees and the environment during that time. My career began in the contracting side of the industry as a climbing arborist, gaining valuable experience working across the UK and Europe.

In more recent years, I have moved into surveying and consultancy, establishing my own consultancy based on the Essex/Suffolk border. A former Tree Life student, I have a particular interest in woodland management and the care of ancient and veteran trees.”

Lee Davies - Course Assessor

BA (Hons), Dip Arb L6 (ABC), Dip Arb L4 (ABC), MICFor, MArborA

Lee has worked in arboriculture for over two decades, beginning as a climbing arborist before moving into consultancy. Having completed his Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas with Tree Life, he now holds Chartered Arboriculturist status and is an active practising consultant, working primarily in the planning and development sector. Lee is passionate about lifelong learning and takes great satisfaction in supporting others as they develop their own careers in arboriculture.

Alex Lowe - Course Assessor

 

Alex is an experienced arboricultural and ecological consultant with almost 10 years in the industry. Starting his career as an Assistant Tree Officer at a district council, Alex then joined an Ecology Consultancy as an Arboricultural Consultant while picking up ecological survey skills. He has also worked in a busy multi-disciplinary planning consultancy and worked on a wide variety of development projects across the UK. In his spare time Alex enjoys searching for fungi, baking bread and walking his stubborn English Bulldog, Seamus.

Daniel Harris - Course Assessor

 

“With over thirteen years of experience in arboricultural and environmental consulting, I’ve worked across a wide range of projects in both the private and public sectors. My background includes BS5837 surveys and Arboricultural Impact Assessments, tree risk assessments, forestry and woodland management, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), project management, and reporting. I’m passionate about promoting good arboricultural practice and sharing knowledge gained through a diverse career in the industry.

I hold a First-Class Honours degree in Environmental Management, a Level 4 Professional Tree Inspection qualification, and a Level 6 Professional Diploma in Arboriculture - proudly achieved through Tree Life! I am also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (MICFor) and was honoured with the Hugh Miller Award for Excellence by the ICF for my professional submission.

Outside of work, I enjoy walking (and looking at trees, of course!), playing music, and spending time with family and friends.”

Gary Winn - Course Assessor

D Soc Sci  Doc R.E.a.D. RIBA Tech Cert (Abor) CEnv  CBuildE FCABE MFPWS CertPWS

Dr Gary Winn practices as an architect, engineer and arboriculturist.

Since attending Tree Life as a student in 2009, he has continued to progress his special interest in the relationships between trees and buildings. Passionate about the environment, his doctoral research developed a system, enabling trees and buildings to coexist in close proximity, without detriment to each other. The research forms the basis of his book, ‘Tree-Building Relationships: The Advent of Arbitecture’. (ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1835634349)

Passionate about nurturing new talent, alongside his work at Tree Life, he is a visiting lecturer and academic critic at Oxford Brookes University, working with both undergraduate and post-graduate architecture students, particularly on the subject of tree-building relationships.

As a qualified teacher, throughout the 1990s he worked nationally in schools, teaching subjects on the environment to 5–18-year-old pupils.

In his spare time, he is a keen badminton player and bird watcher.

Greg Coppenhall - Course Assessor

 

“With over a decade of hands-on arboricultural experience in both the UK and internationally, I am a UK-based arboriculturist with a strong passion for raising industry standards through the sharing of knowledge. I began my career as a climbing arborist, where I developed a deep curiosity for the study of trees and a commitment to preserving them for future generations, recognising their many unique ecological and arboricultural values.

I obtained my Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture at Tree Life and have since progressed into consultancy work within the private sector. I currently work as an Arboricultural Officer in the public sector. I hold a Professional Tree Inspection (PTI) qualification, an NVQ Level 6 in Contracting Operations Management, and I am a Professional Member of the Arboricultural Association. I am currently working towards Technical Membership (Chartership) with the ICF and intend to undertake the ATP with Tree Life.”