London Tree Officers Association – Diversity & Inclusion Working Party Report

The London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) has launched it’s report about diversity and inclusion of tree officers within London. The past few years have seen a noticeable increase in efforts to improve diversity and inclusion (D&I) within the workplace. The Diversity and Inclusion Working Party (DIWP) was formed to investigate potential barriers into accessing the Arboricultural profession, to understand the current state of diversity and inclusion within the London tree officer community and make changes and recommendations to improve accessibility and outreach.

In 2019 London borough members of the LTOA were asked to complete a D&I survey, which identified areas in which diversity is low and provided details on challenges to diversity within the sector.

The survey found that London tree officers are not representative of the population that they serve in areas such as gender, ethnicity, nationality and religion. It also revealed barriers to entering the profession. The findings informed a list of actions and aims which can be taken by the LTOA and by organisations across the industry to increase diversity and inclusion.

Going forward the DIWP aims to roll out the survey nationally to tree officers across the country, to monitor future changes to diversity within London tree officers and to develop a strategy for achieving the actions and aims highlighted by the survey.

The LTOA would like to thank Treework Environmental Practice and Street Tree Ltd for sponsoring the design and layout of the document.

Our Managing Director, Luke Fay has been a member of the DIWP since its start and is delighted that the report has been published:

‘It is a privilege to be able to be involved with this dedicated group. Business and professions are key social drivers in the development of a healthy society; the LTOA Diversity and Inclusion Working Party and the report that we have produced are initial steps for the Arboricultural profession to contribute to the shaping of an inclusive society by addressing barriers to accessing the profession and so becoming more representative of the society that we work in. This is not only important in societal terms, but also essential for the medium and long-term succession and development of the whole of arboriculture. Arboriculture is a wonderful profession that that opens views into the natural world and how it intersects with society, it gives us practitioners a sense of belonging. I want this rewarding profession to be and feel available to anyone with aptitude for it and interest in it.’  

For the full report please visit:  https://www.ltoa.org.uk/resources/diversity-and-inclusion