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Dr. Mark Johnston, MBE, shares his life story and his journey in the field of urban forestry. From his childhood in London to his adventures as a tree surgeon and his work as a tree officer, he has witnessed the evolution of urban forestry. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the equal distribution of trees in urban areas. After working at Kew Gardens and teaching at Askham Bryan College, he eventually became the head of arboriculture at Merrist Wood College. In this conversation, Mark Johnston discusses his career in arboriculture and urban forestry. He shares his experiences working on various projects, including the Forest of London and the Community Forests Initiative. Mark also talks about the importance of higher education in arboriculture and the challenges he faced in promoting it. He emphasizes the need for a broader palette of tree species in urban areas and criticizes the focus on native species. Mark also discusses his involvement in organizing the Trees, People, and the Built Environment conferences and his passion for teaching and inspiring others in the field. His new book, 'Planting Ideas In The Urban Forest' is available here from his official website.

More books by Mark include:-
Trees in Towns II

Trees, People and the Built Environment (2011)

Trees, People and the Built Environment II (2014)

For more episodes in the Tree Lady Talks Archive click here.