New Curator Arrives May 13 to Eastwoodhill
Eastwoodhill is looking forward to the arrival of their new Curator Martin Weaver. After some months of searching for the right person, Martin happened to have already relocated to Gisborne and was in search of the perfect job for his extensive experience in trees and horticulture.
Growing up in Gloucestershire, England, Martin connected to trees and woodlands from a young age. He was a frequent visitor of the the Royal Forest of Dean and the diverse surrounding woodlands throughout the county. After completing school,, Martin enrolled with Hartpury College to begin studying Woodland Management, and Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Management. Three years later at the University of Wales in Bangor, Martin started a four-year degree course in Forestry. It was in the third secondment year of his course that piqued his interest in Urban Forestry and the management of large tree stocks in the amenity arboriculture sector. Primarily tasked with tree safety inspections and contractor management, the opportunity to work with differing species in various environments throughout the County of Buckinghamshire would serve invaluable for Martin and his career.
Soon after graduation Martin started his career with Torbay Council (Devon) as a Arboricultural Technician and developed a knowledge of mass tree database, tree safety inspections and management techniques. This was expanded on during his position of Arboricultural Officer for Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council. A diverse and new role that required the entire publicly owned tree asset to be inspected and digitally captured for the district. It also required Martin operate as a professional liaison to Devon County Council for tree safety inspections adjacent to major highways, contract creation and legal assistance. After nearly five years in this position Martin sought a personal and meaningful change to work in education on the importance of tree protection and suitable tree planting provision in the urban realm. The role of Product Manager for Geosynthetics, a company that provides inspired solutions for civil engineers, became available, requiring someone who could educate on the environmental requirements for trees. This focus was around the need for tree root protection and provision in the engineered environment. The education was delivered to civil engineers, landscape architects and all other related disciplines via seminars and presentations. Martin joined the Tree Design and Action Group a not-for-profit organisation and assisted with the publications Trees in the Townscape and Trees in Hard Landscapes.