Who we are
We are client focussed, commercially realistic, efficient, approachable, dedicated.
Forbes-Laird Arboricultural Consultancy (FLAC) is a small professional practice working throughout the UK and overseas. We cover all aspects of arboriculture though specialize in planning and litigation matters, and environmental hazard assessment and risk modelling. Click here to visit our natural hazard management microsite.
Principal Consultant Julian Forbes-Laird (JFL) is a Chartered Arboriculturist, a Chartered Surveyor and an Expert Witness to High Court level.
JFL is also:
- A technical editor for BS5837:2012, and a member of the Drafting Plan for its forthcoming revision
- Chairman of BSI Technical Committee B/213 ‘Trees and Tree Work’
- Consultant to Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, Paris
- Special advisor to Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd on tree risk management
- Forensic tree-related accident investigator for Rail Accident Investigation Branch
- VTA Licensed Lecturer, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
If you need an arboricultural consultant, you don’t need a trainee, someone with no relevant or minimal qualifications, or someone trying his or her hand at ‘trees’ because they’ve not made a success of something else.
You need an expert.
At FLAC, even our most junior personnel are qualified to NQF Level 4, and all project leads are Level 6 or higher. A summary of our consultants’ typical qualifications (by grade) is:
Associate Director: Chartered Arboriculturist, Arboricultural Association Registered Consultant, NQF6 qualification, >15 years’ experience, ten with FLAC
Associate: Chartered Arboriculturist or MSc Arboriculture, NQF6 qualification, >10 years’ experience
Senior Consultant: NQF6 qualification, >5 years’ experience
Consultant: NQF6 qualification
JFL is supported by a team of six regionally based consultants, giving FLAC national reach.
Our Operations Director for Planning & Development, Patrick Stileman, and Senior Associate Director Ben Abbatt, are respectively among the UK’s leading authorities on the restoration and management of historic avenues, and tree safety inspection system design. Patrick is also an Arboricultural Association Registered Consultant and experienced planning and civil court witness.
Click here to download our company profile & JFL’s CV.
If you would like to talk to us about your project please Contact Us.
