This month, just like everyone else on Instagram in the Northern Hemisphere, I have been posting photographs of leaves. It’s impossible to take a bad picture of a tree in its autumn clothes. They give beautiful displays of orange and red showing off the brights of fall before resigning to a leafless winter.

If you want the colours, the smells and the crunchy underfeets of autumn there is an arboreal paradise just up the road from me at Westonbirt near Tetbury in the Cotswolds. It is the vision of landowner Robert Holford who began planting in the 1850s. Now Westonbirt Arboretum provides a woodland world home to fungus, birds, mammals, insect life and more than 15,000 specimen trees. Those who care for it now are thinking not only of the present, but also how Westonbirt Arboretum might look in decades time. So, being a bit tree-mad, I wanted to know more.

Autumn is the busiest time of year for visitors and staff…. Not really considering this I added even more to their workload by asking a load of questions of Joe Porter their Technical Arborist. Between chainsawing and getting caught in brambles Joe kindly took some time to give me an idea of the sort of work he gets up to. Thanks so much Joe!

Why do you work at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum?

For me, a love for nature and wanting to look after the arboretum is why I got into tree work, so I love that it’s a major part of our work here.

What does the Arboretum do for you as a person?

I love having somewhere to fully invest in. Seeing the arboretum throughout the seasons, being able to appreciate it holistically and work outside. It is also great for my mental health to work outside in such a beautiful landscape. 

What is your favourite tool.

De-Turfer Joe Porter-credit Johnny Hathaway

We have a new battery climbing chainsaw that is pretty nifty and given that it is battery operated it is very quiet. Most unusual machine we have is perhaps our de-turfer that we use for removing the top two inches of turf when planting.

What is the worst part of the job?

Coping with brambles, wasps, midges, working on trees that have thorns. Take your pick from any of those nasties!

Can you describe an average day?

There isn’t really an average day for us to be honest. We usually start in our mess room at 8am, work out what jobs we have for the day and who is doing them. Our usual jobs include climbing, felling, hand weeding, mulching, mowing, stump grinding, planting, general pruning. Basically if it involves tress or grounds maintenance, we do it.

What don’t the public know about the work you do?

I guess people might forget that essentially this isn’t just a woodland landscape, that the tree conservation work we are doing is quite specific and different, maybe more akin to a zoo in that we also protect endangered tree species. We work closely with other arboreta around the world to keep seed banks and the genetic diversity of rare and endangered species protected.

Joe Porter-Westonbirt June 2019-credit Dave Hughes

What’s the best part of the job?

Working through an area, or ‘section’ as we call it, and seeing the finished result. Also knowing that it’s never really finished and that it will keep growing and changing for people to enjoy for years to come.

What is the most dangerous part of the job?

The climbing. When you are over 100 feet high in a tree, knocking out lumps from the trunk with a chainsaw, you will appreciate that’s quite dangerous work requiring plenty of care and safety awareness.

Joe removing Ash tree_Westonbirt Arboretum-credit Tom Dewey

As individuals and visitors, what can we do to protect the Arboretum?

Everyone can do all they can to practice good personal biosecurity. For example cleaning your boots when you arrive on site and again when you leave along with taking care when touching the trees. 

Is there a sense of responsibility that comes with the work? 

Absolutely. The arboretum has been around for hundreds of years and it’s our responsibility to try to keep it going for hundreds more.

What is your favourite area of the arboretum, why?

Hard to choose one area, so I’ll list a few. Jacksons Avenue is a must see because it is the stunning culmination of a vision set out over 200 years ago. Just off that is Lime Avenue, an aesthetically pleasing and uniform row of lime trees. Finally, on either side of the arboretum landscape we have Acer Glade and Maple Loop, both of which I enjoy for their beautiful displays of autumn colour every year. 

Lime Avenue credit Forestry England

Which is your favourite tree? The big Cedar of Lebanon next to the Dew Pond. Its size and structure are breathtaking, and I could stare up into the crown for hours.

Cedar of Lebanon, Joe’s favourite. Credit Doug Lodge

How has forestry changed over the last 20 years? 

I can’t speak for the whole of the forestry industry as I feel that at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum we are a bit different and more about arboriculture. One observation I would make it is that improvements in technology means that our arboriculture work is now safer and more efficient.

What do you hope for the arboretum in 100 years’ time?

That is become even more of world leader in the conservation of rare and endangered species, whilst also continuing to be a place where people can connect with trees.

What is the largest threat to the arboretum?

Pest and diseases. With global travel and shipping becoming more regular, different pests and diseases can move around the world with more ease.

What are your fears for the arboretum?

The loss of certain tree species, particularly the native ones.

What is your own garden like?

I don’t have a current permanent home, but I have been gradually stocking my parents garden and field with trees and shrubs, creating a mini arboretum!

Joe Porter Westonbirt National Arboretum with Ellie Harrison BBC Countryfile- Credit Countryfile_BBC Studios

Westonbirt Arboretum-Autumn- Maple Loop in Silk Wood-credit Johnny Hathaway

I found a wood bluit.