Finding my place in conservation: A Young Woman's Journey into Arboriculture
By Ellie Watton
Like many people working in the environmental sector, my passion for the outdoors began at an early age. While my younger self would never have imagined the path my career would take, she would be incredibly proud of the journey so far.
Growing up, I was fortunate to spend a great deal of time in nature despite being in an urban environment, which inspired a desire to build a career outdoors. Rather than following the traditional A-level route, I chose to study a level 3 technical extended diploma in Countryside Conservation and Environmental Management. Combining practical experience, theory and industry placements gave me a strong foundation and led to my first conservation role at just 18 with the Canal & River Trust. There, I helped manage 200 miles of canal network, delivering biodiversity improvements, maintenance works and community engagement projects. The role gave me a strong understanding of how conservation, heritage and communities can work together to create lasting environmental benefits.
Wanting to further specialise, I returned to study Forestry and Arboriculture at South Staffordshire College. Trees have always been a constant in my life, especially growing up in an urban environment. This course ignited a passion that would shape my career. Through advanced training and hands-on experience, I developed expertise in tree management, fungi, soils, habitat conservation and arboricultural technology. With a particular focus on habitat creation and tree veteranisation, exploring creative ways to help support the wider ecosystem with deadwood habitat and increasing age and structural diversity within our trees and woodland landscape.
At 21, I secured a Ranger position with the National Trust, where I was able to combine my conservation and arboricultural skills to improve habitats and strengthen connections between people and nature. During this time, I had the privilege of being the outdoor lead for the pioneering award-winning Stable Croft project at Moseley Old Hall, which received the Countryside Management Association's Gordon Miller Award.
My main aim was for community engagement to be at the heart of the project. Working alongside more than 375 volunteers from schools, colleges, community groups and businesses my teams and I transformed an inaccessible, biodiversity-poor urban meadow into an inclusive green space for both people and wildlife. The project delivered 4,000 native trees, wildflower meadows, accessible paths and boardwalks, a heritage orchard, natural play features and environmental interpretation. It has created lasting ecological benefits, strengthened habitat connectivity and provided a welcoming space for learning, wellbeing and community involvement.
One of the aspects I value most about my career is its variety. One day I may be managing conservation grazing livestock, the next carrying out tree surveys, monitoring species, delivering education sessions, using chainsaws or developing management plans. No two days are the same, the opportunity to witness landscapes and habitats evolve through the dedication of passionate people is incredibly rewarding and seeing landscapes shift over the seasons is always mesmerising.
My journey has not always been straightforward. As a young woman in traditionally male-dominated sectors, particularly arboriculture, I have faced challenges. However, I have been fortunate to learn from talented and supportive people whose guidance has helped shape my career. Their encouragement inspires me to support and mentor the next generation, especially young women considering careers in the environmental sector. This passion and drive for working with people and nature along with my dedication to arboriculture led to me being awarded the Lantra Land-based and Environmental Learner of the Year Award for Arboriculture, Forestry and Woodland Management and Overall Further Education Learner of the Year, a moment I will never forget and recognition which will remain an honour. I was also awarded the Arboricultural Association’s Best Student of the Year 2024.
The environmental challenges we face today make careers in conservation more important than ever. We need skilled, passionate people who care about the future of our landscapes, woodlands and wildlife. Conservation is more than a job to me; it is an opportunity to contribute to something greater and help ensure future generations can experience nature at its best.
My advice to anyone considering a career in conservation is simple: go for it. Don't be discouraged by perceptions of the industry or who works within it. There are many routes into the sector, including apprenticeships, college courses, volunteering, university and practical work experience; I didn't follow the traditional university route as that wasn't the best career pathway for me. What matters most is passion, dedication, and a willingness to learn.
Looking back, one of the greatest lessons I have learned is not to let self-doubt hold you back. Every challenge presents an opportunity to grow, and success is rarely achieved alone. The support of mentors, lecturers, colleagues, friends and family has been invaluable throughout my journey and I remain grateful for the support that has helped me reach this point.
Trees are often described as a gift to future generations, planted today for those who may never know the hands that planted them there. I like to think conservation is much the same: quietly shaping landscapes, nurturing communities and leaving the world a little richer, greener and more hopeful than we found it. I never could have imagined where this journey would lead, yet every step, every challenge and every opportunity has reinforced one belief: when people and nature thrive together, extraordinary things can happen. If my career leaves any legacy, I hope it is helping others discover the same connection to the natural world that first inspired me as a child.