brian g. crane and associates

                                                  

 

Brian Crane - a brief professional history  

Brian Crane has experience in a wide range of landscape posts in both local authority (including Milton Keynes Development Corporation Landscape and Forestry Section) and private employment since 1973, specialising particularly in matters relating to tree and woodland management.

In 1984 he formed the Arboriculture and Amenity Forestry Section at the Capel Manor Institute of Horticulture and Field Studies, Enfield. He lectured on a number of topics, including countryside management and wildlife conservation practice. During this time he carried out arboricultural consultancy work on a part-time basis. In September 1991 he left Capel Manor to devote himself to consultancy work full-time.

He has experience over the full range of arboricultural consultancy work, including planning inquiries, advisory work on individual trees, supervision of civil engineering works, advice to planners and architects, landscape rehabilitation, computerised tree surveys and management and the preparation of management plans, work schedules and specifications. He has represented Clients at High, Magistrates, and County Courts and Public Inquiries in matters related to trees and has considerable experience in arboricultural matters pertaining to both Planning and Development.

In 1991 he was accepted (after examination) as a Registered Consultant of the Arboricultural Association. He writes (irregularly) on arboricultural, landscape and conservation topics for several professional magazines, including Horticulture Week and the Arboricultural Journal. Published articles include works on tree inspection, root damage due to cable installation, hedgerows and avenue management. He has lectured on arboricultural topics in the UK, Sweden and Italy.

He was involved with the Hortlink 212 project, part-funded by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, researching the effects of pruning on the water uptake of trees. He is a past member of the governing body of the Greater London Proficiency Testing Council for Horticultural, Arboricultural and Agricultural skills.  He suggested, and  then pioneered the development of post-graduate courses in Arboriculture and Community Forestry with Middlesex University. 

He acts as an Arboricultural Inspector for the Planning Inspectorate in determining Tree Preservation Order Appeals.

Qualifications: 

  • Master of Horticulture (Royal Horticultural Society).
  • Professional Diploma in Arboriculture (Royal Forestry Society)
  • Ordinary National Diploma in Commercial Horticulture (Distinction).
  • Certificate in Arboriculture (Royal Forestry Society) (Distinction)
  • City and Guilds (Phase II) Arboriculture (Distinction)

In 1980 he was awarded the Chittenden Memorial Prize and the Worshipful Company of Gardeners Prize by the Royal Horticultural Society. In 1978 he was awarded 6 prizes, including the E.W. Gardner Memorial Prize for Science on Advanced Courses, and the Management Prize by the Hertfordshire College of Agriculture

Professional memberships and activities

  • Fellow of the Linnean Society (FLS),
  • Fellow of the Arboricultural Association (F.Arbor.A.),
  • Member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (Chartered Arboriculturist) [MIC For]
  • Corporate Member of the Institute of Horticulture (MI Hort),
  • Professional Member of the Royal Forestry Society.
  • Professional Member of the International Society of Arboriculture.
  • Associate of the London Tree Officers' Association.
  • Former Registered Forestry Training Council Instructor and Assessor.
  • Former Lead Assessor for the Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor List
  • Former Assessor for the Arboricultural Association Registered Consultant List
  • In September 1993 he was elected to the National Council of the Arboricultural Association, and is a former member of the Professional Committee of the that body.
  • He is a former Vice-Chairman of the Arboricultural Association.