How Many Tree Surgeons Are There in the UK
Tree surgeons, or arborists, are the carers of the UK’s treescape. From the Oaks lining our historic streets to the trees softening our housing estates and private gardens, their work keeps our environment safe, healthy, and thriving.
But here’s a question many clients and councils ask us: just how many tree surgeons are there in the UK?
The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might expect. Official statistics rarely isolate “tree surgeon” as an occupation, grouping it under wider forestry and horticulture categories. But by pulling together the latest data for 2024–2025, we can paint a clearer picture.
The Numbers at a Glance
Businesses: Around 7,000–8,000 arborist/tree-surgery firms operate across the UK.
England alone: 6,033 business listings (as of May 2025), with nearly 85% being single-owner operations.
Practitioners: Approximately 11,000–14,000 people actively working as arborists — from sole traders to crews in larger companies.
Larger players: Industry benchmarks track about 550–566 companies big enough to deliver for councils, utilities, and major commercial clients.
Why It’s Hard to Count
The UK’s labour and business registers categorise arboriculture under broader forestry and horticulture codes. That means there’s no neat “tree surgeon” box to tick. Instead, we rely on a combination of business directories, industry benchmarking, and professional membership data.
What the Data Shows
Fragmented market: Around 85% of businesses are small, single-owner operations. This means most day-to-day tree work in the UK is delivered by sole traders and micro-crews.
Top tier of specialists: Roughly 550–566 well-established contractors supply public sector frameworks, large housing providers, utilities, and highways.
Membership footprint: The Arboricultural Association counts over 3,000 members, but this is only a fraction of the wider workforce.
Skills on the rise: Demand for qualified climbers, team leaders, and consultants continues to push wages upward into 2025.
Why This Matters for Clients and Partners
Choice vs. assurance: With thousands of small operators, there’s no shortage of options, but ensuring safety, accreditations, and proven track records is key. That’s where schemes such as AA Approved Contractor status, NPTC/Lantra qualifications, and robust health & safety standards make all the difference.
Procurement insight: Tenders will always attract a mix of micro-firms and larger contractors. Understanding financial resilience is vital for multi-year frameworks.
Regional capacity: With most businesses based in England, workloads and lead times vary by region, making trusted networks and reliable contractors even more valuable.
The Takeaway
There are 7,000–8,000 tree-surgery companies and roughly 11,000–14,000 practising arborists across the UK. It’s a fragmented yet growing profession, entrepreneurial at the small-business level, but also supported by a strong tier of larger, benchmarked companies.
For clients, councils, and land managers, this means two things: choice and responsibility. Choice, because there is no shortage of operators. Responsibility, because selecting a contractor with the right qualifications, accreditations, and resources is essential to keep people and places safe.
At Beechwood Trees and Landscapes Ltd, we see these figures as more than numbers, they reflect a profession that underpins the health of our urban and rural treescapes.
As one of the UK’s leading arboricultural contractors, we combine the reliability of a large, accredited business with the values of a personal, client-focused approach.
Because when it comes to trees, it’s not just about how many people do the job, it’s about who you trust to do it right.
