Salary: Grade 7: £36,363 - £39,862 per annum
Location: Shute End, Wokingham/Home Working
Contract: Permanent, Full Time, (37 hours per week).
Closing Date: Sunday 16th November 2025.
Interview Date: 8th December 2025
Reference: 713209
Wokingham Borough seeks a passionate, self-motivated, well-organised Trees and Landscape Officer to work in our committed Trees and Landscape Team. You will be self-reliant and a good communicator, working with other professionals, (Tree Officers Landscape Architects, Planning and Enforcement Officers), to conserve and protect the borough’s arboricultural heritage, whilst helping achieve challenging government housing targets.
The council is currently producing a new Local Plan, a strategic assessment of Valued Landscapes and has a new Tree Strategy. Trees and woodlands are a key feature of local landscapes and the role of Tree Officer is, therefore, important.
The Borough occupies a rich, diverse landscape stretching from the high chalk of the Chilterns Hills, around Henley in the North, to the sandy ridges of the old Royal Forest of Windsor at Finchampstead in the South. From the River Thames in the north-west to the burgeoning urban areas of Wokingham and Bracknell in the East.
Working at Wokingham:
Wokingham is an attractive, historic market town located in the prosperous Thames Valley in the heart of Berkshire just 40 miles west of London. Commuting links are good with mainline rail access to Wokingham Station and road access from the A329(M) and M4 motorways. The council promotes sustainable transport including a cycle scheme and staff car parking at reasonable rates. Flexible working arrangements are in place including working from home for a portion of the week and flexi-time. There is a contributory pension scheme, and generous leave entitlement which rises on completion of five-year’s service. There is a commitment to continuing professional development and your professional subscription will be paid by the Council.
Main duties
* Assess planning applications, pre-planning application proposals and major developments for their impact on existing trees and proposed landscaping.
* Support the determination and administration of applications for works to protected trees, s.211 and emergency notifications.
* Work with Enforcement officers in relation to non-compliance of landscape planning schemes, unauthorised tree works, High Hedge and Hedgerow Regulations cases.
* Provide technical arboricultural and landscape advice to planning officers, developers and consultants, drafting and managing conditions relating to tree protection, soft landscaping and planting schemes.
* Evaluate arboricultural impact assessments, tree protection plans and landscape strategies submitted as part of planning applications.
* Support with making new TPOs to protect trees under threat and modifying or remaking TPOs where required.
* Undertake site visits and inspections to verify tree and landscape information and ensure implementation of approved schemes.
* Maintain up to date records and develop, (where necessary), the digital online TPO Register and support reporting for internal and external purposes.
* Monitor and advise on the specification for replacement planting following the loss of TPO trees.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential:
* Degree qualification in Arboriculture, Landscape Architecture or related field or equivalent skills and experience.
* Experience of interpreting and advising on tree or landscape related planning work.
* Ability to interpret and critique arboriculture and landscape documentation.
* Excellent IT skills including office software such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel.
* Knowledge of UK tree legislation, in particular BS5837:2012 and planning policy frameworks.
Desirable:
* Evidence of continuous personal and professional development.
* Relevant professional membership.
* Experience of working within local government.
* An understanding of political organisations.
* Experience in use of mapping software such as Arc GIS or similar.
* Experience of championing your own ideas and obtaining commitment to allow them to be delivered.
* Experience of working in a matrix management environment, where cross team and cross-organisation working are essential.
* Comprehensive knowledge of British Standards (3882, 3936, 3998, 4043, 5837 and 8545).
* Working knowledge of strategic planning, development management and enforcement.
Essential Behaviours
* Ability to actively listen in order to extract and assess the important information, ask pertinent questions in order to seek clarification
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to translate technical terminology into clear and concise summaries.
Contact
Please contact: Chris Hannington on chris.hannington@wokingham.gov.uk
How to apply
Online here
Please note, we don’t accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.
Please note that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.
If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.
Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.
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