A tree-climbing arborist, fond of a lolly or two.

“I’m here for the lollies!” Amanda Woodhams announced, boldly, as she sidled up to the Chudleigh General Store counter. I threw a mixture of different lollies into a little paper bag with a copper scoop according to her needs. We then negotiated the price.

“How much?” she enquired. “I don’t know, how much do you want to pay me? Say $3.00”, I suggested. “Let’s make it $3.50” she announced.

So it was that at the end of the day, I soon struck up a rapport with this young woman, who was camping with her partner in the neighbouring camping ground.

There was something about her forthright, no-nonsense attitude that suggested she had interesting stories to relate to. So being the end of the day, I shut up shop and invited her to share a glass of red with me around the Hearth. The open fire was drawing so well, it required little tending to, as she explained how the next day she was due to climb Tasmania’s tallest Blue Gum and she would travel three hours the following morning for the privilege.

Amanda Woodham by the fire at Chudleigh General Store.

The climb was part of a two-and-a-half-month journey around Australia to study tree species and those that thrived best in particular environments. This might have a benefit both for planet sustainability and Australia’s quest to reduce the impact of bushfires on the livelihoods of those living in the bush.

She described herself as “a tree climbing arborist” and the athleticism and discipline she had had to acquire to train in her chosen profession, which was largely male dominated. Amanda said she was quite taken aback when she first walked into the room to begin her training and found she was the only woman in the room.

She said she was sometimes reticent to tell people what she did for a living because as soon as she connected her life to the humble tree she was met with two distinct groups that either loved her or hated her because of that connection and its political overtones of being pro or anti-logging.

She said she didn’t want people to be so simplistic – that her role was more about looking at what trees to plant, where to maximise the benefit of their shade and what they gave back to improving the immediate environment of those living near them. Amanda said she was part of the Tree Climbing Project to improve knowledge surrounding tree species in particular climactic regions and the ability of each species to flourish in the appropriate environment.

She said it shouldn’t be so political, as understanding trees was one of the best ways to help our species combat the challenges of a changing environment. We both talked about how people bandied around terms like, “tree hugger” and “do-gooders” like being interested in trees, or a person who wanted to do good, was something sinister. Really, she felt it was all about us all becoming better educated about sustainability through understanding how trees interacted in the environment and with each other.

She had already been interested and studying horticulture and she had become more and more interested of the importance of planting the right trees in the right environments to help support people’s lives and comfort. She hoped that people would take the time to learn a little about the role trees played directly in their lives to improve their comfort and lifestyles.