Lewis Morrison
Head of Major Tree Planting Projects
Head of Major Tree Planting Projects
As a youngster Lewis was inspired by the coppice-woods of the Kent North Downs, and witnessed the shocking impact of the 1987 hurricane on his local trees. Upon leaving school, he became a woodland contractor and since then has worked in operational forestry, woodland and countryside management with the Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust and Glendale. With further experience in an inner-city local authority and Defra’s rural team, Lewis understands trees from the viewpoint of policy as well as that of practical tree planning, planting and management.
“For me, trees are the answer to so many of our environmental and societal needs, such as biodiversity, protection from a changing climate, mental and physical wellbeing, jobs, education and art! Working for The Tree Council I can help people and places renew their connection and love for trees, our most loyal and ancient of guardians.”
“I am a big fan of old, veteran and ancient trees such as lime, oak, yew and chestnut, and the place they hold in the landscape and in local history. A tree that plays this role so very well is ash. It comes in all shapes and sizes, from standards to coppice to pollards to stubs – ash can mark an ancient earthwork, or a historic political boundary, or simply show where woodland craftspeople have shaped a hedge centuries before. In the face of ash dieback, recording and chronicling these ancient place-markers in the landscape is a hugely important duty.”