Cecily Withall: The First Female Climbing Arborist At Kew Gardens Since The 80s

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Cecily Withall is the first female Climbing Arborist employed at Kew Gardens since the 1980s and is passionate about paving the way for other women in horticulture.

Having trained at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and working her way from an apprentice at Kew to her current role, she has already made a tremendous impact in such a short time.

I spoke to Cecily about her upbringing in Scotland, her journey into horticulture and her plans to advocate for careers in the industry.

Please note that the imagery in this article has been provided with permission by Curve Media.

Where Did Your Interest In Trees Begin?

“I grew up in Scotland, just outside of Edinburgh,” Cecily begins.

“My dad was a Forester and, as kids, we were super keen to see what he was up to, which definitely sparked something in me.

“I left school and didn’t really have any passion or know what I was going to do. I worked in Edinburgh as a waitress for a couple of years and got to a point where I wanted to find my own path.

“I began working on farms abroad and I loved being outside. My grandparents had a farm when we were really young, so it felt like a totally normal thing for me to do. I then came back to Scotland and volunteered at a local garden that passed on lots of knowledge to me.

“All of this experience led me to a Diploma at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, which is where I found my passion for trees.”

Can You Tell Us More About Your Experiences At The Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh?

“I did a two-year Diploma at Edinburgh which was botanical-based and was perfect for me – I got to learn everything from the bottom up since I didn’t have much previous experience.

“Through that, I did a placement with their tree team, and it was during that time that I could see myself specialising in that. I discovered that tree cutting wasn’t just about slashing and making money out of timber.

“I was pushed towards Kew because of their team climb, so I went on placement there for a couple of months and absolutely loved it – I was climbing on my first day! I loved it so much that when I came back to Edinburgh, I begged to go back.

“As I was nearing the end of my two years at Edinburgh, I was initially planning on staying on for further studies, but I was told that Kew had an apprenticeship that they wanted me to apply for. I realised that that was my chance and I applied, got the place and moved to London.

“I did two years of that apprenticeship and got lots of qualifications through an external board, which was amazing. At the end of my time there, a job came up in the unit, so I applied and got it, and I’ve been there ever since! I love it.”

Could You Tell Us About A Particularly Rewarding Experience You’ve Had While Working At Kew?

“Every day is different, which is the most incredible part about it,” says Cecily. “No day is just climbing and cutting, there are so many departments across Kew that we work with too.

“The collections that we have at Kew are really important and we have to learn to protect it, so those parts are really invigorating because they instil that you are doing something important.

“I also love being part of amazing projects with Kew, such as the log trails for kids. For my young nieces and nephews to come and visit the gardens and be a part of the work I have done – it’s really amazing.”

How Does The Changing Seasons Affect Your Work And Do You Have A Favourite Season To Work In?

“We work all year, but my favourite season is coming into spring when everything starts appearing again from the dead or this time of year [Autumn] when all the colour appears,” she shares.

“Growing up in Scotland means that heat is not my best friend, so this temperature is perfect for me! The colours here are insane when it gets into the autumn.

“Obviously, we are climbing different trees throughout the year, so seeing them go through that change is what makes my job so interesting.”

Can You Share Any Projects You’re Currently Working On Or Looking Forward To?

“The next key date for the team is Christmas, so at the moment we are looking at the trail to see what trees need to be lifted.

“We’ll also help to put up the lights at Christmas. We are quite a small team for 12,000 trees, so it does take some planning!”

Lastly, What Are Your Goals For The Future?

“I’m the first female arborist climber at Kew since 1980,” explains Cecily.

“We’ve had lots of students, but it’s only been me employed as an actual climber.

“Last year, I was involved in Women in Arboriculture Day which was run by the Arboriculture Association. In the future, I want to continue joining these groups to advocate for women within the industry.

“I have been lucky to be involved with men who were really keen to share all of their knowledge with me during my career, but other women have not been so lucky. In the future, I want to be a part of these groups and advocate for it as a role in general, not just for women.

“Through Kew, the relationships I’ve made with others in the industry are really inspiring and have allowed me to create a path for myself. I’ve been so lucky and just want to share my own knowledge going forward.”