A St Albans tree specialist has been awarded a national trophy for arboricultural excellence. 

Claire Nash, who runs The Tree Bureau in Warwick Road, received the Royal Forestry Society’s Lockhhart Garratt Trophy after gaining the highest marks in a national professional exam. 

Claire is an arboricultural consultant and writer who converted a lifetime passion for trees into her profession after a serious car crash in 1999.

Her current work includes the tree-related aspects of planning, development and house purchase. 

The trophy and cash prize were presented at a conference last week.