Australian honour for Fordingbridge tree surgeon

A TREE consultant based in Fordingbridge was invited as a guest speaker at the International Society of Arboriculture annual conference in Sydney.

Jeremy Barrell, one of the UK’s top tree consultants, took the opportunity as a Hampshire ambassador to meet with the deputy lord mayor of Sydney Marcelle Hoff.

He presented her with a letter of greeting and a gift from the chairman of Hampshire County Council, Anna McNair Scott.

Cllr Hoff gave Mr Barrell a book on the history of Sydney Town Hall which he presented to cllr Scott on his return.

Mr Barrell said: “I am proud to be an ambassador for the county and it is only when you travel abroad that you realise just how highly Hampshire is regarded as a nice place to live, work and play by other people.”