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Spring 2026 marks the beginning of a new chapter for Treeworker, but every new chapter has a story behind it. To understand where Treeworker is heading, it helps to understand where it came from.
For many arborists, Treeworker has been more than a retailer. It has been part of the evolution of modern arboriculture in the UK, introducing new equipment, new ideas and helping challenge established ways of doing things.
Few people know that story better than Treeworker founder Robert "Noddy" Knott.
The beginnings of Treeworker stretch back to the mid-1990s. After spending two years living and working in Sweden, I returned to the UK having been exposed to different approaches to tree work and a growing movement towards more technical climbing and arboricultural techniques.
It quickly became clear that many arborists were eager to explore new methods and equipment. Conversations with colleagues often turned into discussions about fresh approaches to climbing, work positioning and equipment selection.
At the same time, I had become increasingly interested in the relationship between movement, comfort and performance. My long involvement in martial arts had taught me the importance of maintaining a strong connection with the ground, something I felt was often overlooked by the footwear available to arborists at the time.
When I heard that Meindl were developing a tree climbing boot based on their proven walking boot platform, I knew there would be interest. At the Arb Show in 1998, I arrived with a Hilux, a supply of boots and a simple idea.
What I didn't realise at the time was that this would become the beginning of Treeworker.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, innovation within arboriculture was accelerating. While many suppliers continued to look towards the United States for inspiration, some of the most exciting developments were emerging from Europe.
Having competed at the European Tree Climbing Championships in 2001 and 2002, I saw first-hand the quality of equipment, techniques and ideas being adopted by arborists across the continent.
Those experiences helped build friendships and relationships that would later shape Treeworker as a business.
The goal was simple: bring innovative equipment and fresh thinking to UK arborists who wanted access to products that were often difficult to source through traditional channels.
By the time the APF Show arrived in 2004, Treeworker had begun to take shape as a dedicated business.
Armed with little more than a six-foot table of equipment, we entered the retail arena with products that many UK arborists had never seen before. The response was immediate.
Alongside the Tree Climbers Forum and the growing arborist community, Treeworker quickly became a familiar presence at industry events such as the Arb Show and APF Exhibition.
The years that followed were some of the most enjoyable and rewarding of my career. Treeworker became a place where arborists could discover new products, solve problems, share ideas and challenge established thinking.
More importantly, it became part of a wider community.
Arborists gathered at events, competitions, demonstrations and training days. Friendships were formed, knowledge was shared and the industry continued to move forward together.
While businesses evolve, some values remain constant.
The spirit that helped create Treeworker was never simply about selling equipment. It was about supporting arborists, encouraging innovation and helping people discover better ways of working.
That spirit remains just as important today as it was when Treeworker first began.
As Treeworker enters this new chapter, ownership passes to Sean Thompson, supported by Navin Sehmi and Andrew Wood, known to many throughout the industry as Woody.
I may be stepping away from the day-to-day running of the business, but I will continue supporting the team behind the scenes and cheering them on as they take Treeworker forward.
These are exciting times for everyone involved with Treeworker.
The new team brings fresh energy, fresh ideas and a clear commitment to serving the professional tree care industry. Their ambition is not only to continue the Treeworker story but to build upon it.
New products, new services, stronger support and continued innovation all form part of the vision for the future.
For those interested in learning more about the people behind the business today, visit our About Us page. You can also read more about the journey behind the business in Hello from Sean.
To everyone who has supported Treeworker over the years, thank you.
Whether you bought a pair of boots from a Hilux in a showground car park, visited us at an APF event, supported us online or have only recently discovered Treeworker, you have helped shape the story.
We look forward to welcoming past, present and future customers with the same open-armed approach that has always been at the heart of the Treeworker name.
Much love,
Robert "Noddy" Knott
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