City Gardener Returns from Overseas Training a Qualified Arborist

Hamilton – November 27^th, 2023

City Gardener Kontai Burton, recently completed a nine-week course, ‘Tree Surgery for Craftsmen’ at Merrist Wood College in the United Kingdom, sponsored by the City.

There he learned a number of skills such as chainsaw maintenance and cross cutting, felling and processing trees, tree climbing and rescue, aerial cutting of trees with chainsaws, safe use of manually fed wood-chippers, and aerial tree rigging.

Upon his return, Kontai will assume the role of in-house Arborist. He will be charged with the care and health of all City trees, including trees situated in our Parks. He returns to Bermuda as a qualified arborist, joining a small, specialized group of local men and women.

Kontai is an integral part of the City’s succession planning.

Current Parks Foreman Mr. Tir-rel Woodley attended the same training and received his certification 2019.