Who is manager and arborist Bert Janssens?

“I have been an outdoorsman since I was a child. My mother had to call me in when my hands and lips were blue – completely numb from the cold. But I loved being outside. I find the contact with nature indescribable.

After my IT training, I worked with heart and soul in a refinery (petrochemical) for 27 years. But I really like being outside and I like physical work. That's why you often found me in the woods in my spare time. And every now and then I cut down a tree for firewood. I soon received requests from family, friends and acquaintances to help them with it pruning of felling trees. "

I then started b-Tree Tree Care and continued to expand it. Both with knowledge and people. We always have vacancies to be open.

And in the meantime, b-Tree Boomverzorging is primarily a tree technical consultancy. legal technical tree matters.

One day I saw a tree that I couldn't see sheets. I immediately started training to become an arborist and the tree bug got to me completely.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a 'heavy' person when I get passionate about something.

I followed a battery of courses on climbing and tree care (such as the training ETW or European Tree Worker), and safe chainsaw use (according to the ECS or European Chainsaw Standards).

I also read every book I could get my hands on. Moreover, I sought out experts everywhere in the country, including the Netherlands, to take lessons from: from specialists in fruit trees to mycologists (mushroom experts) and good climbers.

Tree Manager training

And still my hunger for tree knowledge was not stopped. So that from September 2021 I will start the postgraduate training Tree Manager to the Vives High School I started following. With the intention to greatly expand my knowledge of trees. And to be able to expertly solve complex issues and problems with trees. As well as challenges around Urban Forestry to be able to cope and be prepared for the ETT or European Tree Technician exam.

The training was a real job. Up to three and four days a week intensely busy, studying and solving cases.

In the meantime, I can say with some pride that I graduated with distinction Certified Tree Manager.

In addition to building knowledge, I also like to share knowledge with my customers, employees and interns. Or give an explanation Nature point or the managers for golf club. That gives satisfaction and also pays off. I also learn more myself.

Because I like to stay in touch with fellow tree care providers and am committed to achieving a high-quality and large tree stock in Flanders in the long term, I have become a member of the non-profit organization Better Manage Trees, where I have meanwhile performed the function of treasurer for 2 years as a board member. And I can only say recommend that you become a member yourself. And a lot of current knowledge is shared, including about the effect of trees on climate change.

We also have one tree care vacancy open to inquisitive and driven people.

Tree care or tree surgery is much more than chop trees. You need knowledge and insight. You need to know how the tree is constructed physiologically, morphologically and mechanically. Otherwise you will make mistakes.

To correctly assess a tree with defects, mold or fungi and to make a good inspection based on a VTA control To be able to feed, you need to know something about mycology. Because different mushrooms have a different effect on the tree: is it an endophyte, parasitic or saprophyte fungus? And what is the effect of which fungus on which type of wood.

That's why I want to know everything and gather as much know-how as possible. To take even better care of each subsequent tree.