It can be said, Craig Scott jokes, that his perspective of the world is an interesting one given he’s so often high above ground, or way down below.

Craig – who represents the arborist sector in this year’s Young Horticulturist Competition – may work primarily as an arborist, but he’s also a caving guide. And he’s set to add canyoning guide to his resumé soon too.

Until recently Waikato based, and now living in Motueka, Craig jokes he’s a “north islander transplanted”. He’s now enjoying living in close proximity to the national parks, forest parks and ocean.

Craig’s journey to becoming an arborist has taken in a few side roads, which is not surprising considering he says he doesn’t really fit in any box!

“Initially I thought my career path would involve writing or acting. I went to Te Awamutu College to start with, but then we moved to Whitianga where I went to Mercury Bay Area School. While there I did surf lifesaving and outdoor challenge stuff and really got into the outdoors,” he tells.

School was followed by study towards a diploma in outdoor education. He worked as an outdoor instructor and a cave guide (at Waitomo) and began teacher training studies at Waikato University which he abandoned in favour of an organic horticulture course.

“I then decided I really needed to sink my teeth into something and capitalise on my rope and safety skills. I did some work with an arborist friend and decided ‘this is for me’,” shares Craig who become a qualified arborist in August last year, with a Level 3 & 4 Certificate in Arboriculture is planning to work towards the Level 6 Diploma.

There’s much he’s enjoying about it.

“People and nature offer the parameters that my work interest fits into.

“I love working in a small team. We really have to work with each other to ensure things are safe and efficient and that’s a cool connection.

“I also love the activeness and practicality of the job and the fact it’s a bit of a combination of art and science. Pruning small trees is a bit like sculpting, I think, as you have to visualise what’s underneath.

“And I enjoy rope work and climbing. You do have a changed perspective being up a tree, seeing through, over and around,” Craig says.

Craig’s intention when he reaches Nelson is to work as a full-time arborist over winter, reducing to part-time over summer, which will leave room for being a part-time canyoning guide too.

Caving, canyoning, scaling tall trees … yet Craig assures he’s not an adrenaline junkie.

“I do like going to awesome places, but I like to be attached to things, coming back again safely using all my skills and constantly expanding learnings.”

Ask Craig, who enjoys running and hiking, about awesome places in New Zealand and chances are he’ll know of plenty having tackled Te Araroa trail last summer. Walking the length of New Zealand took him four months and one week.

“I dedicated solid time to that walk. My job was to connect with myself, people and places,” Craig shares.

He forged another connection too. Also tackling the length of New Zealand was an American woman who is now Craig’s partner.

A trip to the USA, the move to Nelson, and the Young Horticulturist final ensure the remainder of the year will be a busy one for Craig. He’s looking forward to knowledge sharing with the other finalists and exploring how arboriculture fits into the wider horticulture scene.

As for beyond this year, Craig’s keen to do more learning in the near future, this time in the ecosystem services space.

“This focuses on all the things that trees and nature do to benefit us without us having to do anything other than let them be.

“I have a goal to educate people about trees, sharing research around how important large trees are in urban environments, for example. Many people only see negatives such as ‘oh my gosh there are leaves on the ground’. Yet, all the research shows that having one tree near your house will reduce the amount of heating and cooling you need, will reduce the amount of flooding, will lower your average heart rate and improve your mental health. Trees are hugely helpful.”

And if anyone is wondering, does Craig have a favourite tree? Acer Palmatum (Japanese Maple) would be the answer. He’s a big fan of its glorious colours and it’s especially impressive autumnal show, plus its hundreds of varieties.

The Young Horticulturist of the Year 2024 Grand Final is being held over two days at the Karaka Bloodstock on 30 and 31 October. Tickets to the Grand Final Dinner & Awards are available until 16 October from younghort.co.nz