36. Is There Such a Thing as an Ethical Tree Arborist? with Sam Hardingham from Everyday Arbor

When most people think of arborists…they think of chainsaws, wood chippers, and tree removals for “safety reasons” or “potential fire hazard.” In this episode, I’d love you to meet Sam Hardingham, founder of Newcastle-based business Everyday Arbor. An experienced arborist, Sam is challenging that narrow view of what it means to be an arborist. His goal is to keep as many trees standing in our local environment as possible. Rather than chasing profit by saying yes to every tree removal request, Sam is putting trees first. We talk about the role trees play in our neighbourhoods, the risks versus the benefits they bring, and how their presence connects us to the bigger picture of balancing urbanisation with environmental sustainability. This episode is a reminder that trees come with issues and risks in suburbia, but should these risks outweigh the benefits of trees? A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at Is there such a thing as an ethical tree arborist? The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living... The ReNewy Living Podcast celebrates local sustainability by connecting you with the stories of people, places and projects from communities across Australia.  Our sustainability podcast encourages a wholistic understanding of what living lighter on the planet means. We'd like to see a world where communities, resources, and nature thrive together—where sustainable living is a part of everyday life, to ensure fairness and care for people and place. Each episode encourages critical thinking, inspires action and connects you with like-minded communities to help you thrive locally. Based in Newcastle NSW Australia, we share diverse voices and stories, starting with local issues… and the solutions towards a positive social and environmental impact.