A passion for connecting people with nature

About

Welcome to my world of tree climbing!

Bio

In my work as a tree safety expert and IRATA trained rope access technician, I also assist conservation projects around the UK including the Glasgow Peregrine Project, Tayside & Fife Raptor Study Group and BTO.

My research in tropical forest canopy ecology in Costa Rica and rare raptor populations in the UK uses advanced tree climbing techniques to access the canopy.

Documented for the first time in science, our discovery of multi-species mammal latrines in the cloud forests of Costa Rica was published in the journal Ecology & Evolution.

Other studies include ongoing field research with Dorset Raptor Study Group on Schedule 1 raptor species in the UK, in particular, the Eurasian Hobby, Falco subbuteo.

Tim Chamberlain smiling at the camera. In orange helmet and tree climbing harness and ropes. With a bird nest in a tree.

Working with rare raptors for DRSG

Publications & Press >

Working with people and nature

Projects

As a tree safety expert and rope access technician, Tim Chamberlain assists conservation projects around the UK including the Glasgow Peregrine Project, DRSG, RSPB, SSGEP.

Projects have involved guiding scientists and presenters 30m up into the canopy in often remote, hazardous environments. Clients include Canopy Access, Operation Wallacea, Furnace TV and BBC Studios.

Current research includes a new scientific discovery in the cloud forest canopy of Costa Rica, and a long-term raptor study in Dorset, UK.

Professor Jim Al-Khalili and guide in helmets and tree climbing harnesses. At the foot of a tree.

Jim Al’Khalili goes into the trees for BBC Horizon’s Secrets of the Brain

“Tim was a superb and reassuring help on the day of filming and made us all feel very safe. Our presenter Jim Al-Khalili very much enjoyed working with him as he clambered around at the top of that enormous tree.”
— ANDREW SMITH, FURNACE TV (2024)

Selected CV

You can also find me at LinkedIn, Researchgate & ORCID.

  • ECOLOGICAL CONSULTANCY Perenco UK Ltd

  • INSPECTION PFPE: LOLER Inspections |TREES: University of Edinburgh

  • ROPE ACCESS VARIOUS: RSPB raptor monitoring | Glasgow Peregrine Project | Poole peregrines | Performances by Dr Robin Hayward at Royal Institution, London | CULTURE CREATIVE install at Wimpole NT, Cambridge | TWEED FORUM, Scottish Borders & River Tweed | raptor monitoring for SRMS

  • RIGGING, TREE CLIMBING & CAMERAS for WILDLIFE WINDOWS LTD: White-tailed eagle camera install | Osprey platform install | Osprey nest cameras, RSPB Loch Garten | Alyth osprey camera | Wareham Forest, Forestry England

  • SAFETY EXPERT for TV & PRESS: BBC Studios | FURNACE TV for BBC Horizons | CALEDONIA TV for BBC Alba | LANDWARD | ITV News | Wild Scotland | BRADT Travel Guide | Woodland Trust Scotland | Scottish Forestry | SOUTH SCOTLAND GOLDEN EAGLE PROJECT | The Courier

  • INSTRUCTOR for CANOPY ACCESS LTD: Operation Wallacea on expedition in Cusuco National Park, Honduras | ACAP training, Bristol |BCAP training, Bristol | BCAP at Edge Hill University

  • RESEARCH RAPTORS: Forestry England (raptor work), Dorset | TROPCIAL ECOLOGY: published research on arboreal mammals in Costa Rica

  • MARKETING Operation Wallacea | Canopy Access | Dorset Raptor Study Group | Dorset Bird Group | Wild Tree Adventures | Institute of Outdoor Learning

  • DIRECTOR WILD TREE ADVENTURES LTD, Stirling (2018-2023)

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Volunteering

As an active volunteer I verify tree records for the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Inventory as well as hunting for ‘new’ hidden giants to record. Monitoring and research is on rare raptors in partnership with Forestry England as a member of the Dorset Raptor Study Group, and in Scotland with Tayside & Fife Raptor Study Group.