Ted Green (academic) facts for kids

Ted Green is a British expert who studies trees and forests. He is a scientist, a teacher, and someone who works hard to protect nature. For over 50 years, he has helped connect forestry (managing forests) with conservation (protecting nature). In 1993, he started the Ancient Tree Forum, a group dedicated to old trees. Many people call him "Britain's top expert on ancient trees." In 2017, he won a special award, the Gold Medal, from the Royal Forestry Society for his amazing work in forestry.

Early Life and Nature's Influence

Ted Green was born in a small village near Silwood and Sunninghill. This area is right next to Windsor Great Park, a huge park with many trees. When Ted was a young boy, the Second World War was happening. His father was away serving in the military.

During this difficult time, Ted and his mother had to move. They found a simple, empty hut in a military camp at Silwood. To help his family, young Ted learned to find food from the nearby royal lands. Ted says that being close to nature helped him a lot during his childhood. He was an only child, and he met older foresters who taught him about trees and forests. This was a time when many trees were being cut down to help with the war effort. Sharing knowledge and kindness with these foresters stayed with Ted for his whole life.

Working with Trees and Science

Ted Green became a laboratory technician at Silwood Park, which is part of Imperial College. He worked in a field called plant pathology, which is the study of plant diseases. He spent 34 years doing research there. Eventually, the university gave him a special title: an honorary lecturer. This was a very rare honor.

After his research career, Ted followed his passion for ancient woodlands. He worked at the Windsor crown estates nearby. Here, he could try out new ways of managing forests. He also worked with English Nature and the National Trust, two important groups that protect nature in England.

In 1999, Ted started working at the Knepp estate in Sussex. He was especially interested in the many old oak trees there. For over 20 years, he helped the owners take care of and restore the land. This was part of their big project to let nature take over and "rewild" the area.

Sharing Knowledge and Awards

Ted Green is also a teacher who explains how to care for trees. He has appeared on the BBC and in many newspapers and magazines. He talks about how important it is to look after trees properly.

In March 2017, Ted Green received the Gold Medal from the Royal Forestry Society (RFS). This award is given for outstanding work in forestry. He is praised for showing people that it's important to manage whole natural areas, not just individual trees or small parts. The RFS said that Ted has greatly influenced landowners. He has helped them rethink how they manage their woods and adopt a more complete way of caring for nature.