Sára

As a little kid, I used to spend entire days sitting in my grandmother's huge cherry tree, reading for hours. I remember how much I enjoyed those moments. This memory might also be one of the reasons why I always loved being outdoors and was fascinated by the living world around us. Then, over the years, I became more conscious, and issues related to nature and environmental protection started to matter more and more to me. I began to worry about how we could preserve biodiversity and started looking for my role in all of it—what is that I could contribute. That's when I first heard about arboriculture. It immediately caught my interest and seemed like a truly inspiring profession, though back then I had no idea I'd one day get to do it myself as well.

In my free time, whenever I get the chance, I love to travel and explore the world. Nowadays, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer abroad, and I actively seek out such programs. After finishing high school, I spent a year in France volunteering at a social center, and I also spent a few weeks on a farm in Austria learning the basics of biodynamic farming.

I have a wide range of interests, but most of my hobbies are connected to the offline world. I enjoy face-to-face encounters and building communities. I've always liked board games, but the more I discovered, the more I fell in love with them. I think they're a great way to spend time, an opportunity — or even an excuse — to sit down and connect with people we care about, or just recharge after a long day. From time to time, you can even find me as a game master at the Monday board game events organized by Játszóház Projekt.

Even before discovering arboriculture, I was already drawn into the world of climbing. I liked that it's a very logical yet creative activity. There are rules that make it safe, but often it's up to us how we handle unexpected situations and what solutions we find. 

Somehow, climbing, my love of nature, and my determination to make a difference all led me to a lecture on plant blindness, where I first met Bence and started harrasing him with questions. He took it quite well, answered everything patiently, and even invited me to join them for a practice day. Who knows, maybe I'd end up liking tree care, he said. That prediction turned out to be spot on, and I've been happily tagging along with the team ever since.

I'm currently studying landscape architecture at the MATE campus located in the Budai Arborétum. My university years have only deepened my commitment to plants and strengthened my respect for trees. Thanks to an Erasmus scholarship, I had the chance to spend a semester in Sweden and experience their educational system which was truly valuable to me.

I feel lucky to gain hands-on experience in arboriculture while still studying, because you only really see what's going on with trees once you're hanging from ropes in their canopy.

I'm genuinely interested in all three areas: tree care, tree inspection, and landscape architecture. I believe that in the future, they'll complement each other beautifully in my work.

As an intern, I have plenty of opportunities — and responsibilities — to learn. Tree care is a complex process that requires knowledge of climbing, tree biology, and pruning techniques.

What's exciting about it is that we're constantly working in different environments—and of course, from up in the canopy, we're often treated with beautiful panoramic views on the gardens beneath us. No two trees are the same, and every project brings its own twists that call for unique solutions.

It's also incredibly satisfying to see the visible results of our work. The healthier, safer-looking trees and the piles of branches on the ground are clear signs of how we spent our time. And at the end of the day, the physical exhaustion actually feels good—I always sleep best after a day spent doing tree work.

My regret is that there still aren't many women in this field. While there are some great examples abroad, it would be truly amazing to see more of us out there!