If you’ve never been to the ARB Show before, put it on your radar for next time. Held every year at the same venue (Westonbirt Arboretum), the event draws a big mix of arborists, tree surgeons, families, and other outdoor professionals. This year, it ran from Friday 16 to Saturday 17 May, and Brad of IGFH attended for the first time
It’s easy to see why so many people are attracted to the ARB Show—it’s busy, well-organised, and packed with things to see and do. Advance tickets were just £13 each, and if you booked ahead, you didn’t have to queue long.
The Friday was already buzzing when Brad arrived. With the show running on both Friday and Saturday (overnight camping tickets were even available this year!), plenty of people had made the most of the good weather and turned up early.
The event takes place mostly outdoors, which suits the audience. You could walk between stands and demonstrations easily, and there were plenty of places to stop and take things in.
The food courts had a good variety of options to keep you going throughout the day, so this isn’t an event you’ll go hungry at. There was also a strong focus on engaging families. Kids could have a go at tree climbing, and lots of the exhibitors had interactive elements to keep people involved
This is an event that has really nailed engagement overall. This year, there was an open climbing competition, a chainsaw carving demo, an education careers hub, and knot-tying and throwline competitions, to name just a few. So if you don’t just want to wander around exhibitors’ stands all day, there’s plenty of other things to see and do.
But these activities don’t distract from networking opportunities. Brad managed to catch up with Lee Hatton from FSI Stump Grinders, speak with the Lantra team, and reconnect with three people he’d done his Lantra Instructional Techniques Course with. Nothing beats those conversations that just don’t happen over email.
If you’re in the tree care or grounds sector, the ARB Show gives you a solid chance to see equipment up close and build professional relationships. There’s a practical side to it, too—seeing tools and machinery in action helps you judge whether they’ll work for your site. Exhibitors knew their stuff and were happy to talk through things in detail.
Brad went in not quite knowing what to expect, but he left genuinely glad that he’d made the trip. It’s the kind of day that’s useful and enjoyable at the same time. With so much going on, you could easily spend a full day there and still not see everything.
If you didn’t make it this year, it’s worth planning ahead for the next one. You can learn more about the show and register your interest in the 2026 event here.