With the launch of this year’s Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30: The Next Generation Awards, in Association with Green-tech, alumni George Trott takes the hot seat for a round of quick fire questions in our Little Interviews series.

George Trott
Founder of G. Trott Tree Consultancy
Class of 2020

If you could work anywhere in the world, where would it be?

That’s tough. I do very much like working here in the UK because of the mix between nature and urban areas, which means the working environments often vary. But I’d be quite interested in working in Japan, they have some interesting and almost historic techniques and methodologies which would be really cool to learn.

One thing that you think would make the industry better?

Moving away from things that make us feel good and sticking to the facts. For example, people say ‘I planted 100 trees’, but they’re in concrete pits and probably only about 10 of them will reach maturity.

And what’s worse is it takes 15 years after planting for a tree to start providing benefits, so up to that point you’ve just cost yourself money and harmed the environment. So, how do we move away from stuff that makes us feel good, towards stuff that is actually useful? It’s difficult.

What’s one piece of advice you wish to share?

Just go with your gut. If you really want to do something or something really grabs your attention, clearly that means there’s a degree of passion there for it, even if you haven’t realised it yet. You can’t come off worse, because if it doesn’t work, you’ve learned a lesson and then you use that lesson towards something else.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

It’s always been if I wanted to do something, I’ll just go and do it. I haven’t sat there and thought ‘oh, I wish I could do what they do’.

What is your favourite plant or tree?

Without getting too nerdy, I really like Ginkgo trees because they are the perfect example, in my opinion, of resilience and adapting to the environment. At a genetic level they’re completely unchanged since the dinosaur age, which just shows how they’ve managed to adapt to anything that life has thrown at them for millions of years.

Final question, what is your go to motivational song?

Through the Fire and Flames by DragonForce.

I have a playlist of about 50 songs for if I’m having an off day and I’m driving somewhere I can switch to it. And there’s just something about his voice that gets me – it just comes across really positive.

Entries for the 2025 Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30: The Next Generation Awards, in association with Green-tech, close Friday 1 August 2025.

For more information and to enter on behalf of yourself or someone else, click here, or contact Pro Landscaper deputy editor Bethany Vann at bethany.vann@eljays44.com.