Bartlett Tree Experts announced that Robert A. Bartlett Jr., chairman and CEO, has been awarded the Elizabeth Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

A third-generation leader of the company, Bartlett was recognized for his lifelong commitment to advancing the science and practice of arboriculture, as well as his support of horticultural research and education internationally.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the Elizabeth Medal of Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society,” Bartlett said. “It is truly an overwhelming honor, made even more special with the opening of our new arboretum and research laboratory in the United Kingdom, which joins our Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories in the United States as a world-class research, diagnostic and educational center for Bartlett clients and arborists – and, most of all, for the benefit of preserving trees in the United Kingdom.”

Bartlett is the first American to receive the Elizabeth Medal of Honour, established in 2023 in memory of Queen Elizabeth II. The award recognizes individuals who have significantly advanced horticulture for the benefit of the environment and future generations. In recognition of the queen’s 70-year reign, only 70 medals may be held at any one time.

In announcing the award, the RHS cited Bartlett’s leadership in expanding operations across the United States and into Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as his role in developing a major research program supporting tree health diagnostics. The organization also noted the company’s arboretum, which includes more than 26,000 accessioned plants and supports research, conservation and training.

Bartlett continues to advance the company’s commitment to research and innovation in arboriculture. Founded in 1907 in Stamford, Connecticut, Bartlett Tree Experts employs more than 3,400 people across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

In December, the company opened The R.A. Bartlett Research Laboratories and Arboretum in Spencers Wood, near Reading, England. The facility provides research, diagnostic and educational resources for clients and arborists in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Bartlett’s research facilities in Charlotte, North Carolina; Gaston, Oregon; and Spencers Wood form one of the largest shade-tree laboratory systems in the world.

About Bartlett Tree Experts

Founded in 1907, The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company has been one of the world’s leading scientific tree and shrub care company for over 119 years, providing research-driven services that include plant health care, tree management, pruning and removal. The company operates across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland and supports its work through its Bartlett Research Laboratories in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bartlett has been a TCIA member for over 51 years.