John Deere tractor with the Ace of Spades tree spade lifting a tree in the nursery

Capability Statement

SPECIALIST TRANSPLANT CONTRACTOR. Arboricultural Consulting Tree and Plant Translocations. AQF Level 3 Certified Arborist | Established 2005.

Russell Clark, Director of Ace of Spades Tree Relocators

Executive Profile

Russell Clark is an AQF Level 3 qualified Arborist, Tree Transplant Specialist, and Director of Ace of Spades Tree Relocators, with over 25 years of experience in arboriculture, mature tree relocation, and ecological salvage.

Russell commenced his career in arboriculture in January 1997 as an Arborist Trainee with Arbor Life Tree Services, where he worked until 1998. In 1999, he joined the Toowoomba City Council Parks and Recreation Department, progressing to the position of Senior Tree Surgeon. During his time with Council, Russell completed his Certificate III in Horticulture (Arboriculture Stream), further developing his technical knowledge and practical expertise in professional tree management.

As a Senior Tree Surgeon, Russell developed extensive expertise in tree relocation, tree risk assessment, formative pruning, root management, veteran tree preservation and tree hazard mitigation, as well as stakeholder engagement. He also played a key role in restructuring the region's tree-pruning programs and public tree-planting initiatives, contributing to the management and preservation of Toowoomba's established urban tree population.

In late 2005, Russell founded Ace of Spades Tree Relocators, establishing one of Australia's leading specialist tree transplant and translocation company. Over the past two decades, he has become widely recognised as an industry leader in the relocation of mature, significant trees including rare and endangered plant species. With particular expertise in Queensland Bottle Trees, Canary Island Date Palms, Grass Trees, Cycads, Hoop Pines, Ficus species, and other iconic landscape specimens. His specialist knowledge extends to mechanical tree spading, root system management, transplant physiology, ecological salvage, and after care post-transplant.

Under Russell's leadership, Ace of Spades Tree Relocators has earned an industry-leading reputation for delivering complex tree relocation and environmental management projects throughout Australia. The company is regularly engaged by Tier 1 civil contractors, mining and energy companies, government departments, local authorities, developers, landscape architects, and environmental consultants to undertake high-risk ecological salvage operations, heritage tree preservation, infrastructure projects, and landmark mature tree relocations.

Russell is recognised not only for his technical expertise but also for his commitment to preserving significant trees wherever possible. His philosophy is that all trees are valuable environmental and cultural assets that should be relocated rather than removed whenever practical. Through his work, he has successfully saved and transplanted thousands of significant trees and plants, combining practical experience with a deep understanding of arboricultural and horticultural science to achieve exceptional long-term survival rates.

Today, Russell continues to provide specialist consultancy services, arboricultural assessments, transplant feasibility studies, expert translocation advice, project management, and practical training in mature tree relocation techniques. His vision is to advance the practice of tree translocation both within Australia and internationally by sharing knowledge, mentoring arborists, and promoting sustainable tree preservation practices.

Core Services & Specialisations

A tree spade lifting a mature tree for transplanting

Tree & Plant Relocation & Spading

With over 20 years of specialised experience in mechanical tree spading, mature tree relocation, extraction, transport, and recipient site establishment, Ace of Spades Tree Relocators has developed industry-leading expertise in relocating high-value trees with exceptional success.

Our fleet includes 42-inch trailer-mounted, 44-inch skid steer-mounted, 62-inch tractor-mounted, and 84-inch truck-mounted tree spades, together with high-capacity excavators and specialised lifting equipment. This diverse range of machinery enables us to relocate trees of varying sizes and species while selecting the most appropriate equipment for each project's site conditions and access constraints.

A grass tree secured with straps during translocation

Ecological Translocation & Salvage

A registered and approved specialist contractor for state and federal environmental compliance projects. Expertise in salvaging and translocating high-volume protected species, including Cycas megacarpa and Macrozamia species, from development corridors. Our holistic approach focuses on the critical two-year post-transplant survival period.

A mature bottle tree as the feature of a landscape

Consulting & Stakeholder Liaison

Providing expert advisory, risk mitigation, and active conflict resolution. As consulting arborists, we manage sensitive, highly political negotiations between landowners, corporate stakeholders, and government bodies to establish clear operational safety guidelines, aftercare schedules, and compliant environmental outcomes.

Qualifications & Compliance Framework

AQF Level 3 Arborist Certification:: Russell Clark holds a Certificate III in Horticulture (Arboriculture Stream) under the Australian Qualifications Framework (RUH30298, completed 22 January 2004). This level of training governs the scientific, arborist-led methodology applied to all root-ball and vascular preservation works.
Regulatory Compliance (CMTMP / CFFMP):: Demonstrated capability in delivering flora salvage works that align with strict federal and state conditions, including Construction Flora and Fauna Management Plans (CFFMP) and Cycad Management and Translocation Plans (CMTMP).

Scientific Translocation & Preservation Methodology

Ace of Spades employs an ecologically grounded, arborist-led translocation process. We integrate precise soil chemistry, microbiology preservation, and custom rigging systems to maximise specimen viability and ensure outstanding long-term survival rates:

Pre-Translocation & Soil Profiling

Cycads and trees are catalogued, surveyed, and tagged in cooperation with ecologists, setting exclusion zones to protect surrounding soils. We conduct physical drainage assessments, soil profiling, and baseline moisture meter testing at recipient sites to prepare exact pit dimensions.

Precision Mechanical Extraction

Neat trench boundaries are excavated using our 5-tonne tilt-head excavator with specialised 'tiger teeth' buckets. For large root-balls, a ripper tyne is used to undercut the system, minimising root damage. Where accessible, our 62" tractor spade extracts the tree with maximum soil-ball integrity.

Handling, Containment & Nursery Care

Root-balls extracted via tree spade are stabilised in custom-fabricated steel cages, lined with hessian, and strapped to prevent shifting. Moved using excavators with specialised soft slings, trees are transported or potted in controlled nurseries for stabilisation and ongoing root moisture monitoring.

Soil Biology & Recipient Site Planting

Pits are amended using the specimen's native surrounding soil to conserve local mycorrhizal and microbial communities. We integrate organic compost, leaf matter mulch, wetting agents, slow-release fertilisers, beneficial microbial inoculants, and systemic antifungal root-rot treatments. If required drip-line irrigation is installed and/or follow on-going watering schedule.

Crew loading grass trees onto a trailer with a tracked skid steer during a translocation

Relocated six historic Bottle Trees to National Arboretum Canberra (2013). Sourced, transported, and installed major landmark feature trees for Pacific Fair Gold Coast (2016), Brisbane ANZAC Square (2018), Stockman's Hall of Fame (2020), and the complex translocation of a historic 120-year-old Bottle Tree at the New Acland Coal Mine (2024).

Video: Watch the Canberra Arboretum video on Facebook (opens in a new tab)

Boulder Creek Wind Farm (2025)

Joint venture with Mack Power

Species & Quantity

1,500 Cycas megacarpa (Small to medium-sized Cycads)

Operational Scope & Compliance

High-volume precision salvage, extraction, transit care, and recipient site establishment of 1,500 protected small to medium-sized cycads in strict accordance with the project's CMTMP and environmental compliance guidelines.

Specialised Plant, Machinery & Equipment Fleet

Ace of Spades operates an extensive, company-owned fleet of heavy machinery, specialised translocation tooling, and plant logistics. This independent operational capacity ensures immediate mobilisation and seamless project execution without rental-associated delays:

Asset Class / MachineMake, Model & YearPrimary Operational Capability

62" Tractor Tree SpadeJohn Deere 8410 Tractor (2000)Our heavy mechanical transplant unit. Translocates mature trees up to 150mm trunk diameter, retaining maximum root-ball soil structure.

44” Tracked Skid Steer LoaderCaterpillar 297C (2009)High-capacity multi-terrain track loader. Deployed for backfilling, grading, and moving massive quantities of soil biology amendments and compost.

5-Tonne ExcavatorHitachi ZX48-U5 (2018)Equipped with sharp 'tiger teeth' buckets for neat trenching around root-balls, and a ripper tyne for undercutting larger specimens prior to release.

Mini Excavator (Precision Trench)Hitachi ZX17U-5A (2023)1.7-tonne compact excavator with tilt-head for precision digging, root protection, and pit excavation in tight-access, rocky, or sensitive zones.

Elevated Work Platform (EWP)Monitor 1380 Spider Lift (2010)EWP unit used for safe canopy pruning, structural tie-backs, and crown stabilisation during transport preparation.

Industrial WoodchipperVermeer BC1800 (2006)Processes site-cleared vegetation into organic mulch on-site, allowing us to maintain native biology and conserve water around translocated trees.

Heavy Prime MoverNissan UD (2008) with CraneHeavy transport prime mover and crane capability, used in conjunction with our drop deck trailer for the lifting, loading and long-distance or interstate transport of massive trees, providing a complete solution for complex large-scale tree translocations.

Articulated Drop Deck TrailerFreighter Drop Deck (1979)Low-clearance heavy drop deck trailer engineered to safely transport large root-balls and massive mature specimens under height limits.

Tipper Truck (Materials)Hino Ranger Rigid (2001)Rigid tipper deployed for site preparation cleanup, transporting compost, sands, organic soils, and dispersing leaf matter mulch.

Operational 4WD SupportToyota Prado (2016) Hilux SR5 (2012) Toyota Landcruiser GXL (2019)Rugged field vehicles for remote logistics, site scouting, crew transit, and direct in-the-field stakeholder and developer coordination.

Utility TrailersAll Trades Plant Car BoxLogistical support assets. Used to haul moisture metres, custom steel stabilisation cages, hessian, and soil biology amendments in the field.

Arboricultural Consulting & Stakeholder Management

Beyond field operations, Russell Clark is an experienced Consulting Arborist and Tree Transplant Specialist, providing strategic arboriculture advice to assist clients in mitigating project risk, achieving environmental compliance, and preserving significant vegetation throughout all stages of development.

Russell brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to every project, working collaboratively with developers, Tier 1 contractors, government agencies, environmental consultants, ecologists, landowners, Traditional Owners, and other key stakeholders. His ability to navigate complex and often sensitive project environments enables him to resolve potential conflicts early, develop practical tree protection and translocation strategies, and integrate arboriculture requirements into broader environmental and construction outcomes.

With extensive experience across infrastructure, mining, energy and urban development projects, Russell specialises in transplant feasibility assessments, receiving site selection, ecological salvage planning, construction impact mitigation, veteran tree preservation, and post-transplant establishment programs. He also works closely with ecologists and project teams to develop structured aftercare and monitoring programs that maximise tree and plant survival while meeting environmental approval conditions.

Through his collaborative approach and technical expertise, Russell helps clients identify critical project risks early, minimise delays, and deliver sustainable, compliant and commercially practical outcomes that balance development objectives with the long-term preservation of significant trees and ecological values.

Russell Clark resting a hand on a bottle tree at sunset, a small excavator parked behind him

Got a tree that needs moving?

Send us the details and a few photos. If it can be moved, we will tell you how. If it cannot, we will tell you that too.

See if we can move it→