9th May 2009
Treework Environmental Practice Conference XV Trees and Urban Climate Adaptation
WHEN IT COMES TO URBAN TREES, BIG IS BEAUTIFUL
Over the last year or so, the news has been full of horror stories of large trees being felled in the streets of our towns and cities on the basis that they’re too big, too old and could fall on us and kill us. Meanwhile, the science points to the fact that trees are not only generally very safe, but, in fact, large street trees are vital for protecting us from the harsh sun and sudden downpours brought on by climate change.
UK temperatures are predicted rise by 3–7°C by 2099 while research from the University of Manchester shows that a 10% increase in urban tree cover could completely neutralise the impacts from this rise. Despite this, towns and cities are losing large trees at an alarming rate, to reduce the risk of subsidence claims, or liability for damage and death caused by falling branches. And insufficient planting of large tree species is being factored into new building developments
How can we ensure that the people we depend on to create good living environments will take the right decisions about planning for and conserving large trees in the urban landscape?
Visionary tree management company Treework Environmental Practice and the Forestry Commission are bringing together experts and arboricultural professionals to discuss this very question in a one day conference: Trees and Urban Climate Adaptation – A social agenda for liveable cities on 19 November at The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR. Bookings now being taken at www.treeworks.co.uk/seminars. The cost is £220 per person.
One speaker is Dr Mark Johnson, MBE, Myerscough University, author of Trees in Towns II on evidence for policy: Government recognition of urban forest needs. He said: "If we’re serious about adapting our towns to climate change, an average of 8% tree cover, often considerably less in many city centres, just isn’t going to do it, especially if we keep replacing our large mature trees with much smaller ornamentals. As well as planting many more trees, we need to look after the trees we already have. When Trees in Towns II came out last year only 28% of local authorities had a tree strategy, many which were judged to be seriously deficient. Nearly 44% were undertaking over 90% of their tree maintenance work on a ‘crisis management’ basis with little or no planning. With an average of 35% of newly-planted local authority trees receiving no post-planting maintenance it’s hardly surprising that nearly a quarter die – wasting millions of pounds every year. When it comes to climate change, trees are by far the most significant element of green infrastructure. We need to give them, and the tree officers who look after them, much greater priority."
Neville Fay, Treework Environmental Practice’s principal consultant said: "We don’t need to change legislation to change the way decisions to fell or plant large trees are made. All we need to do is to re-direct the thinking of architects, engineers, tree officers and government policy makers. These are the hands-on people who make the crucial decisions about what our cities will look like and what kinds of places they will be to live in the future."
NOTES TO EDITORS
Six people a year are killed by falling trees, whereas 3000 a year are killed in car accidents.
Temperatures in London are on average 10ºC greater than the countryside, due to concrete and asphalt absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night, and there not being enough greenery to cool the city through evapotranspiration.
Research by Hajat, Kovats et al, at Middlesex University shows 3% more deaths in London for every 1ºC increase in surface temperature above 21ºC.
Modelling in 1997 by American Forests estimated that 20% fewer trees in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, produced a 1 billion cubic feet increase in annual storm water runoff (Soltis 1997).
Crime is higher in hot cities: Ellen G Cohn (Weather and Crime, British Journal of Criminology, Vol 30, 1990) examined 40 years of research linking climate and crime. "Assaults, burglary, collective violence, domestic violence, and rape tend to increase with ambient temperature, at least up to about 85F." Her conclusion was that most violent crimes against persons increase linearly with heat.
Seminar speakers
Professor John Handley, University of Manchester
Conference Chair
Tim Rollinson, Director General of the Forestry Commission
Keynote address
Neville Fay, Treework Environmental Practice
Arboriculture’s role in trees and climate adaptation
Simon Murray, Simon Murray & Co
Session Chair
Dr Susannah Gill, University of Manchester
The essential role of trees: Adapting cities to climate change by managing high temperatures and reducing pressure on drainage systems
Dr Mark Johnston MBE, Myerscough College
Trees in Towns II: Government recognition of urban forest needs
Martin Kelly, Capita Lovejoy / Trees and Design Action Group
Big trees in the four-dimensional urban realm
Diane Smith, Town and Country Planning Association
Planning for eco-towns, water and green infrastructure: A European perspective
Alex Nickson, Mayor’s Office, Policy Office for Climate Change in London
Capitalising on the widest possible environmental benefits from trees: Flood mitigation, urban heat island and climate adaptation
Sir Terry Farrell CBE, Terry Farrell & Partners
The Thames Gateway: The design vision and creating treed infrastructure
Dr Paula Vandergert, Commission for Architecture in the Built Environment (CABE)
Sustainable cities: Creating tools for better green urban design
Pete Stringer, Red Rose Forest
Green infrastructure: A vehicle for working with communities to tackle climate change
Graham Simmons, Chief Executive, Trees for Cities
Securing urban trees through community involvement: Planting street and community trees in disadvantaged urban locations
Limited free places available for journalists who confirm their presence in advance.
Press pack of speakers’ papers also available embargoed until after the conference has taken place.
Contacts
Conference organiser:
Ellen Elena, Treework Environmental Practice Conference Organiser: 07855 234 349
The following people are available for interview before the conference:
- Neville Fay, Treework Environmental Practice Principal Consultant: 07968 489 588
- Dr Mark Johnston MBE, Myerscough College: 01995 642304
- Tim Rollinson, Director General of the Forestry Commission. For interviews please contact Charlton Clark 0131 314 6500 and 07810 181067
- Dr Susannah Gill, Green Infrastructure Planning Officer, Honorary Research Fellow, School of Environment and Development, University of Manchester: 01925 859610
- Diane Smith, Corporate Affairs Manager, Town and Country Planning Association: 0792 028 0370 and 020 7930 8903
Treework Environmental Practice
Treework Environmental Practice is the industry-leading arboricultural and ecological consultancy providing high quality services to clients throughout the UK. Treework Environmental Practice is an established and reputable practice which prides itself on its innovative approach to arboriculture, pioneering new approaches to safeguard trees and their habitats for future generations. Treework Environmental Practice invests in improving industry awareness and understanding of the health, structure and condition of trees.
For over 20 years Treework Environmental Practice has worked with a variety of industries including landowners, construction, government, landscape architecture and arboriculture. Through a multi-disciplinary approach, we target our expertise to ensure rapid solutions, resolving conflicts between planning, design and habitat conservation.
Neville Fay, Treework Environmental Practice’s principal consultant, is founder of Tree Aid, and Chairman and one of the founding members of the Ancient Tree Forum. He is renowned in the tree world for pioneering the practices of conservation arboriculture and veteran tree management.
Treework Environmental Practice Seminars
First launched in 2005, the Treework Environmental Practice seminar series has been developed in consultation with partners including the Arboricultural Association, DARM (Centre for Decision Analysis and Risk Management) at Middlesex University and the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
The Seminar Series transfers knowledge between disciplines and understanding between professions with allied interests. It also explores innovative developments from overseas and introduces knowledge that is not widely or well understood in the UK.
The Treework Environmental Practice Seminar Series:
- explores innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding environmental processes, tree health, structure, condition and knowledge to enhance decision-making and conservation practice
- introduces developments from beyond the UK affecting the field of arboriculture, ecology and conservation
- improves understanding of modern arboricultural and environmental science to better inform management practice.
Speakers come from a range of disciplines and are invited to present their knowledge within the context of the seminar theme and their fellow contributors.
This seminar is the 15th in the Treework Environmental Practice Conference Series and is held on 19 November 2009 at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR. Bookings are now being taken at www.treeworks.co.uk/seminars and the cost is £220 per person.
