Leading Arboricultural and Ecological Consultants

The Ancient Tree Forum are meeting in Saverton for a 2 day field trip on 10th/11th June 2010.

There will be presentations and walks on:

• The Lowland Woodpasture and Parkland biodiversity Action Plan – What do we want to achieve?
• Local Habitat Action Plans and role of Biological Record Centres.
• Acute Oak dieback – What is happening to our oak trees?
• The Ancient Tree Hunt – it is never too late to get involved.
• The Blyth/Alde project – working for biodiversity on a landscape scale.
• How does the National Trust manage their ancient trees?
• The latest stag beetle research.
• Trees in relationship to public safety
• Many other short interesting presentations on case studies from around the UK

To book or for more information click here >> Ancient Tree Forum events

Treework Environmental Practice
in  association with the Arboricultural Association and the Institute of Chartered Foresters
Seminar XVI: Avenues, Alleyways and Boulevards
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
24th June 2010

This conference provides the chance to meet with experts in the inspirational setting of Kew gardens and the opportunity to contribute to a coherent understanding of the importance of tree-lined routes both old and new.

There are thousands of kilometres of tree-lined routes in our rural and urban British and European landscapes. Yet despite being vital natural components, contributing to our heritage, eco-system and built environment they are under threat and a significant proportion has already disappeared. While some have been lost through natural ageing and disease, according to Chantal Pradines, Expert to the Council of Europe and conference keynote speaker, by far the majority have suffered from ill-advised policies involving landscape and road safety decisions.

Chantal describes how despite their innumerable benefits, traditional avenues have virtually disappeared in many regions of Europe due to our ‘car culture’ and the loss of specialist expertise, arguing  that it is now vital to reverse this trend.

This conference will raise awareness of avenues and alleyways, their contribution to spatial beauty and enjoyment, and will explore the challenges involved in their management and creation. It will aim to bring together diverse interests in arboriculture and conservation with those involved in design and planning.

Peter Neal, CABE’s Head of public, space, strategy and design, believes this conference is timely and important as ‘strategic planning and creative design has a crucial role to play in ensuing that a healthy tree stock is an integral part of delivering a sustainable built environment.’

Professionals and agencies are in various ways already aware of both the importance and fragility of avenues, alleyways and boulevards. This conference will be the first of a series exploring this theme, particularly as vision and strong leadership will be needed if our avenues are to be protected and enhanced while creating new, tree-lined routes for future generations.

Neville Fay, principal consultant, Treework Environmental Practice

Bookings are now being taken at:
www.treeworks.co.uk/seminars

Or contact Helen Lawson, Conference Organiser, for further information:
Helen.Lawson(at)treeworks.co.uk

Trees and Urban Climate Adaptation
A social agenda for liveable cities
In partnership with the Forestry Commission

19th November 2009

The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR

Download Programme

This conference builds upon the success of the 2008 Trees: The Key to Climate Proofing Our Cities conference focusing on the University of Manchester’s research showing the influence of green infrastructure on the urban climate.

Available data underpin the case for ensuring there is no avoidable loss of large-canopy urban trees, providing for future large trees in urban design and planning, and bringing our parks into city streets. To effect necessary change, no change in legislation is necessary – but rather a co-ordination and re-direction of thinking and practice.

This conference aims to mobilise policy makers and the wider community to ensure a sustainable urban forest canopy capable of meeting future climate adaptation needs. The urban canopy agenda will be met by including climate adaptation within the national health and well-being agenda.

Neville Fay chairs conference sessions	Prof John Handley, University of Manchester Conference Chair
Tim Rollinson, Director General of the Forestry Commission, chairs conference sessions	Diane Smith, Town and Country Planning Association

Speakers

Professor John Handley OBE, University of Manchester
Conference Chair

Tim Rollinson, Director General of the Forestry Commission
Keynote Address

Neville, Treework Environmental Practice
Arboriculture’s role in trees and climate adaptation

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

Isabel Dedring, Mayoral Advisor on the Environment
The spatial framework for London and the importance of London’s urban canopy

Dr Mark Johnston MBE, Myerscough College
Trees in Towns II: Government recognition of urban forest needs

Martin Kelly, MD Capita Lovejoy / Trees and Design Action Group
Big trees in the four-dimensional urban realm

Diane Smith, Town & Country Planning Association
Planning for eco-towns: Water and green Infrastructure, A European perspective

Tony Hutchings, Forest Research
The Forest Research Climate Change and Street Trees project

Eugene Dreyer, 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

Katie Roberts , Trees for Cities
Securing urban trees through community involvement: Planting street and community trees in disadvantaged urban locations

Paula Vandergert (CABE); Katie Roberts (Trees for Cities); Eugene Dreyer (Terry Farrell & Partners); Pete Stringer (Red Rose Forest); Martin Kelly, (Trees and Design Action Group); Tim Rollinson (DG Forestry Commission); Dr Mark Johnston MBE (Myerscough College); Neville (Treework); Professor John Handley OBE (University of Manchester); Tony Hutchings (Forest Research); Dr Susannah Gill (University of Manchester); Diane Smith (TCPA)

Trees, Roots, Fungi, Soil (Part 2)

Towards a model of good soil practice for arboriculture
30th June 2009
Linnean Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BF

There is much to be gained from an effective dialogue between ecology and arboriculture if we are to reach a meaningful understanding of health and pathogenicity in relation to soil and roots.

Understanding the soil rooting environment should be the first port of call for all practitioners involved in tree care. Arboriculture to date has been poorly served by ‘science’ with regard to the soil. While there is common use of expensive trunk decay investigation devices, there is no available conventional toolkit for looking at the soil as a matter of routine.

Without a clear understanding of functioning soil ecology, there is no ecological basis for restoration, where tree stress implies problems with the soil. One consequence of this is a focus on pests and diseases, inputs and outputs and agrichemical solutions. This seminar explored these themes and the prospects for a meaningful dialogue between adherents to the inputs-outputs and eco-system models.

Speakers

• Professor David Cutler, President of the Linnean Society
  Welcome and Introduction

• Dr Alan Rayner
  The Dynamic Relationship of Trees and Fungi: Symbiosis and pathology
• Dr Ken Thompson, University of Sheffield
  If Trees Could Speak, What Would They Be Trying to Tell Us? An ecologist wonders why trees fail

• Dr Vinodh Krishnamurthy, Laverstoke Park
  An Organic Diagnostic Model: Testing soils, understanding functioning, managing deficiencies

• Dr Lee Klinger, Independent Scientist and Consultant, California
  Forest Vegetation and Soil Succession: The natural process of change

• Dr Olaf Ribeiro, Ribeiro Tree Evaluations Inc, Seattle
  Notes from a Soil Laboratory: Soil analysis first, treatment of trees second (pathogenicity and remediation)

• Prof Clive Edwards Ohio State University
  Understanding Earthworms: Indicators of soil quality and productivity and their use in bioremediation

• Dr Declan Barraclough, Environment Agency
  G. K. Chesterton and the Soil Problem: Is there a relation between soil properties and tree health?

The are just a few places still available for the Treeworks Environmental Practice Seminar XIII - Trees, Roots, Fungi, Soil (Part 2), Towards a model of good soil practice for arboriculture on 30th June 2009 at the Linnean Society in London.

It should be noted that Professor Clive Edwards will be taking the place of Dr Mark Hodson as previously advertised. Professor Edwards is recognised as world authority on earthworms, his book The Ecology and Biology of Earthworms is going into its fourth edition.

To more details or to Book a Place online please visit Treeworks Environmental Practice Seminars Bookings

The 13th Treeworks Environmental Practice Seminar is now available to book and is part 2 of Trees, Roots, Fungi, Soil taking place at the Linnean Society in London.

“There is much to be gained from an effective dialogue between ecology and arboriculture if we are to reach a meaningful understanding of health and pathogenicity in relation to soil and roots”

This event is held for ecologists, foresters, arboriculturists, soil scientists, mycologists and all those with a broad interest in trees and soil ecology.

To book immediately visit our bookings website

Dates, details and venues to be confirmed.

Treework Environmental Practice is proud to be working with the Arboricultural Association and the Institute of Chartered Foresters, and with Barrell Tree Consultancy over the climate change series. We are also grateful to the Forestry Commission and Barcham Trees for their sponsorship. We are now seeking sponsors for the 2009-2010 programme.

Lynne Boddy	L to R: Lee Klinger, Richard Bargett, John Adams

Our proposed topics for 2009-10 are outlined below. Some of these build on themes we started to explore in 2007-08. Others are new, inspired by colleagues or innovative studies, and have been introduced because we believe they speak to the interests and concerns of the tree and conservation world.

Trees: the key to climate-proofing our cities (Part 2)
This builds on the successful 2008 conference (Part 1), which established the scientific basis and importance of urban climate control and the role trees should play in this, bringing together the range of disciplines necessary to climate proof our cities. We learned we must not ignore our clear responsibilities to do this, as the risks from procrastinating will affect the current generation. The time has now come to bring together those who influence government and policy-makers to develop an effective framework, the National Canopy Initiative, that will urgently translate theory into practice.

Trees: survival and conflict resolution
July 2008’s Arboricultural Journal’s article describing how the control of trees that provide human livelihood has implications for survival and political participation.
In Israel and Palestine, the olive tree symbolises both the potential for reconciliation and the means to control livelihoods. In arid Africa, where trees mean life, experience is that engagement with communities and understanding native wisdom about trees, supports economic and social independence. This seminar will look at examples where trees mean more than just amenity and have come to influence the fundamentals of social processes.

Trees, ecofunction and wellbeing: planning for health through understanding the biochemistry of trees
Exploring the role of trees in bioplanning, and drawing on first nation peoples and lost knowledge, this event will look at the design of urban and rural landscapes according to medicinal, nutritional and herbicidal properties. If trees can help reduce the incidence of cancer and asthma, knowledge of species and their biochemistry will be important in deciding which trees to plant in locations where people are vulnerable. Speakers will explain the chemical effects of trees on the environment and how to understand their synergistic effects.

Calling the utility companies to account: making good damage done to trees, is there a case for a ‘tree wind fall’ tax?
Since the early 1990s, works done by utility companies have greatly affected tree roots and the health and condition of urban forests and highway trees. While the companies have made enormous profits from digging up roads and roots to provide their services, municipal arborists and tree managers have to manage the consequences. When trees fail, some causing physical harm, it is virtually impossible to pursue the causal link. The long-term effects from tree decline and loss are wide-ranging, affecting human health, wellbeing and climate. The damage is inexorable, hidden and persistent. This event intends to examine the real costs to society and how reparations might come about.

AN IMPORTANT INVITATION –

We would greatly appreciate if you could leave your feedback in the comments below. Thank You.

TREES, ROOTS, FUNGI, SOIL
Below-Ground Ecosystem & Implications for Tree Health
13th November 2008

In this one-day event we brought together UK and international speakers with knowledge of interactions between saprotrophs, tree-root pathogens and mycorrhizal fungi to improve our understanding of below-ground interactions between fungi and trees, and the conditions for health and pathogenicity to support practitioners in their endeavours to beneficially influence tree health.

This conference examined the implications of climate change, pollution, high nitrogen levels, soil conditions and new tree diseases. It explored what constitutes a healthy environment in which trees can grow and different ways of addressing adverse impacts on functioning root activity. It concentrated on research into soil amelioration and processes that lead to breakdown in functioning soil ecology influencing ‘pathogenicity’. There was a strong focus on different experiments and experiences of soil ecology rejuvenation, including mineralization and whether these have universal relevance or are specific to certain ecosystems.
SPEAKERS
Prof. Lynne Boddy (Cardiff University)
Lecture 1: Underground mycology: The relations between fungi, soil and tree

Prof. Richard Bardgett (Lancaster University)
Lecture 2: Insights into the belowground ecology of forest ecosystems

Dr Lee Klinger (Independent scientist, USA)
Lecture 6: A holistic approach to mitigating pathogenic effects on trees: Case studies including use of soil amendments

Prof. Alan Gange (Royal Holloway)
Lecture 3: Climate change impacts on Woodland Saprotrophs &  Mycorrhizas

Dr. Nick Haycock (Haycock Associates Ltd / University of Manchester)
Lecture 4: Ground compaction, nitrogen & phosphorus deposition: the effects upon soil & water quality

Prof. Jan Čermák (Brno University)
Lecture 5: Tree eco-physiology:  Investigations into tree water relations, structure & growth

Please use the box below to continue the discussion of issues and ideas raised during this event.

The key to Climate Proofing our Cities (Part 1) Review has been published on the site.

This article was recently published in AA Newsletter issue 142 by Simon Richmond, Technical Officer, Arboricultural Association

Treework Environmental Practice have once again provided a comprehensive and thought provoking perspective on our attitude to trees. This conference, sponsored by the Forestry Commission, Barcham Trees, E Cosolis Ltd and Edenvale Young, in association with the Arboricultural Association and the Institute of Chartered Foresters, featured 13 invited speakers. Neville Fay of Treework Environmental Practice introduced the day along with Jeremy Barrell who has also been instrumental in creating and supporting this event and the day was then ably chaired by Professor Chris Baines, Broadcaster and Government Advisor on Environmental matters.

Read Review

Click Here to Comment (scroll to bottom of the page)

Temperatures in UK cities are predicted to rise by 3–7°C by the end of the century. Research indicates that a 10% increase in urban tree cover would completely neutralise this impact. According to the Trees in Towns II study trees are being lost at an alarming rate and urban deforestation is offering a hot future for city life.

With better co-ordination, within existing government guidance and management mechanisms, it is possible to achieve the level of canopy cover that will make the difference. This requires a strategy that, wherever possible, all large trees are conserved and planning and design ensures that we grow trees successfully to become big trees with big canopies.

This pioneering conference brought together a wide range of speakers to explore practical possibilities to reverse tree loss within the current planning framework. Our aim is to drive an initiative to achieve the required canopy increase. This can be done but only through the widest possible involvement between all relevant stakeholders, professions, government organisations, citizens groups, etc.

Please continue to provide us with your advice and ideas by using the comment box below. I invite you to become stake holders in this process by contributing to the blog.

Neville Fay, Principal Consultant Treework Environmental Practice