Executive Director meets natural and built environment CEOs
After a pledge for more collaboration between professional institute’s at the Trees, People and the Built Environment 4 conference at the start of the year, our Executive Director, Shireen Chambers MBE FICFor, has attended a six monthly meeting with CEOs from the natural and built environment sectors. Shireen was joined by Sue Morgan from the […]
Phytophthora pluvialis reported in Cornwall
The fungus-like pathogen, Phytophthora pluvialis, was first discovered in Oregon, USA in 2013. It is associated with a variety of species, having been known to affect western hemlock, tanoak, pine and Douglas-fir trees. In September 2021, the pathogen was found in Cornwall where it was affecting mature western hemlock and Douglas-fir trees. Phytophthora pluvialis is […]
Forest Research publish 2021 statistics on the sector
According to Forest Research’s Forestry Facts & Figures 2021 report, the total woodland area in the UK has increased by 23,000 hectares since 2020. The publication includes UK statistics on woodland cover, timber and wood products, imports and exports, economics, employment, woodland visits, international comparisons and the environment. Woodland area in the UK is […]
EWCO: Changes to Environmental Stewardship agreements
Members should be aware of some recent amendments to Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreements in relation to the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO). These amendments come after the collective work of Defra, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), Natural England and the Forestry Commission. See below an update from the Forestry Commission on these amendments. […]
Soil Health Action Plan to be launched in England
Announced in a speech in the House of Lords by the Minister of State for the Environment, Lord Goldsmith, the Soil Health Action Plan (SHAPE) will help restore the health of England’s soils and will contribute to the government’s targets on biodiversity. The plan will be a crucial part of Defra’s efforts to halt the […]
Defra announce Tree Health pilot
Announced on 31 August, the Government’s Tree Health pilot will support action against pests and diseases in ash, sweet chestnut, larch and spruce trees in England. The findings from the three-year pilot scheme, delivered by the Forestry Commission, will help develop the future Tree Health scheme that is due to launch in 2024. Defra are […]
Government seeking views on the release of beavers into the wild
Beavers are being reintroduced in the UK after being hunted to extinction 400 years ago. A consultation launched by Defra on Wednesday 25 August is seeking views on the proposed approach to the further reintroduction and the management of the species in the wild in England. Widely referred to as ‘ecosystem engineers’, beavers can play […]
The Big Black Country i-Tree Project
The Black Country, an area within the West Midlands, has decided to focus on its green infrastructure, by taking a detailed look at the structure and composition of its urban forest. The study will provide valuable information about the trees that grow there: which species are resident, how sustainable the trees are, and what they […]
UK Research and Innovation to fund research on how trees can help reach net zero
The UK Research and Innovation public body have announced £10.5 million of funding to support research on the value of trees to people and the planet, and expanding treescapes across the UK. Six projects have been awarded funding to develop new tools and approaches for how trees and woodlands can adapt to climate change. The […]
IPCC publish report on impacts of 1.5 °C global warming
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change, providing regular scientific assessments, implications and potential future risks, as well as putting forward adaptation and mitigation options. Published only a few months ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, the special report, Global Warming of 1.5 […]
