Sir Terry Farrell Appointed TDAG Trustee
Renowned British architect and master planner Sir Terry Farrell has been announced as a new Trustee of the Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) trust.
Sir Terry Farrell (c) Richard Gleed
Sir Terry has long recognised the value of trees and the many benefits that these can deliver, as part of a landscape led masterplanning approach. He has previously supported the ICF Trees People and the Built Environment II conference, highlighting how green infrastructure can be a catalyst for development. Upon announcement of his appointment, he said;
“Urban trees, as the largest living organisms found in cities, play an essential role in shaping local landscapes and providing life-critical services as part of the green-grey-blue infrastructure mix that sustainable places require. If this role is to be maintained and enhanced over the remainder of the 21st century and beyond, then a strategic approach is required. Urban trees should not be considered on a ‘tree by tree’ basis but rather in terms of overall urban trees populations, such that every urban tree contributes to the ‘urban forest’. We will need to ensure that we, who have inherited a legacy from previous tree planting, provide a legacy for future generations; tackle the problems of increasing tree diseases by giving proper attention to biosecurity and ensuring diverse tree species to make the ‘urban forest’ more robust and make appropriate design and species selections to ensure that the opportunities are taken for trees to provide the multiple, long term benefits of which they are capable.”
Further new trustee appointments include two ICF members – Dr Mark Johnston MBE FICFor, who co-authored Trees in Towns II and Keith Sacre MICFor, Sales Director at Barcham Trees and lead author of the recent BS8545: Trees: from nursery to independence in the landscape – recommendations.
TDAG was formed early in 2007 following a round table discussion convened by Martin Kelly, then director at Lovejoy London and now land planning director at Capita Property and Infrastructure, and became a charitable trust in 2013. It is recognised as a pioneering group of individuals, professionals and organisations from both the public and private sector who have come together to increase awareness of the role of trees in the built environment throughout the UK. The group early on set out a 10 Point Action Plan and this continues to guide its work.
House of Lords Debate
Their recent publication of Trees in Hard Landscapes: A guide for delivery has received cross-sector praise, most recently during a House of Lords debate. During the debate on the Natural Environment Lord Framlingham commended both the group and the Barcham Trees Bio-security policy. He called for a nationally coordinated approach to enhance the integration of trees in the design and management of hard landscapes.
