Ancient Tree Forum


		ATF events usually start at 10.00am for 10.30am and carry on into the middle of the afternoon. Please bring a packed lunch. Everyone welcome.

April to July 2008 ATH Verifier Training Sessions		The Ancient Tree Hunt are organising training sessions for their volunteer verifiers. We are interested in hearing from any ATF member who, being an expert Arborist, would like to join us and share your knowledge when we are in your region: Scotland - 12th April Yorkshire- 26th April Midlands- 10th may South East - 7th June South West - 14th June Wales - 5th July Northern Ireland - 19th July By invitation only - please contact Jill Butler on 01488 686 440

09 October 2008 ATF Visit to Burnham Beeches Farnham Common Bucks		Restoration cutting of lapsed pollards: Find out more about the work of the City of London at Burnham Beeches as they strive to stop the catastrophic collapse of ancient lapsed beech pollards at this internationally important site. Members of the Ancient Tree Forum will be exploring the reasons behind what they do and looking at successful cutting of one of the most difficult species – beech. There will be a short indoor start to the day with an introduction to what has been happening in the Beeches over recent years followed by an opportunity to look at good practice in front of the trees themselves. Meet at the visitor centre see www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/living_environment/open_spaces/burnham for map. Park in East Burnham Common car park and walk over to information centre and café 10 for 10.30. Bring a packed lunch for a picnic out under the trees if the weather is fine. Please book on line filling in the General booking form so that we may plan for the day.

18 October 2008 ATF Field Event Windsor Great Park Berkshire		*The ATF is 10 years old* Join the all-day, into evening, party to celebrate 10 very active years of the Ancient Tree Forum and see some of the most magnificent trees in the Universe in the Great Park – home to oaks with ages from acorns to over 1000 years old. Guided walks, short talks and evening party. Want to tell people an ancient tree story? – we welcome 10-15min talks about ancient trees anywhere in the world. A chance to meet like-minds under fat, old trees. Join us at any time at the York Club or at 10 for 10.30 for the guided walk. Refreshments such as coffee and tea will be provided but please bring your own picnics. Please book on line filling in the General booking form so that we may plan for the day.

		Past Event Highlights ATF Visit -Shobrooke/Creedy Parks, Devon ATF Visit -Black Park/Langley Park, South Bucks.

ATF Board Meetings



		ATF AGM and Board Meeting (Board Members Only)



Other events




25 June 2008 Managing People and Trees: Priorities, Compromises and Differences Seminar Woburn Abbey		The seminar will provide important information to anyone who has responsibility for or has practical involvement in the care and maintenance of trees in: highways, parks, or woodlands with a high degree of public access. When the activities of people come into close contact with trees there is often a perception of negative issues that affect both trees and people. These are rarely balanced with the positive benefits that can be gained. Worries over the damage trees might cause can often be over emphasised and human activities are sometimes given an over inflated priority. This seminar will examine: practical methodologies to avoid damage to trees; methods for assessing and reducing risk from trees and the need for tree work; and balancing risk against heritage and landscape value. Wednesday 25th June - 09.00 - 16.30 Woburn Abbey Price for confirmed bookings made before 10th June March 2008: £150 per person excluding VAT. Price for confirmed bookings made after 10th June 2008: £170 per person excluding VAT Payments must be received before 10th June 2008, to qualify for the discount. Refunds cannot be given after this date, prices include all seminar notes, lunch and refreshments. All payments must be received before 25th June. To confirm your place on this seminar fill out the attached form and send a cheque or purchase order for the correct amount to Trees Project Limited, PO Box 607, Waterbeach, Cambridge CB25 9WN. Cheques made payable to 'Trees Project Limited'. There are limited places available so please book in advance either by email: lisabrent4@yahoo.co.uk or tel: 01223 441062 or 07500 665169 Full details of speakers etc and booking form pdf (50MB)

10 July 2008 Treework Environmental Practice and Barrell Tree Consultancy Seminar XI A one-day conference Trees: The Key to Climate Proofing Our Cities (Part 1) The Royal Geographical Society Hyde Park Kensington London		This pioneering conference brings together international speakers to explore practical possibilities to reverse tree loss within the current planning framework. The conference aims to drive an initiative to achieve the required canopy increase. It can be done; our objective is to define how to do it. This is more than a conference, it is a process. It is a hot topic for all those concerned about trees and human well-being. Thursday 10th July 2008 Further information + speakers pdf (3MB) Early bird: £185.00 (+VAT) up to and including 15th March Thereafter: £210.00 (+VAT) Price includes delegates’ booklet. Price of delegates’ booklet to non-attending members: £85 (+VAT) Bookings are now being taken at www.treeworks.co.uk/seminars Press release pdf (561KB)

08/10 September 2008 Orchards and Groves: Their History, Ecology, Culture and Archaeology Sheffield Hallam University		The conference spread over 3 days will be a major national and international event on the theme of 'Orchards and Groves: Their History, Ecology, Culture and Archaeology'. This is a relatively poorly-documented area and we will address topics fundamental to the conservation of these wonderful and iconic landscape features. We will cover the lessons of history and landscape change, of cultural change and abandonment. The conference will be international in flavour and cover issues from archaeology to modern-day emergence of organic products, of added value, and of the tourism plate. Keynote speakers include Sue Clifford (Common Ground), Dr Keith Alexander and Professor Mauro Agnoletti (University of Florence). There will be contributions from Natural England, the National Trust, English Heritage and the Forestry Commission. Other confirmed speakers and displays include Ian D. Rotherham ( ), Peter Glaves (Orchards in Kent), Crispin Hayes (Ancient Orchards by the River Tay), Hereford and Worcester Orchards Project, Northern Pomona and the Bulmer Foundation. There will be an evening product tasting session. This will be a significant event and we will pre-publish the proceedings to be available at the conference. This will have a truly international flavour and there will be a lot of media interest too. The event is organised by the Tourism and Environmental Change Research Unit at SHU, in partnership with the Biodiversity and Landscape History Research Institute. Offers of sponsorship, displays and posters are still welcome. All enquiries to: Conference Team Hallam Environmental Consultants Ltd Venture House 105 Arundel Street Sheffield, S1 2NT Tel: 0114 272 4227 email: info@hallamec.plus.com Details of speakers, costs, booking form and itinerary pdf (145KB)

10 October 2008 Flora locale Training Good practice in managing ancient trees The Ancient Tree Forum Dr David Lonsdale, City of London Burnham Beeches Slough		Ancient trees are irreplaceable parts of our living heritage and it is important that we care for existing trees and manage them to ensure that they live as long as possible. This day is aimed at owners and site managers and tree workers who may be called in to advise on tree management. Burnham Beeches is at the forefront of ancient tree management and staff have an excellent track record of managing especially ancient oak and perhaps the most sensitive of ancient trees, beech. Participants will be introduced to the relationship between tree development, aging and decay and will be shown how to relate this to practical tree management. There will be plenty of opportunity to see work especially retrenchment pruning that has already been successfully carried out on existing trees. Friday 10 October 2008 9.45am for 10.00am start and finish approximately 4.00pm. please bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated and wear appropriate footwear and outdoor clothing. Details of cost and booking form pdf (22KB) website www.floralocale.org

14 October 2008 The Special Trees and Woods of the Chilterns 'Managing Special Trees' Near Princes Risborough Bucks		Many ancient woodlands have strong cultural links which only make their management even harder! Join the National Trust and the Special Trees and Woods Project for a workshop discussing the history and management of Low Scrubs (picture by John Morris j.peg 33KB) a rare relic of beech coppice. This ancient area of working trees was worked for firewood by local commoners until the Second World War. The long term vision for Low Scrubs is to maintain and perpetuate the individual character of this area of ancient beech and oak, loved by many people for its special atmosphere. Participants of this free workshop will be introduced to the site, the management restraints and plans on how to reintroduce management to these ancient working trees. We will visit the wood and see the work being carried out which will include the first lot of retrenchment on some individual trees and on an ancient hornbeam hedge. Contract management, site safety and pubic access will also be discussed. For more details contact Liz Manley on 01844 355 525 or lmanley@chilternsaonb.org
13 November 2008 Treework Environmental Practice (TEP) in association with Cardiff University School of Biosciences A one-day seminar (XII) Trees, Roots, Fungi, Soil Below-ground ecosystem & implications for tree health National Museum Cardiff Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NP		This seminar explores what constitutes a healthy environment in which trees can grow and different ways of addressing adverse impacts on functioning root activity. The seminar will explore research into soil amelioration and processes that lead to breakdown in functioning soil ecology influencing ‘pathogenicity’. There are different experiments and experiences of soil ecology rejuvenation, including mineralization: we will look at whether these have universal relevance or are specific to certain ecosystems. Thursday 13th November 2008 Further information +speakers pdf (3MB) Early Bird: £180 (+VAT) up to and including 30th June Thereafter: £205 (+VAT) Price includes delegates’ booklet. Price of delegates’ booklet to non-attending members: £85 (+VAT) Bookings are now being taken at www.treeworks.co.uk/seminars

20 November 2008 Irreplaceable – the World’s Most Invaluable Species Royal Geographical Society 1 Kensington Gore London SW7 2AR		The ever-popular and thought-provoking Earthwatch Debate this year focuses on the world’s most irreplaceable species – choose between bees, bats, fungi, plankton and primates (but not man!), championed by leaders in their field. Chair - Andrea Catherwood, TV broadcaster & independent film producer Our speakers for the evening: Bats - Dr. Kate Jones, the Zoological Society of London Bees - Dr. George McGavin, Honorary Research Associate, Oxford University Museum of Natural History Fungi - Prof. Lynne Boddy, Cardiff School of Biosciences Plankton - Prof. David Thomas, School of Ocean Sciences, University of Bangor Primates - Ian Redmond OBE, Chairman of the Ape Alliance Doors open at 6.00pm (cash bar); debate to be followed by a second cash bar, 9.00-9.30pm. Entrance free to Earthwatch supporters; otherwise a small donation will be requested on the door. Optional buffet supper, 9.00-10.30 – supper tickets £25.00 For tickets and more information, please contact the Earthwatch Europe Events Department on (01865) 318856; events@earthwatch.org.uk www.earthwatch.org/europe/get_involved/events08/debate



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