Axe summer 2011 edition final

Axe to Grind

TDAG West Midlands Ride for Research High Speed 2 : The Woodland Trust

The magazine of the Municipal Tree Officers’ Association Axe to Grind: vol 4: Issue 2 Summer 2011

Summer 2011 1

This quarter the Axe is delighted to feature three articles from organisations that are key to the TDAG Birmingham and West Midlands initiative; Birmingham Trees for Life, Capita Symonds and The Woodland Trust. Birmingham Trees for Life tell us about their work planting in the second city, the Woodland Trust focus on the controversial new threat to our ancient woodlands - high speed rail - and Jonathan Mills of Capita Symonds and secretary to the Midlands TDAG gives us an update on how the first TDAG outside London is progressing.

Last issue Jonathan told us of the forthcoming Ride for Research. In this issue Russell Ball of the ISA gives us a blowby - blow (or possibly blister) account of the great day itself.

Well done to everyone who took part!

Moray Simpson, MTOA’s Vice Chair, steps up to write this issue’s Chairman’s Stump - an account of our last AGM. All our good wishes go to Ian McDermott for a speedy recovery from his operation. The steering group sent him a big basket of fruit on everyone's behalf … we’re guessing its the first fruit he’s eaten for years …

You couldn’t have missed hearing that the ICF held their annual conference in Birmingham in April. Great to see that so many tree officers were able to come, even with the cutbacks. Julie Sadler of Birmingham CC represented the MTOA on the research conference’s initial steering group - and gives us her thoughts on the conference itself.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Axe - remember to take your camera out with you at work, or on your holidays, and send in your snaps for the photo competition. You could be the lucky winner of Tree Source vouchers!

Cover photo : Lovely Fresh Larch: Lichfield Opposite: Hipstamatic montage with iPhone: Wheatfields near Harlaston

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Vice Chairman’s Stump

Last December the MTOA held its AGM and winter seminar at the Greenwood Centre at Coalbrookdale in Shopshire.

Speakers included Ted Green, a well known stalwart of the Ancient Tree Forum, who gave us his views on arboriculture and ancient trees, Bill Heselgrave from the Forestry Commissions West Midlands Conservancy, who briefed us on the latest news (threats) on (to) the Forestry Commission and the TDAG Birmingham project, Russell Ball, the current ISA UK&I Chapter president, who spoke about ancient yews and the Ancient Yew Group, and Jill Butler from the Woodland Trust and Ancient Tree Forum (ATF), who spoke on a number of topics.

the MTOA constitution, with Steve taking on the role of immediate past-chair.

Under Steve’s leadership, the MTOA has arisen like a phoenix from the ashes, from what was essentially a moribund group to the vibrant and active organisation we have now become. John Blessington stood for the Treasurer post and was voted back in. I was persuaded to stand for vice-chair by Mac and was duly voted in.

Thanks are due to all the speakers who gave freely of their time and On the day, volunteers for secretary’s post were not who managed to make it to rural forthcoming; however David Beadle from Derby Shropshire in very icy conditions. In subsequently volunteered to take over the post. this article I will concentrate on the Welcome aboard Dave. Nick Lakin also agreed to main AGM business and Jill’s talk. continue as the MTOAs webmaster. Finally, with Elton Watson standing down as the “Axe to Grind” editor, At the AGM, Steve Shields Portia Howe from Lichfield, a long standing steering relinquished his long tenure as the group member and now nicknamed the ‘voice of MTOA chair, with Mac taking over as reason’, volunteered, without too much arm twisting, the new chair, in accordance with to become the new editor.

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Other Board Directors approved at the AGM included Steve Dores from South Staffs who has been most helpful over the years in accommodating executive board meetings (shame about the biscuit budget going, though) and Julie Sadler from Birmingham who is been working tirelessly as our rep on the steering group for the recent arb research conference and is involved in the Birmingham TDAG project.

One important resolution from the AGM is that the MTOA has metamorphosed into the, err, MTOA. Let me explain.

The MTOA has for the last couple of years accepted new members from outside the Midlands area. To represent the organisations new geographical areas and the aims of the MTOA, in which we are becoming a national voice for Tree Officers, it was felt that a new name encompassing our wider remit would be more appropriate. Hence, I proposed that the Midland Tree Officers’ Association change its name to the Municipal Tree Officers’ Association. A vote was taken and the motion was passed. Thus, we are now the Municipal Tree Officers Association.

If you are Midlands based, do not be alarmed, as most of our members are based in the Midlands, we will still be running seminars and training events in the Midlands. So only change you will really notice is the new name and revised logo.

Britain’s Ancient trees

recorded. Jill estimates that there are at least 500,000 of these trees in Britain, with Neville Fay, the current ATF chair, estimating there are potentially a million ancient, veteran and notable trees in Britain.

Very few of these trees recorded by the Ancient Tree Hunt are protected by TPOs. They want to utilise the information recorded through the Ancient Tree Hunt to raise the profile and to get better protection for these important trees.

TPOs offer no protection for important dead ancient trees, even though these are still important from a historical, cultural and wildlife perspective.

Jill highlighted local examples of recorded trees local to the AGM venue in Coalbrookdale and highlighted that by their age, these trees show that the landscape is of an ancient nature.

Jill then told us that the 1860 Ordinance Survey (OS) maps were the most detailed that the OS ever produced and that these show most of the mature trees present at that time. The ATF are also looking at pre Second World War Luftwaffe aerial photographs so that they can track the history of trees from modern times backwards.

Jill also highlighted the importance of dead Onto Jill Butlers talk. Jill briefed us on the Ancient Tree Hunt, gave the Woodland Trust’s ancient trees and highlighted the plight of a named ancient tree, the Deadman’s Oak, and Ancient Tree Forum’s view on the recent which is named on Ordinance Survey maps. consultation on the proposed changes to the This tree died and was subsequently felled, TPO regulations and gave an insight into even though it was historically important. This MyView, Woodwatch and some recent proves that TPOs offer no protection for European arboricultural initiatives. important dead ancient trees, even though these are still important from a historical, Jill explained that we have in Britain a cultural and wildlife perspective. We should medieval landscape and that we can learn about our heritage through our ancient trees. be retaining ancient dead trees where possible and while these are alive, collecting Britain’s ancient trees are of international seed and planting their progeny near to their importance; however there are very few parents. champions for these trees. To raise awareness the Woodland Trust, working with the Tree Register of the British Isles and the Ancient Tree Forum, launched the Ancient Tree Hunt. By 2011 they hope to have 100,000 ancient, veteran and notable trees Axe to Grind: vol 4: Issue 2 Summer 2011

Jill then moved onto talk about the legal protection available, or more usually not, for ancient and veteran trees, including:

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Felling Licences: Most ancient trees fall through the threshold for protection by felling licence controls.

Oak at the Gates of the Dead:

UKWAS: There is a criterion for looking at the retention and creation of new veteran and ancient trees; however this is a voluntary scheme and is reliant on the goodwill of the tree owners.

‘most of this incredibly important tree could be removed through the “dead wood” exception and the LPA wouldn’t be able to stop it.’

Agriculture: There is nothing in the agricultural world that adds protection for our ancient and veteran trees. The GAEC scheme (Good Agricultural Environmental Condition) only relates to trees already protected by current legislation, i.e. TPO trees.

Jill emphasised that there is a real threat to ancient and veteran trees from modern agricultural practices.

To challenge this, the Woodland Trust and Ancient Tree Forum would like to try test cases on exemplar TPO trees in the agricultural landscape that are damaged by poor farming practices, through the Single Farm Payment system run by DEFRA. They have taken legal advice on this course of action and believe such test cases would be well publicised and therefore would be beneficial in changing farming habits and practices which result in damage/ demise to our ancient, veteran and notable trees in the countryside. If an agricultural landowner/ tenant continue to damage legally protected trees, they risk the withdrawal of their Single Farm Payment.

If you know of protected trees, or trees that aren’t protected that should be, that are being damaged and think you can help in pushing forward this important strategy for changing farming practices that are doing so much damage to our tree heritage, please get in touch and I will pass on your details to Jill.

TPOs: The “Dying” tree exemption is proposed for removal from the TPO model Order. Jill emphasised

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Photo: Moray Simpson

under the current regulations, the difficulty that Tree Officers face in the using TPOs for the protection of ancient and veteran trees, because of the “dangerous” exemption. She went onto say that TPOs are not enough for the protection of ancient/ veteran trees and that the system is reactive, resource intensive and is primarily focused on the protection of trees on development sites.

The system isn’t working, when some our most important trees are disappearing, whilst less important trees on development sites are being protected. Jill then highlighted the plight of people who had gone to their Tree Officer requesting a tree veteran tree be TPOd, only to be told that as there was no threat, a TPO couldn’t be justified under the expediency test.

She then showed us a picture of an oak with a girth of over 5 metres where such a request had been made and turned down; with the end result being that the tree was felled.

Hedgerow Regulations: You can’t designate a hedgerow as important because of its trees, thus these regulations offer no protection to trees within hedgerows. They are working in partnership with the Council for the Protection of Rural England, who are looking at the Hedgerow Regulations, however it looks like the Government is unlikely to adopt changes to these regulations in the near future.

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Register of Historical Parks & Gardens: These have primarily focused on Capability Brown and latter designed landscapes. Many of our older landscapes, including medieval deer parks are not listed. The register is a material consideration in the planning process, but doesn’t offer protection for trees.

Jill then spoke about the then current consultation on revisions to the TPO regulations. The Woodland Trust and Ancient Tree Forum are very concerned about the proposed exemptions, now called exceptions in the consultation document.

They have suggested the exception for “dangerous” trees be changed to “Where there is an imminent risk of serious harm, the cutting down or the taking out those parts that have become dangerous”. They want to put the urgency and the serious harm into this exemption and to cut down the amount of works than can be done to a TPO tree without consent. Also, they don’t think uprooting should be listed in this exemption, as can’t see where uprooting fits into the dangerous situation i.e. why would you need to uproot a tree to abate the risk from dangerous trees. Additionally, the Woodland Trust/ Ancient Tree Forum have suggested including the phrase “those parts” in order to confine works to the part requiring attention, whilst leaving as much of the tree untouched as possible. They want to get away from the scenario where a tree is deemed a dangerous tree, thus it can be felled, where clearly the whole tree isn’t at risk of failure. Another suggested alternative wording for the dangerous exemption could read “The extent of such works that are urgently necessary in the interests of reasonable safety, the cutting down, lopping and topping”.

Jill talked about some proposals the Woodland Trust would like to see implemented, including: ∙ That the general public be used to help record information on trees. The public are a generally untapped resource. ∙ That there is a balance between the planting of new trees and the protection of ancient, veteran, notable and champion trees in LA tree strategies. ∙ Would like another tool in the protection toolbox for trees – e.g. Tree Conservation Areas, designated just for trees. They like the Conservation Area approach. Landowners/ Tree owners are not interested in the bureaucracy of TPOs and the Conservation Area approach would be better from their point of view, as the notification system is not as heavy handed as the TPO system.

Tree Conservation Areas would be good for large areas containing important trees under multiple ownership.

There followed an interesting debate on the “dangerous” exemption. One member pointed out that the word “reasonable” should be avoided as in a legal scenario The Woodland Trust is pushing hard this could be open for debate. With another pointing for this approach for the protection out that the term “lopping and topping” shouldn’t be of trees to be adopted, however used in this day and age. It was explained that the they value and want feedback from latter wasn’t possible as the term is used in the Tree Officers on this idea. They also primary legislation, the Town & Country Planning Act, value “Area” designated TPOs. They thus unless this was changed, the term would have to have thought about the burden on unfortunately stay.

Jill then moved onto the “dead” tree exemption. We were told that the Ancient Tree Hunt had so far recorded 1,302 significant dead trees, with a 192 being ancient, however there is no hope for the protection of these important dead trees with the “dead” exemption in place. An argument promoted for the “dead” exemption is that if the exemption was removed LPAs would be inundated with applications. Jill told us that she simply doesn’t believe there are so many dying

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LPAs from a Tree Conservation Area system and are looking at the sizes of trees that would trigger such a notification. Should there be a size based threshold or should it be done by exemptions? Can minor works be exempted? Your views on this would be appreciated. Please let me know what you think. I will collate your responses and forward onto the Woodland Trust.

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TPO trees that the removal of this exemption would lead to an inundation of applications and a massively increased workload.

However, if there are so many of our TPO trees dying, someone should be looking into this, to see what is causing the problem. The Woodland Trust and Ancient Tree Forum believe that the “dangerous” exception/exemption is the only one needed.

In the Scottish TPO regulations there isn’t a “dead” exemption, so why do we have it in England and Wales. 2010 was the international year for biodiversity. Dead trees have an incredible value for biodiversity.

What makes a TPOd ancient tree less important after it dies?

LPAs in processing lots of applications to remove deadwood, especially with Conservation Area trees. He suggested that permitted works could be removed from the TPO, such as the removal of deadwood from ancient and veteran trees. I pointed out that the exemption could be added or removed from the model Order depending upon the tree(s) being TPOd, such as is done with a section 201 direction already, even though for a different purpose. So when you make a new TPO on an ancient tree you would remove the deadwood exemption, but keep it for a 50 year old Norway maple, thus reducing the burden on LPAs.

A National Tree Register

Jill explained that they consider that a national register of important trees is vital.

We don’t have a way of qualifying the best of what we’ve got, unlike the most of the rest of Europe. We need a mechanism and agreed criteria for trees to be registered. It could be a statutory register, which the European registers are, however she does envisage opposition to this, so it could be non-statutory.

On Jill moved to the “dead” wood exception, This would help for example, in the which she said, even though it was in the blue application for help from the Heritage Lottery book, was proposed as a new exemption in Fund (HLF) for financial support for looking the TPO consultation document. She then after important trees, if the tree was on a showed us a picture of a tree I know very well, national register of trees of special interest. the Oak at the Gates of the Dead.

At the moment, if you applied for HLF funding to help defray management costs you would This ancient oak is located in the Ceriog valley have to try and demonstrate the importance in my own patch, Wrexham County Borough. of the tree. A national register could This tree made the national news towards the proactively help owners of nationally end of 2009 when half the trunk split out. I important trees.

TPOd this tree after getting an enquiry from a local tree surgeon, who intended to massively The consultation on fees for planning reduce the remainder of the tree, to make it applications was mentioned, with the safe! An ill conceived option considered in Woodland Trust asking for the fees to be used haste, hence the TPO. Jill highlighted that in a flexible manner, to take regard of the most of this incredibly important tree could be specialist tree input into the planning removed through the “dead wood” exception applications that generate these fees and that and the LPA wouldn’t be able to stop it. Well that these fees are safeguarded for the Jill is right on this and we can’t allow dead funding of Tree Officers. wood to be removed from ancient trees for spurious health and safety reasons.

Jill then highlighted the national protection schemes for trees and hedgerows on the The Ancient Tree Hunt has recorded over continent. She showed us pictures of an 24,000 trees with significant amounts of dead important hedgerow of pollard trees in wood within their crowns. It was highlighted Belgium which is nationally protected and told

by Steve Shields, that a lot of the TPO trees us that 90% of the funding for the we deal with, the deadwood is management of this hedgerow came from inconsequential from a biodiversity point of government. Belgium is miles ahead of us view and it could become overly onerous for and we need to catch up.

The Ancient Tree Hunt has recorded over 24,000 trees with significant amounts of dead wood within their crowns.

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Funding for the protection of heritage trees came up, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and agri-environment schemes being mentioned as possibilities in the future.

For owners of important trees, Jill mooted the idea of a reduction in community tax for the funding of management of these trees. These trees benefit all, but may be seen as a burden by the tree owner, so why shouldn’t we reward people for sustainably caring for trees.

Woodland Trust Initiatives Jill showed us the recently launched Woodland Trust initiative “MyView”. This can be accessed from the Woodland Trust’s website and enables anyone to upload a photograph and add trees to the image. This can then be e-mailed to any Local Councillor in Britain. What a tool. We, as Tree Officers should be promoting this tool to the public, especially when we get requests for tree planting, but the budget is long gone. If our local councillors are inundated with “MyView” requests for tree planting, maybe our budgets for tree planting can be increased, or more realistically, at least not drastically slashed.

Another Woodland Trust initiative is “Visit Woods”, which shows all woods accessible to the public and includes relevant information.

This is also available on the Trust’s website.

“Woodwatch” was also mentioned. This is also called “Neighbour Woodwatch” and it helps people keep an eye on woodlands near them that may be at threat and helps with tools for the community to engage with the protection of these woods.

Pollarding Heritage Jill finished her talk on the heritage of pollarding, which stretches all the way across Europe.

Language. In Northern Spain research shows that the re-pollarding of old lapsed pollards with axes is more beneficial to the trees than that done with chainsaws. There is also now statistical evidence that leaving 50 cms of live branch above old pollard points/ knuckles ensures a much better rate of regeneration of old pollards. Jill showed us pictures of Spanish black poplar pollards, with the pollard timber being long and straight, being used for roofing.

There is a growing interest for old trees and Britain should be in the forefront of this movement. There is funding available from Europe, when our own budgets are being slashed this source of money could be utilised for the care and management of our heritage trees. It is currently an untapped resource.

‘If you agree with what they are doing, join The Woodland Trust.’

Jill gave us a lot of useful and interesting information in a very short space of time and I hope I have managed to reproduce accurately the main points of her talk.

The Woodland Trust is working incredibly hard on many aspects that will positively affect us as Tree Officers, so please visit their website and get involved if you can. Ted and Jill came up to the MTOA AGM and gave their time freely to assist us, with their expenses being picked up by the Woodland Trust. So if you agree with what they are doing, join the Woodland Trust.

I apologise to the other speakers, for not reproducing their talks in the “Axe”, as well.

They were all very good, relevant and interesting. However, space and time dictates that I must stop rambling on now, so you can get on with reading the rest of the “Axe”.

In Turkey Swedish researchers discovered 29 new species living on pollard trees. Pollard trees are important in the landscape of Europe and these trees often have rich heritage associations. Pollard trees are entwined in the story of ordinary people utilising their trees for a multitude of products Moray Simpson in a sustainable way.

In France there is a movement for pollard trees and the bocage landscape that results from pollarding has entered the French Axe to Grind: vol 4: Issue 2 Summer 2011

MTOA Vice Chair & Arboricultural Officer with Wrexham County Borough Council.

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Image: photoeverywhere.co.uk

The original Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) was set up by Martin Kelly, Managing Director of then Capita Lovejoy in 2007. Based in London its purpose was and still is to promote trees and green infrastructure. TDAG’s key aim is to provide the link between natural and built environment professionals to protect, develop and maintain the urban forest within an overall green infrastructure strategy.

This season’s Axe features some of the key participants in the Birmingham and West Midlands Trees and Design Action Group.

Jonathan Mills of Capita Symonds, cordinator of the midlands TDAG, introduces this exciting development for the region

It is a unique group because it is supported by such a wide range of disciplines and interest groups, not only the arboricultural or forestry profession, but also architecture, planning, engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying as well as the insurance industry, utilities, academia and many more. It has published well received (2008), documents such as produced in association with Design for London and launched in February 2011. It is now in the process of producing , due for publication in autumn 2011 to be followed by .

These are national documents have been designed to provide accessible and verified information to guide decisions by planners, designers and developers regarding urban trees.

TDAG is a voluntary organisation where all time is given freely by members and allows the cross fertilisation of ideas, good practice, enthusiasm and enjoyment to flow for the benefit of the built environment in particular.

In 2010 TDAG planted the first seeds of a new group in Birmingham - England’s second city. This is the first TDAG established outside London - an exciting step to

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bring the TDAG vision to a wider audience of professionals, designers and policy makers across the country. The group now is becoming well established, with a membership of 27 people and organisations the meetings are lively and hold the promise of becoming very worth while for all concerned.

flood amelioration. The I-tree eco-services evaluation process was felt to be very worthwhile and applicable for the West Midlands where community engagement with trees and the green infrastructure is not, perhaps, a traditional part of peoples lives in the Midlands.

However, valuing these services is increasingly recognised in government as can be seen by this comment made recently by DEFRA’s chief scientist.

We have already achieved great things in a short space of time. In April this year TDAG had a stand at Traffex placing the green agenda right at the heart of Britain’s infrastructure industry by the inclusion of some semi mature "We've increased food production quite trees on the stand which were the only visible significantly but largely at the expense of green objects there apart from the green lights some of the other regulating services, of traffic light demonstrators at other stands.

Barcham Trees Ltd donated the 18 large semimature trees for auction by TDAG to help fund publication costs. The Birmingham Group set about finding locations and likely purchasers of such large trees. A difficult task as the costs of moving and planting them are considerable.

With great thanks to Birmingham Trees for Life (Sue Griffith), Birmingham City Council, Parks and Nature Conservation service and Capita Symonds 8 large trees were purchased and then planted along a new Sustrans cycle route in Pype Hayes Park. Ten trees were purchased

by Acorn Environmental Management Group and planted in Coventry open spaces to mark their 10th year of service provision to the city.

In total we raised £6,500 which funded the Traffex at NEC and an event in London.

such as climate control or air-quality control…You can't buy and sell water quality control or pollination services. The things that haven't got market value have tended to degrade."

Professor Bob Watson, DEFRA chief scientist - The Independent - 31 May 2011 on the publication of the National Ecosystem Assessment October 2010.

A steering group has now been set up led by Julie Sadler, Arboricultural Officer from Birmingham City Council’s Planning Department, with the aim initially to get an electoral ward in Birmingham evaluated. From this we hope to encourage other areas and groups to become involved with data collected across the city and out into the West Midlands.

With such a good start, at the last meeting we started looking at the TDAG terms of reference for guidance for the group to look at possible projects. It is an action group after all.

After the Institute of Chartered Forester’s outstanding conference which was attended by a large number of our membership everyone was inspired and recognised the value of TDAG’s role in uniting built and the natural environment decision making.

One of the core messages from the conference was the need for research, knowing what you have, what benefit is provided, what would be the consequences of more or less? With the results presented at the conference of Torbay’s evaluation of eco- services using I-tree.

Torbay’s survey gave interesting valuations for New trees at Pipe Hayes Park - courtesy of TDAG trees for carbon sequestration, pollution filtration, Axe to Grind: vol 4: Issue 2 Summer 2011

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From the experience in the USA where the surveys are often undertaken by community groups themselves the I-tree evaluation process spreads organically.

Neighbouring districts, cities and counties want to ‘keep up with the Jones’ so to speak and then the community becomes deeply involved in valuing their green assets.

We hope to be able to tap into existing environmental groups and projects and utilise their community networks to collect the required data.

In order to achieve this goal and others not yet thought of, we need a large diversity of members from local authorities, consultants, universities, health professions, developers, contractors, planners and architects and anyone else with an interest in being involved in promoting the interests of trees for the greater good.

Spread the word and come and join us!

If you are interested in becoming involved in TDAG Birmingham and West Midlands please contact the Chair Ann Wood by email on ann.wood@birmingham.gov.uk.

Further information and publications

by TDAG are available at www.tdag.org.uk

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ezytreev enables you to efficiently record and mange your trees and related information, saving you valuable time and resources.

ra Information Systems, ra House, 910 The Bridge, Beresford Way, Chesterfield, S41 9FG Axe to Grind: vol 4: Issue 2 Summer 2011

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Last year the Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) broke out of London and came to the Midlands.

Birmingham Trees for Life a partnership organisation delivering tree planting projects with the community across Birmingham.

A pilot West Midlands TDAG, focused on We asked Sue Griffiths of Birmingham, has been set BTFL to tell us more up under the guidance of about the group and its work.

Bill Hestlegrave of the Forestry Commission.

A crucial member of this regional TDAG is

Birmingham is fortunate in having lots of trees, but many were planted more than a

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century ago. A report in 2005 found that the city’s tree stock is under pressure and in decline. It was realised that the city needed to act to ensure an extensive programme of replacement planting to provide the trees and woodlands needed for the future.

Birmingham Trees for Life (BTFL) is a project specifically created to increase the number of trees planted in the city’s parks and open spaces, whilst promoting awareness 12

and understanding of the value and importance of trees and to encourage the involvement of everyone, especially young people, in planting trees.

companies and individuals to plant more trees and develop new projects with local schools and communities.

The relationship between BTFL and Birmingham City Council

The trees we plant are all The project operates with a planted on public land owned skeleton staff of one part time How does BTFL work?

Project Manager, one part time and maintained by the City Council, so BTFL works closely Project Support Officer, and Birmingham Trees for Life is a one part time Schools and with the Council’s Parks partnership between The Community Liaison Officer. It is Managers and Rangers to Birmingham Civic Society and supported by a Trees identify suitable sites for Birmingham City Council planting trees and the nature of Committee which includes formed in 2006 to spread the the planting required (eg. semiinterested volunteers and message that trees matter, to mature specimen trees or representatives of community ensure that more trees are whips to create a new and environmental groups in planted and that those we woodland) and appropriate the city. have are valued. species.

BTFL has made an application By working in partnership the The planning for the winter to participate in the new two organisations have access national tree planting campaign planting programme starts in to both the land and resources recently announced by the the previous summer, and a to plant and maintain trees and Government, ‘The Big Tree schedule of sites and projects woodland in Birmingham’s is agreed in time for the tree Plant’, which is intended to parks and open spaces. The order to be placed through the increase tree planting City Council contributes specifically in urban areas and Council’s purchasing process. annually to the project, which we’re awaiting their decision at BTFL, the Woodland Manager pays for some of the new trees, the moment. and Rangers then work and through the Civic Society, together to make the a registered charity, BTFL arrangements for the planting works to secure further funding of trees, and Council through sponsorship from Contractors are also sometimes

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involved in preparing ground and planting trees.

One of our key objectives is to involve the local community in actually planting trees, so we encourage local volunteers and school children are to take part in all the planting events. The events are facilitated by the Rangers - this enables all our plantings to be covered by the Council’s insurance and gives us access to skilled staff to brief and supervise local people.

Community Involvement We also involve local people in tree planting in order to help to foster a sense of pride and ownership in the public parks and spaces that are so often taken for granted.

who is responsible for working with schools and friends groups to ensure the participation of schoolchildren and volunteers in our planting events.

planting event and plant their own tree. Local companies can also sponsor a tree and bring a group of staff to plant it.

The Future

BTFL doesn’t organise its own city-wide volunteer group because we feel that its important to ensure that people living close to each area we’re planting can have a say and participate in the events - and we’ve found that the best way to achieve this is through the existing friends groups. To that end we also have links with Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, an umbrella organisation involved in co-ordinating and supporting friends groups for parks across the city.

Over the last 5 years BTFL has built up a fantastic working relationship with the City Council’s Parks Team and we have planted over 10,000 trees across the city in parks and open spaces. We hope to be successful in our application to the Big Tree Plant to expand our planting programmes in the coming years, working with local Friends of Parks groups to develop and implement planting schemes with the support and involvement of the local community.

Another way to for local people If you’d like to learn more about Birmingham Trees for Life to be involved with one of our Many parks in Birmingham events is by sponsoring a tree. please log on to our website have an active friends group – This has proved a popular way www.btfl.org.uk or if you have a group of local people who to celebrate a family occasion, a specific enquiry you can care about the maintenance commemorate the life of a email the team at and development of their local loved one or just for the bhamtreesforlife@gmail.com park or open space. BTFL, pleasure of planting a tree. through the support of npower, The best part is that with BTFL employs a part time Schools the sponsor gets to bring along Thank you to BTFL for the use of their photographs and Community Liaison Officer their family and friends to a

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Fast Track to Destruction: High speed rail threatens ancient woodland Plans to build a new high speed rail network could destroy precious ancient woodland, an asset we should be protecting, says Hayley Broad, of The Woodland Trust.

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The government’s plans for high speed rail consists of two phases, the first being the construction of a line from London to Birmingham, known as High Speed 2 (HS2).

The proposed route for HS2 has been published, and here at the Woodland Trust we’ve studied the maps and identified 21 ancient woodlands along the route that would have to be either partly or completely destroyed to make way for the tracks. There are a further 27 ancient woods within 200 metres of the route, and vibrations, noise, and loss of habitat links/wildlife corridors could also impact on these habitats and affect levels of biodiversity.

Nearly fifty ancient woods could be affected In total, 48 ancient woods could be adversely affected depending on the width of the tracks and vegetation-free ‘buffers’ either side. A public consultation on the plans was launched in February and will run until 29th July, so we’re launching a petition to provide everyone with a platform on which to voice their concerns to the government about the potential impact of HS2 on our environment.

While we welcome any move towards greener travel and low-carbon public transport, we believe ancient woodland is irreplaceable and all efforts should be made for the route to avoid damaging or disturbing it. The UK is made up of only 12% woodland cover, compared to a European average of 44%. Of our 12%, just a small fraction is actually native woodland, since much of Britain’s woods and forests were felled and replaced after WW2 to make way for commercial conifer plantations The Woodland Trust is committed to restoring these planted ancient woodland sites (PAWS) by replacing the conifers with native broadleaf trees, which allows for much greater biodiversity by allowing more light to reach ground level than dense growth conifers do. However, the ancient native woodland that was felled to make way for timber plantations can never be replaced, which is why the little we have remaining needs to be protected.

Plans to sell off the public forest estate In March this year, the government announced plans to sell off the public forest estate (PFE) sparking an outcry from the public and organisations who wanted to see our public woods protected and kept in public ownership. The Woodland Trust launched it’s ‘Save England’s Ancient Forests’ petition, which gathered over 160,000 signatures.

We wanted the government, if going ahead with the sales, to ensure it placed restrictions and covenants on any ancient forests to ensure their protection from felling and development, and to require any new landowners to make a commitment to PAWS restoration.

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Such was the response to the plans, the government cancelled them with Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman admitting they “got this one wrong” and announcing to the House of Commons "if there is one clear message it is that people cherish their forests and woodlands and the benefits that they bring".

HS2 Ltd, the company set up by the government to oversee the creation of the network, announced the plans for the route in December 2010. Parts of the route will be new and some will be upgrades to existing railway lines.

The full extent of the potential damage to ancient woodland is difficult at this stage because the width of the tracks and buffers will vary between a minimum of 25 metres up to 60. Vegetation and trees either side of the full length of the route will be cleared to ensure no leaves fall on the lines. In addition to this, adjacent habitats are at risk of negative effects from HS2.

‘The greenest government ever’ One year ago, David Cameron said he wanted the Conservative/Liberal Democrat Coalition to be “the greenest government ever”. We want the government to keep this promise, and as part of ensuring protection for all of our woods and forests, to consider amendments to the high speed network routes so that we don’t sacrifice precious remnants of our natural heritage for faster travel.

To sign the petition, visit http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigning/ woodwatch/case-studies/high-speedtwo/Pages/default.aspx All images: The Woodland Trust

What do you think? Is your authority going to be affected by HS2 ?

Have you signed the petition?

Should the MTOA, as a body, support the Woodland Trust’s campaign?

Let us know your thoughts: email David, the MTOA secretary, at David.Beadle@derby.gov.uk

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The MTOA Photo Competition!

Your chance to win vouchers from Tree Source in our 2011 MTOA photo competition!

Thank you to everyone who’s sent in a photo so far.

Here’s a pick of the entries.

Sun Struck Oak near Wrexham : Moray Simpson

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The MTOA Photo Competition!

Opposite: Fox holed up in a Veteran Oak, Shopshire Matt Seabrook

Below: ‘Another benefit to trees in the urban environment’, Birmingham Julie Sadler

Julie wants to know if anyone can come up with a better caption for her photo!

Send your photo competition and caption entries to Portia at editor.theaxe@gmail.com Axe to Grind: vol 4: Issue 2 Summer 2011

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Ride for Research Russell Ball, Chairman of the ISA UK and Ireland Chapter on sweat, tree blood and daffodil yellow jerseys.

It all started back in September 2010 talking to Mike Connick (Connick Tree Care) at the AA Conference in Manchester. There he was bedecked in his orange Chicago Tour de Trees t-shirt and I found myself asking the obvious question “Oh, you did the Tour then?” With the answer in the affirmative, a light-bulb flashed in my head and I sparked back with “We could do a mini-version here?” And so Ride for Research (RfR) was born.

To give us a flying start, after a brief chat Dr David Lonsdale, who was stood just 4m away, the idea of raising research funds for Acute Oak Decline (AOD) was identified as the key focus. And even better, later that day, as news got around, fifteen riders were signed-up and free trees were secured from Barcham Trees.

At this stage, readers may ask why the new name?

Simples! As Tour de Trees is an established international event, firmly associated with the main annual ISA Conference, we needed to draw a distinction between the two. To this end, a fresh new logo was designed to give RfR this distinct identity. A date was then set for the following year so that all the elements could be arranged in good time.

Being blessed (or cursed) with the idea it fell upon yours truly to organise the event. First, a route was sketched out for N.E. London - and Tree Officers were contacted to select schools in their boroughs that would like trees:supplied and planted for free.

An easy sell really.

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But seriously the key focus for event was to be an educational opportunity: as much as getting each rider to raise £200 to take part.

Then came the need for sponsorship. Given the combined elements of school children, tree planting, environmental education and cycling arborists, this quickly followed to cover the event insurance, tree planting, logoed t-shirts and food.

One key element was to ride the route end-toend to carry out a ‘risk assessment’ and thereafter notify the Metropolitan Police Events Officers in each of the affected boroughs: Brent, Camden, Harrow and Islington. The Schools Glebe (Kenton), Laycock (Islington) and Hampstead (Camden) - were also visited to ask them how they wanted to engage with a gaggle of cycling arborists talking about and planting trees. In essence, it was to be the school’s day and the ride would accommodate them.

School to see pupils sat on the ground and then clapping as we cycled into the playground. I felt a lump in my throat as I knew we had started a very special tour. After a short delay the respective Mayor of Harrow arrived and we were treated a tree poem and an oak tree song from a small choir, all set against boards of class work on the benefits of trees – there was a definite ‘wow’ factor in the air.

22 arborists … on a 32 mile cycle ride around one of the busiest capitals in the world…

I was requested to give a short presentation about RfR and AOD and took questions.

Over the months and weeks up to the event a crucial element was regular email contact with “Where do the bacteria come from?” piped-up a the riders (by this time up to 24) covering ‘event young lad. I had no clue and deferred to the arborists around me - that raised a laugh (I logistics’ as they unfolded. The objective – to recalled the old adage never work with young involve riders every step of the way. These children and animals). As no one knew, I updates became more detailed and regular as recovered swiftly by saying that this is the job for the big day arrived. And so it did - a glorious the scientists - as indeed it will be! sunny spring day on 23rd March 2011.

I awoke at 4 am with my brain cross-checking every facet of the ride. With one or two last double-confirmation emails, I knew the plan was set. It just needed to be executed: to lead 22 arborists (two dropped out the previous day) on a 32 mile cycle ride around one of the busiest capitals in the world. By 7.30am my kitchen – the unofficial starting point - was filling with arborists dressed in various sports attire but notably adorned in their yellow R f R t-shirts.

A bird cherry was planted with the Mayor and a school governor, followed quickly by an oak tree in another playground with a different group of children and more talk about the benefits of trees and the R f R. With the Glebe School visit complete it was off to Islington - right across NW London to Laycock School.

Mindful of the required pace, I set off at a fair speed to set the tempo: like the rowing drummaster on a viking ship. The steady hill through Several brews later and by 9 am the mood was Fryent Country Park soon awaited and separated riders into a long stream of yellow beginning to buzz as the time to leave for Harrow civic centre and the Mayor’s rendezvous t-shirted spots: an ideal opportunity to take approached. Then off we wheeled for the first of photos. Then we entered the urban bowl of Neasden with pot-holes, bus and truck fumes many miles to be covered. The Mayor arrived and busy underpasses. For the next 1.5 hours promptly in his state car (just after the riskwe ground gears and weaved through roadbriefing of the route had been carried with works but the group held together. In a lapse of riders) and after several press shots we were concentration off the Kilburn High Road, handleoff! My stomach was tight as I knew the long snaky route ahead of us and the strict timetable bars met with a rear wheel and a rider was down.

With shouts from the rear group, I circled back to arrive at each school in time for the waiting hoping it was nothing serious and fortunately school children and Mayor. found only a grazed elbow and a scratched Good time was made on the short leg to Glebe mobile phone.

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Artwork at Glebe School, Kenton

We pressed on to the infamous congested Swiss Cottage roundabout and I knew this would be a challenge. We were to enter from the left and cross four busy lanes, with traffic speeding-up from the rear, to exit right towards Chalk Farm. Just before the roundabout I stopped the group at the roadside and gave strict instruction for tight formation and clear hand signals: Ben Hur eat your heart out!

The yellow cycling snake entered the fray and with precise road positioning, we executed the manoeuvre perfectly! Phew – I thought. From here the back streets were relatively quiet with only the pot-holed Brewery Road (that passes the London Black Taxi Cab service centre) and HMP Pentonville Prison between us and school number two. Almost 1.5 hours later to the dot we arrived a little sweaty and stiff but to the applause of waiting pupils and the Mayoress of Camden: a lady of petite stature that made me feel like a giant!

Certified Arborist’s teeth curl….! The tree planting was ordered chaos with every student wanting to get their hands on the spade.

Feeling a little tired and hungry we retreated to the pocket park outside the school for a well earned rest and a 45 minute wait for lunch as the support vehicle that had got lost. So with only 10 minutes to bolt down food I shouted the cry “mount up” as the shorter but hilly leg to Hampstead School had to be completed in just under an hour - without question!

I felt the rider’s mood change: was it the lunch or that tree-folk many of whom had never met were beginning to gel together and feel truly part of this special day?

One thing about central London is it’s one-way streets. Net result – we couldn’t go back precisely the way we had come. So some ducking and diving was required and at one point we had to dismount and walk the wrong way up a one-way street: well that was the front This was a special stop as the rowan tree of the group. Unfortunately, as the instruction planting was a memorial for a pupil who had recently died. The School had wanted to plant a was passed down the yellow snake it got lost in translation and some mounted riders tree but had had no monies - so roll in RfR! meandered down this street in full view of an More tree benefit presentations and questions “What colour is tree blood?” would make an ISA on-coming British Transport Police minibus Axe to Grind: vol 4: Issue 2 Summer 2011

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acted a little cooler but their eyes showed they were still captivated and once on the spade – after the fine Camden Mayoral effort – each one After navigating over the Swiss Cottage of then got stuck in. After the last spade of earth roundabout – this time on a straighter course – was placed and the deafening band ceased it we entered the top end of Abbey Road (just was clear that we had done it - Rf R mission north of the famous Beatles zebra crossing) and accomplished! the slow hilly climb past West Hampstead tube station. By this time the local lunch-hour was in full swing and so was the traffic. Some lungs were beginning to gasp as we snaked our way up the congestion-clad steady climb and past the tube station. I could hear pedestrians shouting “What are you doing?” and “Where Just one final leg back to Harrow awaited with have you been?” with retorts of “Tree planting” no time pressure and a relaxed cruise with and “We’ve been to Paris & back” (now there’s riders chatting about the days inspirational a future Rf R idea) that drew some funny gazes. events. As we ground the gears home for the last few miles, I reflected how amazing it had Finally we turned into Westbere Road and a been that we’d stuck together in an epic zigzag welcome downhill run into Hampstead School. cycle tour right across NW London – from the Some riders looked positively dripping in the leafy outskirts to the inner urban sprawl – and spring sunshine. As we neared the planting site managed to plant five trees with countless for the two oaks, the twang of guitars and the children and three London Mayors: and all onthud of drums could be heard – the school band time. It’s great when a plan comes together. had turned out for us. Being older children they Thankfully ironic smiles on both sides saw this faux-pas pass without incident.

What colour is tree blood? …

Planting at Laycock School

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Finally after 6.5 hours we arrived back at my house. A few folk left promptly to travel home to distant parts but a core gravitated to the local pub to kick back, relax and reflect on the day… and of course the next Rf R.

Total amount of sponsorship raised £ 5,500 to go towards scientific research into the disease Acute Oak Decline.

Martin Gammie, Ian Haynes, Tom Thompson, John Robinson, Simon Ffoulkes, Patrick Stileman, Paul Frainer, Simon Holmes, Oliver Stutter, Gabriel Hemery, Mike Connick, Rob Styles, Rich Larmour, Mick Boddy, Olly Kan, Robin Hellier, Tracey Clarke, Grant Andrews, Jonathan Mills, Rebecca Farrar, Rupert BentleyWalls and Patrick Prendergast.

And finally, I would like to thank the sponsors:

II would like to give special thanks to those – in no particular order - who each raised £200 plus

Julie Sadler of Birmingham CC gives us her personal view on the fantastic conference held by the Institute of Chartered Foresters in spring

to participate and made this day such an enjoyable & worthwhile event;

Barcham Trees, Capita Symonds, City Suburban Tree Surgeons, Gem Tree Management, Gristwood and Toms, Tree Surveys and the Red Foundation’s i-volunteer.

Plus Patrick Richardson and Jake Tibbetts from Islington Council Tree Section and Trees for Cities.

It can’t possibly have passed your notice that the ICF Urban Trees Research Conference 2011 took place lin April in Birmingham. Over the course of the two days some 400 delegates attended and for a change it wasn’t a case of entirely preaching to the converted and one of the aims of the conference to attract delegates from adjacent and related professions was part way met.

There were a number of highlights and if you were there you will have your own but for me they were (in order of appearance) Pam Warhurst’s (Chair, Forestry Commission) rallying call for urban forestry. If you’ve read the article about Ms Warhurst in the recent edition of Tree News then you will appreciate that here is a lady who gets things done, I would guess because she is a motivator, excellent public speaker and, by all accounts, very hands on. The FC needs someone like that at the moment, to capitalise on the wave of public interest in woodlands and if arboriculture can generate Axe to Grind: vol 4: Issue 2 Summer 2011

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the same scale of interest in trees in towns then I will begin to feel confident that we can achieve something fantastic.

The name on everyone’s lips since the conference has been iTree. Matthew Wells (Director of Tree Preservation, New York City) gave a witty (the photo of the Prius was ace) and informative presentation on how his department have turned research into hard cash for managing trees. This could be a roller coaster, a tidal wave of incentive and the Torbay experiment for use in the UK will make iTree the new LBD of our arboricultural wardrobe, (guys, think of your own analogy).

I particularly liked a slide that Kenton Rogers used which showed a tree with a big price tag on it,that delivered several messages.

Perhaps another one saying ‘breakages must be paid for’ could be used on development sites.

‘ … a bit too much like the day job and I was having fun …’

Aliens’ - the relevance of the debate to urban forest management, I was looking for some quotes to deliver to landscape colleagues when we enter into this subject so chose the latter.

The closing session was delivered by Peter Head, former Chairman of Global Planning (oh! the responsibility!) and ideas bounced off the walls - green walls, biomimicry, reafforestation schemes of global proportions – in short the future we hope, but already being realised.

Along side the refreshments during breaks there were a number of exhibitors including AA, their new fungi identification guide selling like hot cakes or penny buns and ISA doing a brisk trade in a number of their books available at conference prices (a quick stock up was called for!). There were also poster exhibitions to browse, my favourite of which was The (sad) History of the Giant of Campagnola, an offering about a veteran tree with a chequered past in Italy.

The ICF will be posting the speaker presentations on to their website and full conference proceedings will be published.

Dilemma, dilemma. Parallel sessions in the afternoon and although my employers think I There is also a LinkedIn discussion forum via can clone myself and be in two places at once the ICF web site.

I really can’t! Exploring the role of Street I hope that this conference is going to be the Trees in the Improvement and Expansion of start of a big push of joined up thinking, coGreen Networks sounded a bit too much like operation and collaboration, with follow-ups the day job and I was having fun so went to biannually including an update on the the listen to the paper on an Italian research already highlighted and introduction experiment involving mychorrisation of urban to new. Perhaps there is also an opportunity trees. So far the conclusions are that for organisations to tout their research grant inoculation in urban settings may be schemes to a wider audience, and for wouldirrelevant unless species specific innoculum be researches to take their ideas along to find are used but the work is ongoing. a backer.

The evening reception and meal was an excellent chance to meet up with the fifty or so delegates I already knew and to make new contacts. The Botanical Gardens in Birmingham are a good venue for such things, Tony Kirkham (he who needs no introduction) gave the after dinner speech.

The dilemma began earlier on day two with parallel sessions staring at 11.10 a.m. Does Beauty Still Matter? - aesthetic and utilitarian values of urban trees or ‘Native v.

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If it was missing anything then I would have like to have seen a paper on trees in main stream education, because this is one area where I think the qualified arbs and foresters can make a difference by going into schools and giving presentations and by the schools going to the trees and not just touching them and protecting them but by dissecting them too. Tree planting is good (duh!), tree hugging is okay but we need to excite imagination and fire up the Glynn Percivals of the future.

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Dates for Your Diary 9th August :

A Day of Diagnostics

Park, Coventry. More information at www.trees.org

with Dr Glynn Percival at Barchams Trees, Ely. 19 September : Trees in Crisis: More information from Barcham Trees on Finding Holistic Solutions to Disease and 01353 720748 or Decline Natasha@barchamtrees.co.uk 6th September: Flood and Climate Proof your City The Urban Forest is Broken: Suspended Pavement, Large trees and Stormwater management with Peter MacDonagh at Barchams Trees, Ely. More information from Barcham Trees on 01353 720748 or Natasha@barchamtrees.co.uk

Treework Environmental Practice Seminar XVII at the Royal Botanic Gardens, London.

Information from Helen Lawson tel : 0117 2440012 18-20th September : Looking Beyond the Obvious

Arboricultural Association National Amenity Arboriculture Conference: Warwick University 6th September: BS 3998:2010 Tree Work More information at www.trees.org.uk Recommendations

An overview of the key changes to the newly revised British Standard. Arboricultural Association event with Paul Smith and Dominic Scanlon. Lantra House, Stoneleigh

The MTOA thanks its sponsors:

The MTOA is a not-for-profit association open to all local authority arboriculturalists. Run by tree officers, for tree officers and free to join. If you would like to join our mailing list, get regular editions of ‘Axe to Grind’ and access to cheap as chips, good quality training, contact our secretary on david.beadle@derby.gov.uk Axe to Grind: vol 4: Issue 2 Summer 2011

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