NEW LTOA Constitution Approved

The LTOA recently reviewed it's constitution and representatives from every member Borough voted to ratify the constitution with an overall 74% of the Full LTOA Membership participating and with a 100% endorsement of the new Constitution and Appendices.

View the new constitution and the appendices.

Update on the current LTOA working parties - October 2013

The Massaria working party is made up of Neville Fay (Consultant), Peter Holloway (AA), Jake Tibbetts (Islington), Neil Taylor (Royal Parks). A Massaria management document has been produced and is with the graphic designer with a technical supporting document to follow. This should be launched before Christmas 2013.

The OPM working party is made up of Dave Lofthouse (Merton), Bill Malin (Contractor), Ben Clutterbuck (Contractor), Howard Booth (TfL), Chris Colwell (Westminster), Mark Townsend (Contractor), Dale Mortimer (Ealing), Gary Rimmer (Brent), Lawrence Usherwood (Brent), Kirsty Hopla (Kingston), Craig Ruddick (Richmond), Dominic Blake (ATS), Gary Meadwocroft (Southwark), Julian Fowgies (Bromley), Raymond Bennet (Hounslow), Richard Edwards (Croydon), Richard Trippett (Bartletts), Daniel Sitch (Merton), Monica Castelino (K & C), Gillian Jonusas (Royal Parks), Ian Rodger (Royal Parks), Ralph Parks (OPM inspector for FC), Craig Harrision (FC), Andrew Hoppit (FC), Alex Needs (Elmbridge), Stuart Hunt (Hillingdon). Dave Lofthouse is the chair. This is an ongoing working party including the FC to combat OPM.

The Canopy cover working party is made up of Matthew Thomas (GLA), David Houghton (Camden), Dave Lofthouse (Merton), Rupert Bentley Walls (Hackney), Richard Edwards (Croydon) Barbara Milne (Westminster). The working party has developed a new system similar to i-tree canopy which is being piloted by a few boroughs on local (LB) canopy figures and the GLA area.

The PR group is made up of Andy Lederer (Islington), John Parker (TfL), Richard Edwards (Croydon), Rupert Bentley Walls (Hackney) and David Humphries (City of London). This is an ongoing working party. The aim is to raise awareness and the profile of the work of tree officers and what the LTOA does.

Risk Limitation Strategy revision group is made up of Peter Osborne (Consultant), Tim Moya (Consultant), Simon Pryce (Consultant), Andy Tipping (Barnet), Dave Lofthouse (Merton), Gary Meadwocroft (Southwark), Jake Tibbetts (Islington), Jim Smith (FC), Michael Sankus (Medway), Richard Edwards (Croydon), Rupert Bentley Walls (Hackney). The group is revising this strategy especially in light of two recent cases Berent and Robbins. They meet every 6 weeks to progress this revision.

Planning working party is made up of Chris Overbeke (Redbridge), Craig McCrindle (Ealing), Ian Leonard (Lambeth), Jon Ryan (Islington), Lawrence Usherwood (Brent), Oliver Stutter (Southwark), Peter Osborne (Consultant), Michael Sankus (Medway) Stephen Downing (Enfield), Sue King (Bexley). This group is currently looking at tree and landscape conditions to produce a best practice document.

Drought working party is made up of Katie Roberts (TFC), Dave Lofthouse (Merton), John Parker (TFL), Grayham Tindal (Islington), Cameron Brown (Camden), and Rupert Bentley Walls (Hackney). This group produced the Sustainable Water Management: Tree are part of the solution and launched it at an LTOA seminar July 2013. Members of the group will be meeting Thames Water in November to discuss several issues.

Principal Officers working party. This working party is open to all principal officers and has met twice in 2013 hoping to continue to meet every 4 months to discuss any pertinent issues such as contracts.

BS 8545 working party is made up of Jake Tibbetts (Islington), Hossein Arshadi (Hiller Nurseries), Andy Tipping (Barnet), Grayham Tindal (Islington), Michael Sankus (Medway), Pat Langley (Wandsworth) and Rupert Bentley Walls (Hackney), Jim Hiller (Hiller Nurseries) the group met twice over the summer and put together a response to the consultation on this BS.

British forests under new threat from pests

From the BBC Website ...

A year after the first case of ash dieback in wild trees in Britain, the disease has now spread across much of England, Wales and Scotland. The public is being asked to be the "eyes and ears" of the countryside amid concern about new global threats that could spell disaster for forests.

In a London park, forester Simon Levey is checking a moth trap strung high in the canopy of an oak tree. He is searching for signs of the oak processionary moth, which is present in parts of the capital and Berkshire. When the moth's caterpillars emerge from their nests, they can strip oak trees bare and harm human health.

To read the rest of the story, click here to view it on the BBC website

Mayor calls on green-fingered Londoners to plant 12,000 trees

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson is calling on Londoners to roll up their sleeves and help plant 12,000 trees across the capital, as part of his commitment to green the city and inspire volunteering.

Team London, the Mayor’s volunteering programme, has joined forces with the Tree Council, Trees for Cities and the London Wildlife Trust, and is looking for 400 volunteers to help out at a series of mass planting events during National Tree Week.

The tree planting will take place in locations across London from 23 November to 1 December, transforming ‘green deserts’ into thriving green spaces, biodiverse woodlands and edible hedgerows. Volunteers can take part in guided tree walks and fruit tasting as they get to know their native broadleafs from their black poplars.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to get some fresh air, meet new people, and help to green our city. I would encourage every Londoner to pick up a shovel and volunteer’.

The planting is part of the Mayor’s Re: LEAF programme, his commitment to increasing tree cover across the capital by 5 percent by 2025, through a range of initiatives including street trees, community orchards and tree-nurseries. Trees have proven societal and environmental benefits: keeping London cool and improving air quality, increasing resilience against climate change, and enhancing the general health and well-being of city-dwellers.

Team London mobilises the community spirit and enthusiasm of Londoners to make a difference in their local areas through volunteering. Whether it’s cleaning up the environment, helping children with their reading, caring for older people or volunteering at one of the capital’s great events, there is something for everyone to get involved in.

Volunteers can register to take part in mass tree planting events and other volunteering opportunities at http://volunteerteam.london.gov.uk/