NTSG Launches 2nd Edition of Common Sense Risk Management of Trees

Following an extensive review and revision process The National Tree Safety Group has launched its revised 2nd edition of Common Sense Risk Management of Trees.  The NTSG Drafting Group has worked for over three years in consultation with sector experts, refining and amending the document to provide the most up to date advice to landowners who are responsible for the management of trees under their control.

The drafting group comprised members of the following organisations who represent a wide cross section of the sectors at which the guidance is aimed: Arboricultural Association; Simon Richmond, Treework Environmental Practice; Nev Fay, The London Tree Officers Association; Andy Tipping, Forest Research; Elaine Dick, Forestry Commission; Hilary Allison, NTSG Chair and Jim Smith.

The first edition of this guidance supported a growing awareness among those duty holders of the need to check their trees and provided guidance on a widely accepted approach to managing risks from trees,based on sector-wide consultation. More than a decade on, the NTSG has taken stock of what has changed, such as the emergence of widespread tree disease, growing public activism and advocacy around the benefits of trees now reflected in Government policy, and a number of new legal cases. There are reasons why trees require a specific and unique approach to safety management: As natural organisms they organically change from year to year. While tree diseases are not new, emerging pests and diseases have moved from being isolated problems to impacting a large percentage of the nation’s stock of trees.

This 2nd edition, comprising a Full Guidance Publication and a Summary document, is about an overall approach and lays out the principles behind tree risk management. Its scope is not prescriptive in dealing with tree pathology and failure. The Full Guidance Publication includes Scenarios providing examples of how trees can be managed in practice indifferent types of ownership and use. Safety and human health are paramount.

Digital copies can be downloaded from the NTSG website https://ntsgroup.org.uk/publications/

NTOC SOLD OUT and change of venue

For those attending NTOC there is a change of venue for next week on 6 November 2024  to The Met Hotel, 5 King St, Leeds LS1 2HQ.  It is close to the old venue and only 3 mins walk from Leeds train station.

SOLD OUT there are no tickets left for NTOC

Building on the success of eight previous events, we’re delighted to announce the National Tree Officers Conference will take place in Leeds on the 6 November 2024.

Proudly hosted by the Association of Tree Officers, Institute of Chartered Foresters, London Tree Officers Association and the Municipal Tree Officers’ Association, this influential event will showcase the latest research, best practice and innovation in different areas of local authority tree, woodland and planning work.

Developed by tree officers for tree officers, National Tree Officers Conference 2024 will be a unique gathering for professionals interested in all areas of local authority arboricultural work. The conference is crucial to tree, woodland and planning officers, providing a significant platform for collaboration, partnerships, benchmarking and offering an insight into current best practice and research.

To book your ticket for £47 please go to https://www.charteredforesters.org/event/national-tree-officers-conference-2024

Confirmed presentations include:

Regional Tree Officer Groups and the Tree Officer Forum
Alistair Smith FICFor – Director, Association of Tree Officers and Honorary Executive Committee Member, London Tree Officers Association

Using Artificial Intelligence to Manage Tree Stock
Jane Crowther MICFor – Forestry Manager, Leeds City Council

Ancient and Veteran Tree Management
Sarah Kiss MICFor – Tree Officer (External Works), Hampshire County Council

Engaging with Stakeholders on Tree Projects
Sara Redfern-Noons – Tree Project Officer, Gloucestershire County Council

Sooty Bark Disease: The Latest Evidence and Insights to Protect Trees and People
Jen Clements – Social Scientist, Forest Research

Cork City: Implementing Our First Tree Strategy
Thomas Kane – Tree Officer (Parks & Recreation), Cork City Council

The School Is The Education: Cultivating Environmental Stewards Through Tree Engagement
Michael Johnson – Tree Officer, Islington Council

TreeAlert: How A Short Report Can Create Big Problems
Molly Davidson – Research Assistant Entomologist, Forest Research

Public Health and the Role of Tree Officers in Oxfordshire
Dave Baldwin – Tree Officer, Oxfordshire City Council

Engaging the Public with Urban Trees: How to Get the Public On Board!
Greg Packman – Arboricultural Officer, The Royal Parks

With more presentations to be confirmed, featuring content presented by expert arboricultural and urban forestry professionals, this is going to be a fantastic event. The National Tree Officers Conference 2024 will be a great opportunity to learn more about the latest developments in arboriculture and urban forestry.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at the National Tree Officers Conference 2024!

LTOA seminar 16 July 2024 at LB Ealing

Agenda

9.30am              Tea and coffee

10.00am            Welcome from Dale Mortimer, New LTOA Chair, along with a word from Professor Phil Cox, Head of School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, and our sponsor Barcham Trees

10.15am            Update by LTOA Executive Committee member about  ‘Duty to Consult’

10.35am            Questions

10.40am            Professor Aude Bicquelet-Lock, Director of Research and Development, University of West London, ‘Green Infrastructure Policy’

10.55am            Professor Fabio Tosti, Director of The Faringdon Research Centre, University of West London & Dr Tesfaye Tessema, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Satellite Remote Sensing, University of West London, ‘The Faringdon Research Centre: New Developments in Remote Sensing Monitoring of Green Infrastructure at Grand-Scale’

11.20am            Questions

11.25am            Tea and coffee

11.55pm            Dr Livia Lantini, Lecturer in Civil Engineering, University of West London, ‘Advances in Ground Penetrating Radar for Tree Health Monitoring and Assessment (Trunks, Roots and Soil Interaction)’

12.15am            Dr Stephen Uzor, Senior Lecturer in Multimedia and Virtual Reality, University of West London, ‘Towards a New Era of Non-Intrusive Tree Asset Management: The Impact of Immersive Technologies (with an Interactive Demonstration)’

12.35pm            Questions        

12.45pm            The Faringdon Research Centre’s Lab Tour

1.15pm              Lunch in local pub

For LTOA members only  

Thank you to Dale Mortimer, LB Ealing and The University of West London for hosting and for providing tea, coffee and biscuits. And thank you to Barcham Trees for sponsoring the lunch.

National Tree Officers Conference 2024 – Call for Presentations

Building on the success of eight previous events, we’re delighted to announce the National Tree Officers Conference will return on 6 November 2024.

Proudly hosted by the Association of Tree Officers (ATO), Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF), London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) and the Municipal Tree Officers’ Association (MTOA), the conference will take place in Leeds, Yorkshire.

Developed for tree officers, National Tree Officers Conference 2024 is a great opportunity for tree, woodland and planning professionals to present to their peers on the latest research, best practice and innovation across a wide range of local authority arboricultural and urban forestry work.

We’re looking for presentation proposals relating to the following subject areas:

• Pests and diseases
• Planting and species selection
• Climate change mitigation/increasing resilience
• Planning and development
• Ancient/Veteran Tree management
• Biosecurity
• Managing physical damage (e.g. deer, squirrel, dogs, vandalism)
• Public/stakeholder engagement
• Trees and the law
• Local authority tree management (including felling procedures, risk assessment and subsidence)
• Use of tree data for management, information and influence

The above list is not exhaustive – we would welcome any subject of relevance to local authority tree management. Submitting your presentation idea couldn’t be easier – simply email a short description (100–150 words) of your proposed topic, along with a provisional title, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please use ‘NTOC 2024 presentation proposal – [Your Name]’ as the subject line for your email.

Submissions will be reviewed by the conference steering group with quality, relevance, the practical nature of the material and potential audience appeal as key assessment criteria.

The submission period for presentations is now open and will close on Friday 17 May. If you have any queries regarding the submission process, please contact Becky Porter, Executive Officer at the LTOA – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.