London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) Visit to San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain.

The LTOA recently visited San Sebastian and the surrounding Basque country for a fantastic jam-packed two-day tour in collaboration with Juan Pagola, Viverospagola (www.viverospagola.com).

The purpose of the trip was to see notable and historic trees within the parks of San Sebastian and ancient trees in the surrounding area. The 18 strong group consisted of tree officers, tree contractors, and consultants, some with their partners.

Juan’s company is a family business involved in horticulture and arboriculture since 1898, and the company has been working for the San Sebastian authority for some 40 years.

San Sebastian is the capital city of the province of Gipuzkoa (707.298 inhabitants) a historical territory of the autonomous community of the Basque Country.

Read more: London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) Visit to San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain.

Tree officer groups join forces in exciting collaboration

The National Association of Tree Officers (NATO) and the London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) are pleased to announce that the two organisations are joining forces. The difficulties facing the public sector, Local Authorities and tree officers are well-documented. Under these circumstances close collaboration between like-minded groups is essential if we are to succeed. To this end, and with the intention of giving NATO a new lease of life, Director Imogen Mole approached the LTOA Executive Committee and proposed a merger. After extensive and positive discussions Barbara Milne, Al Smith, David Houghton and John Parker have been appointed Directors of NATO to sit alongside Imogen Mole.

Existing NATO members will now be offered many of the benefits enjoyed by LTOA members. Administrative control of NATO will be undertaken by the NATO Directors, supported by the LTOA Executive Officer and Executive Committee. Over the coming months the NATO Directors will continue to discuss how best to restructure and relaunch NATO to build on the work of the past and ensure national promotion, support and representation of tree officers. More news about the future of NATO will be announced later in 2018; in the meantime the LTOA and NATO would like to reassure their members that this is an exciting opportunity which can only add value to the benefits they currently enjoy.

Barbara Milne, Chair of the LTOA, said “This an exciting opportunity for tree officers to work together for a united voice for tree management across the UK. By collaborating more closely we can support tree officers and promote the valuable work we do”.

Imogen Mole, Director of NATO, said “It’s brilliant news. Our members have alwaysrecognised the importance of a strong National voice for Tree Officers, by working together we are more able to do this. Our new relationship promises a positive and constructivefuture and I hope you’ll continue to support us”.

Air-Con or Cool Air?

Andy Tipping MICFor, Trees and Woodland Manager, explains how the London Borough of Barnet is tackling the Urban Heat Island through a targeted tree planting programme.

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The National Tree Officer Conference programme is released

The programme for the conference on 6 November 2018 in Telford gives the detail for the speakers covering the 4 subject areas of international diversity, legislation & protection, opportunities & biosecurity and data utilisation. There is an emphasis on the UK with presentations from Guernsey, Isle of Man and Scotland as well as a European speaker from Denmark, Lars Schultz-Christensen. 

This NTOC is being organised by the London Tree Officers Association (LTOA), the Municipal Tree Officers Association (MTOA) and, the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF). And is kindly sponsored by 2Excel, Barcham Trees, Bluesky, Ezytreev, Forestry Commission, Geosynthetics, GreenBlue Urban, Kaarbontech Asset Management, TreePans, Sorbus International, Wrekin Products and Wyevale Nurseries.

Anyone can attend, it is not just for tree officers.

To see the programme and to book visit: www.charteredforesters.org/tree-officers-conference

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