Call for papers - Arboricultural Association Conference 2017

The 51^st AA National Amenity Conference and the 1^st International Conference on Biosecurity

A call for papers has been issued for the first International Arboriculture Conference to explore the theme of Biosecurity.

The AA National Amenity Conference returns to Exeter University from 10-13 September.

Continuing with our vision of collaboration, we’re pleased to announce that this year’s Conference middle day will be presented in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management(CIEEM).

Under the general theme of biosecurity, the Association is inviting submissions for presentations on the following:

• Tree Health
• Biosecurity
• Tree species selection
• Population Resilience and Management
• Pests and Diseases
• Ecological/Arboricultural impact assessments
• Trees and Development
• Surveying techniques and methodologies
• Bats and trees/woodlands
• Protected species and Arboriculture
• Biodiversity
• Veteran trees
• Soil ecology
• Ecosystem services evaluation

AA Members, partners and colleagues are invited to submit papers and ideas under these themes, for presentation at the conference. Authors of submissions selected will then be invited to present their work at the conference. Most presentations will last no longer than 30 minutes. 

Proposals should include the following information:

1. Name
2. Job title and organisation (if relevant)
3. Brief biography (no more than 100 words)
4. Please indicate if you are an Arboricultural Association member
5. Title of session
6. Subject area
7. Summary of content of up to 300 words
8. An indication of the type session that is of interest to yourself

The deadline for proposals is 5pm on Tuesday 28 February 2017. The AA’s conference steering group, which contains AA members, will assess the proposals, and will aim to respond by the end of March.

Please submit proposals to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

London plane trees and canker stain of plane - LTOA ITN interview

John Parker, Chair of the London Tree Officers Association, and Greg Packman from the Royal Parks talk to ITN's Martin Stew about the threat posed to London plane trees by canker stain of plane (Ceratocystis platani).

National Tree Officers Conference 2017 - call for papers now open

After last year’s success of the inaugural National Tree Officers Conference it returns in 2017. The conference is being organised by the London Tree Officers Association (LTOA), the Municipal Tree Officers’ Association (MTOA) and is facilitated by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF). This is a great opportunity for tree/woodland/planning officers to present their latest research, best practice and innovation in different areas of local authority arboricultural work.

The conference will be held on Wednesday the 8^th November 2017, at the Oakengates Theatre, Limes Road, Telford, TF2 6EP (www.theplacetelford.com).

The submission period for abstracts to be presented at the conference is now open and it will close on Friday 12^th May 2017 at 17:00hrs.

Abstracts, up to a maximum of 500 words and will be considered on a wide range of subjects that are relevant to the remit of a tree/woodland/planning officer. (Abstracts will only be considered from local government - employed tree officers and woodland officers.) Presentation sessions will be between 20 – 40 minutes; please specify the length of your presentation will be when making your submission.

For guidance, the following subject headings are suggested:

• Tree strategies/policy/tree database innovation
• Biosecurity
• Planning
• Tree risk management
• Case studies – tree projects and or best practice
• Tree related planning and enforcement case studies
• Raising the profile of trees with the local government setting/working effectively with politicians
• Tree planting
• Working well with the public/tree groups/forums/friends of groups

Abstracts will be reviewed by a selection committee and selection will be based on overall quality, appropriateness, focus and the practical nature of material and appeal to a tree officer audience. Additional subjects (not listed) may be considered, following review by the selection committee.

Conference bookings will open later in the year at http://www.charteredforesters.org/event/tree-officers-conference-2017

We look forward to seeing you at the conference, and receiving a wide range of abstracts.

Submissions by email to: Becky Porter, London Tree Officers Association This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Basic Bats and Woodland training course 31 March 2016

After the success of the bats training courses last year the LTOA has set up another basic training course about bats and woodland run by Sue Morgan of Anglian Ecology and the David Mitchell of the Woodgate Partnership in North London on Friday 31 March 2017.  We have a few places left on this training course.

The CPD training will take place in a local pub near Cherry Tree Wood, East Finchley from 9am to 4pm for £135 excluding VAT per person on 31 March 2017 including lunch and refreshments. The nearest tube station is East Finchley on the Northern Line and the pub is right near the station.

You will receive a certificate of attendance signed by the trainers describing the level of knowledge attained on the course.

About the trainers

David Mitchell Dip. Arb. RFS, F. Arbor. A. (rtd) of Woodgate Partnership has 25 years experience in local authority arboriculture and practical woodland management. He also holds a Natural England Licence for bats.
Woodgate Partnership offers educational courses, at its own eight ha County Wildlife Site woodland and beyond, integrating care and understanding of protected species with tree and woodland management.

Sue Morgan CEcol, MCIEEM is a Chartered ecologist with over 18 years experience in the field.
She holds Natural England Licences for surveying several protected species, including bats and newts.
Sue runs Anglian Ecology, her own ecological consultancy based in East Anglia. Clients include The National Trust, Natural England and the Church of England as well as many private organisations and individuals.
Sue is a full member of the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management and a past Convenor for its East of England section.


A copy of the schedule of the day is here

If you would like to attend this course please contact Becky Porter on 07771 976238 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..