Native lad Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) Where have you BEEN dude?? Thank you for your posts, very much appreciated. Will check out The Stocksbridge forum and look into Tree Wardenship. Thanks man! Solomon, I'm sure that there use to be a Tree Warden "tool kit" available for all to access without registering. Things appear to have changed. However, it is easy to find information online. The following link provides some guidance for setting up a Tree Warden group: http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/landenv_tree_wardens_constitution.htm I should point out that, in theory, a Tree Warden does not have to be affiliated to any organisation, nor set up or belong to a group. The above link just gives an example of a more traditional approach that has stood the test of time. In the UK, the Tree Council were the first to introduce a scheme for voluntary "Tree Wardens", but, in theory, there is nothing to stop people being independent. The Tree Council provide the following contact details for the Tree Warden Coordinator for South Yorkshire (based in Sheffield): Contact: Fran Hill Telephone: 0114 273 5030 Email: fran.hill@sheffield.gov.uk Certainly, a few years back there wasn't even a coordinator, so I guess this is a relatively new appointment. Here is a little introduction from the The Ancient Tree Hunt website: "The Tree Warden Scheme is a national initiative to enable people to play an active role in conserving and enhancing their local trees and woods. The scheme was founded by the Tree Council in September 1990. Tree Wardens are volunteers, appointed by parish councils and community organisations, who gather information about their local trees, get involved in local tree matters and encourage local practical projects - such as the Ancient Tree Hunt. The Tree Council has worked with Local Authorities to set up Tree Warden Networks throughout the UK. There are currently over 7,000 Tree Wardens." The freely available publications on the Tree Council's website are a bit naff. Although, you can pay for better stuff, and support their mission in doing so, there is a wealth of freely available high quality educational material elsewhere online. Links to such resources are provided on the Stocksbridge Community Forum. ---------- Post added 17-03-2015 at 12:31 ---------- Solomon, Here are a few links to online resources (aimed specifically at amateur enthusiasts): Sources of help, funding & advice: http://www.treesforcities.org/about-us/information-resources/best-practice-guidelines/ http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/in-your-community/?__utma=126947218.1234329922.1391957983.1391957983.1391957983.1&__utmb=126947218.4.10.1391957983&__utmc=126947218&__utmx=-&__utmz=126947218.1391957983.1.1.utmcsr=lotc.org.uk|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/fen/forest-education/resources/&__utmv=-&__utmk=87190808 http://www.defra.gov.uk/bigtreeplant/about-campaign/ http://treecouncil.org.uk/grants http://www.syforest.co.uk/community.html Other stuff: http://www.lotc.org.uk/fen/forest-education/resources/ https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/education/information-for-parentscarers/at-school/sheffield-childrens-university/forest-schools.html http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pldec398.htm http://www.wildsheffield.com/what-we-do/community-engagement http://www.heritagewoodsonline.co.uk/ Locating and selecting the plants you would like: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-Form Stuff for children: http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download/ http://owlscotland.org/resources/ Edited March 18, 2015 by Native lad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solomon1 Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 Solomon, I'm sure that there use to be a Tree Warden "tool kit" available for all to access without registering. Things appear to have changed. However, it is easy to find information online. The following link provides some guidance for setting up a Tree Warden group: http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/landenv_tree_wardens_constitution.htm The Tree Council provide the following contact details for the Tree Warden Coordinator for South Yorkshire (based in Sheffield): Contact: Fran Hill Telephone: 0114 273 5030 Email: fran.hill@sheffield.gov.uk Certainly, a few years back there wasn't even a coordinator, so I guess this is a relatively new appointment. Here is a little introduction from the The Ancient Tree Hunt website: "The Tree Warden Scheme is a national initiative to enable people to play an active role in conserving and enhancing their local trees and woods. The scheme was founded by the Tree Council in September 1990. Tree Wardens are volunteers, appointed by parish councils and community organisations, who gather information about their local trees, get involved in local tree matters and encourage local practical projects - such as the Ancient Tree Hunt. The Tree Council has worked with Local Authorities to set up Tree Warden Networks throughout the UK. There are currently over 7,000 Tree Wardens." The freely available publications on the Tree Council's website are a bit naff. Although, you can pay for better stuff, and support their mission in doing so, there is a wealth of freely available high quality educational material elsewhere online. Links to such resources are provided on the Stocksbridge Community Forum. ---------- Post added 17-03-2015 at 12:31 ---------- Solomon, Here are a few links to online resources (aimed specifically at amateur enthusiasts): Sources of help, funding & advice: http://www.treesforcities.org/about-us/information-resources/best-practice-guidelines/ http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/in-your-community/?__utma=126947218.1234329922.1391957983.1391957983.1391957983.1&__utmb=126947218.4.10.1391957983&__utmc=126947218&__utmx=-&__utmz=126947218.1391957983.1.1.utmcsr=lotc.org.uk|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/fen/forest-education/resources/&__utmv=-&__utmk=87190808 http://www.defra.gov.uk/bigtreeplant/about-campaign/ http://treecouncil.org.uk/grants http://www.syforest.co.uk/community.html Other stuff: http://www.lotc.org.uk/fen/forest-education/resources/ https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/education/information-for-parentscarers/at-school/sheffield-childrens-university/forest-schools.html http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pldec398.htm http://www.wildsheffield.com/what-we-do/community-engagement http://www.heritagewoodsonline.co.uk/ Locating and selecting the plants you would like: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-Form Stuff for children: http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download/ http://owlscotland.org/resources/ You are a godsend!! Am on it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo68 Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I do not know where to find a information about Amey's policies towards trees. They seem to act in random ways to different situations. There are some large trees which are clearly both dangerous and a very much a nuisance about which they do nothing. Places where they plant them where they were not wanted and again places where they might be useful that are left barren. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Native lad Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) ---------- Post added 17-03-2015 at 14:48 ---------- You are a godsend!! ...As, indeed, is everyone. ---------- Post added 18-03-2015 at 18:37 ---------- Excerpts from the report "Trees in Towns 2: a new survey of urban trees in England and their condition and management" (published 2008.), published by the Department for Communities and Local Government: "In many respects, the existence of a relevant [tree] strategy document is the most significant indicator of a planned approach to management..." (p. 158.) "Those LAs that have not got an existing tree strategy and are not in the process of developing one, need to make this an immediate priority..." …"Even the existence of a specific tree strategy does not always imply that this is an appropriate document to drive the LA’s tree programme. How the strategy was developed and what detailed policies and plans it contains will determine this." (p. 192) For the casual reader this is, perhaps, a largely boring document. However, the final section of the document - pages 487 to 644 - consists of 12 case studies (Appendix 14), provided as local authority examples of best practice. The document is substantial, with a hefty price tag. However, it can be purchased for a fraction of the standard price at: http://www.lulu.com/shop/mark-johnst...-18906201.html An Executive Summary is available to available to download (as a free PDF document): http://webarchive.nationalarchives.g...sintownsii.pdf Any local authority, or agent acting on behalf of a local authority (LA), and claiming to act in accordance with current best practice guidance and recommendations will be doing their best to achieve the recommendations outlined in this publication. I should, perhaps, point out that this report is not solely concerned with the condition and management of trees in public ownership. It is very much concerned with management of the "urban forest"; this includes trees on land in private ownership. To quote one of the primary authors (Dr Johnston MBE & Chartered Arboriculturist) "The urban forest is an area of mixed land uses in which the predominant* vegetation is trees". *As determined by calculation of area of crown cover, using aerial photography. http://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/newsitefiles/eAweb2010/31MarkJohnston.pdf ---------- Post added 20-03-2015 at 01:41 ---------- I'm one of a group fighting to save 129 healthy trees from being cut down to make way for a bus lane. Do the people who serve on this council not realise that the city is reputed to take great pride in its green credentials? Swami Dhyan, Remember you complained about newly planted trees dying and I told you that in all likelihood that was due to poor plant selection, transportation and planting specification, followed by inadequate aftercare (I could have added vandalism to the list, but didn't because that is blindingly apparent to the common observer), and that all such problems (with the exception of vandalism: TT2 has suggestions to minimise vandalism) could be avoided by ensuring that such tasks were undertaken in accordance with British Standard 8545:2014 Trees: from nursery to independence in the landscape – Recommendations? Well, I've found a link to the standard - in its entirety! It usually costs £218, so download it now, while it is available in PDF format as a free download (no doubt it will get yoinked off the internet shortly): http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/WhiteRoseForest/pdf/treesFromNurseryToIndependenceInTheLandscape.pdf “This British Standard gives recommendations for transplanting young trees successfully from the nursery, through to achieving their eventual independence in the landscape. This British Standard applies to trees where a distinct crown has been prepared in the nursery. It does not apply to whips*, transplants* and seedlings, or to other woody material. NOTE Although this standard does not give specific recommendations for other woody material, its provisions can be applied to such material, e.g. to shrubs." * These are plants that are less than 125cm in height from ground level and are as defined by BS 3936-1:1992 Nursery stock — Part 1: Specification for trees and shrubs. Excerpt from 8545:2014 (page 1): "It has been a widely recognized fact that a significant proportion of newly planted trees fail to survive to maturity. The Trees in towns II report commissioned by the Department of Communities and Local Government highlighted that as much as 25% of all planting undertaken in the public sector actually fails. Although there has not been any comparable survey undertaken in the private sector, anecdotal evidence indicates that the failure rates are similar. It is difficult to pinpoint the reason why the failure rate of new planting is so high, but one contributory factor is the present disjointed approach to production and planting. This standard seeks to define all the parts of the process as a continuous and joined-up sequence, rather than isolated parts that have no tangible connections. An important objective of this standard is to assist practitioners in making balanced and informed tree planting decisions. Ideally, all newly planted trees need to be able to grow with vigour appropriate to the species and situation, in good health, and with minimal nuisance to achieve the desired planting objectives". Readers should also note that there is a standard for the specification of topsoil, too: BS 3882:2007 "Specification for topsoil and requirements for use" By the way, people, Amey should be using these standards. If they are not, you should be asking why not. Although British Standard 8545 is only a few months old, any competent arboriculturist (as previously defined) will have had knowledge of everything contained in this standard long before the idea of having such a standard was even first conceived... I'm talking decades before, as much of the content has been known or been best practice for many years. By the way, around the city centre and along the major roads through the city, you will have noticed advanced nursery stock (sizeable rootballed trees) used for planting. Those planting schemes cost thousands of pounds, yet a number of trees have died or are in poor health. That is because specifications and management have been inadequate. For such schemes, including Sheffield's new "arboretum", landscape architects are usually used to draught the specifications. They are certainly NOT competent arboriculturists. If you are interested in city planting, you should also take a look at the following (as should Amey, although I understand they were involved in draughting this document), as it represents current best practice: “Trees in Hard Landscapes: A Guide for Delivery” is freely available to download: http://www.tdag.org.uk/trees-in-hard-landscapes.html The document clarifies the benefits of planting and deals with the practicalities of preparing for planting trees in the built environment. The document was produced and published (last year: 2014) by the Trees and Design Action Group : "The Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) is a pioneering group of individuals, professionals and organisations from both the public and the private sectors who have come together to increase awareness of the role of trees in the built environment throughout the United Kingdom." ---------- Post added 20-03-2015 at 11:54 ---------- The Importance and Benefit of, and Necessity For a Tree Strategy British Standard 8545:2014 Trees: from nursery to independence in the landscape – Recommendations... Excerpts from "Annex A (informative) “Further guidance on policy and strategy”": “Tree planting and continuing management are rarely without purpose. A tree strategy, usually produced by the local authority and linked to the wider strategy and policy framework, addresses the way in which the established policy objectives will be delivered, taking into account resources, pressures and environmental opportunities and constraints that will affect delivery.” “…It guides and informs decisions relating to the authority’s or other body’s own estates and also on other land over which the authority or other body exercises powers or controls, particularly through planning or other formal management systems.” “…A strategy is typically produced for a defined period of time, and allows for monitoring and review and for modification where needed to achieve desired objectives.” “The management of trees, particularly within urban areas, needs to address potential conflicts with other land uses or activities, or adaptation to changed circumstances. Management and maintenance are therefore essential parts of a tree strategy, and the financial and other resource implications of this need to be addressed.” “Tree strategies incorporate provision for adequate financial and other resources to enable delivery of required levels of management and maintenance over a long-term period or, where possible, in perpetuity. They include reference to the anticipated scope of the management and maintenance inputs needed to deliver the desired objectives.” “Tree strategies seek to demonstrate good value by including, as far as possible, data on the estimated economic value of and return on investment from trees included in a strategy, with particular reference to ecosystem services and associated direct and indirect benefits.” “Tree strategies primarily focus on the public estate, owned and managed by the local authority producing the strategy. However, around 70% of the urban tree population is owned and managed outside the public arena. It is the whole tree population, both publicly and privately owned, which delivers the benefits associated with tree cover and to which new tree planting contributes. “To maintain a resilient tree population capable of delivering its benefits into the future, it is important that linkages between the publicly and privately owned estates are established and maintained. Tree strategies provide a framework for this to happen and are therefore worthy of consultation before any planned tree planting is converted to action on the ground.” “The linkages between the publicly and privately owned tree estate are beginning to be recognized through the growing understanding and valuation of ecosystem services and benefits to which trees make a significant contribution. The i-tree urban forest model, which is being used more extensively in the UK, evaluates both publicly and privately owned trees, assesses their combined benefits and enables coordinated policy and strategy development.” http://www.itreetools.org/index.php http://www.itreetools.org/resources/manuals.php Just in case you didn't find this SD, here's a paper you may find of interest: Watson, G., (2002) Comparing formula methods of tree appraisal. Journal of Arboriculture, Volume 28, p. 11-18. http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q=Comparing+formula+methods+of+tree+appraisal.+&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5 Links to more info' on such methods (Helliwell included) are provided on the Stocksbridge Community Forum: https://www.stocksbridgecommunity.org/news/contribute-website To find out more about the Helliwell system see: http://www.trees.org.uk/faqs/Helliwell-system-and-how-much-is-a-point Examples of Tree Strategy documents that have been "adopted" as supplementary planning guidance by the councils for whom they were prepared (other cities have them too): http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/planning/heritage-and-design/Pages/tree-strategy.aspx http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/planning-and-buildings/conservation-heritage-and-urban-design/conservation-and-urban-design/tree-strategy http://www.highpeak.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/pages/Tree_Policy_0.pdf See the Trees in Towns 2 report for further information. Extracts from "Guidance: Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas" Link: http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/tree-preservation-orders/ "What can help local authorities identify trees that may need protection?" "An authority’s tree strategy may identify localities or populations of trees as priorities for the making or reviewing of Orders. Authorities may also refer to existing registers, recording trees of particular merit, to assist in their selection of trees suitable for inclusion in an Order." "Permalink ID 36-009-20140306 Last updated 06 03 2014 See revisions" ---------- Post added 20-03-2015 at 12:19 ---------- When Cllr Scott was questioned about what he was doing to ensure that such a document would be produced, it was apparent that he was not even aware of such a commitment. He commented “We do not presently have a strategy solely for trees. My view is that this wouldn’t be very helpful given they are an intrinsic part of the broader environment and ecology. However, I am confident that we have adopted very good practice in this area.”. “…In my view, current documents are sufficient.” I thought I'd just remind you of Cllr Scott's uninformed opinion (above) on the importance of and necessity for a tree strategy, since he has had plenty of opportunity to get one draughted and adopted. Remember, he made these comments as Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene, last summer (2014). This was after multiple attempts to educate him as to the importance of and necessity for a tree strategy had been made. He probably didn't even to look at the documents presented to him - there is no evidence that he did, given his comments. Edited March 29, 2015 by Native lad To add a link to the planning portal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Native lad Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) Why on earth is one of the largest and greenest cities in the UK without a tree strategy document? One should be produced and "adopted" by the Council as a "supplementary planning guidance" document within the Planning Policy Framework. Until such a document is produced, there will not be a cohesive, integrated approach to management of the city wide tree population, not least because no single document exists that outlines the range of policies, commitments and arboricultural best practice guidance and recommendations that should influence all aspects of tree management. Without such a document, people that are not arborists, and even a number of arborists, will struggle to identify, let alone understand or budget for all that they should be doing. It could help for the council to employ a couple of full time arborists to supervise Amey's contract. Excerpts from Alcamo, J., Ash, N., Butler, C. & Callicott, J., et al., (2003). Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Ecosystems and human well-being: a framework for assessment, London: Island Press. http://www.unep.org/maweb/en/Framework.aspx “The first product of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), a four-year international work program designed to meet the needs of decision-makers for scientific information on the links between ecosystem change and human well-being. It was launched by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in June 2001, and the principal assessment reports will be released in 2005. The MA focuses on how changes in ecosystem services have affected human well-being, how ecosystem changes may affect people in future decades, and what types of responses can be adopted at local, national, or global scales to improve ecosystem management and thereby contribute to human well-being and poverty alleviation.” (Alcamo, et al., 2003, p. x) “During the past 30 years, there has been a rapid increase in the percentage of people living in urban centers, a trend that is expected to continue over the next 30 years. In the period 2000–2030, world population is expected to increase by 2.2 billion people, of which 2.1 billion will be urban dwellers. In 1950, 30 percent of the population lived in urban areas; by 2000, the urban population increased to 47 percent, and it is projected to reach 60 percent by 2030 (UN Population Division 2002). In 1975, there were five megacities (with 10 million or more residents)—two in industrial countries and three in developing countries. By 2000, there were 19 megacities, of which 15 were in developing countries. And, by 2015, it is projected there will be 23 megacities, of which 19 will be in developing countries (UNFPA 2002).” (Alcamo, et al., 2003, p. 97) “Human well-being and progress toward sustainable development are vitally dependent upon improving the management of Earth’s ecosystems to ensure their conservation and sustainable use. But while demands for ecosystem services such as food and clean water are growing, human actions are at the same time diminishing the capability of many ecosystems to meet these demands. Sound policy and management interventions can often reverse ecosystem degradation and enhance the contributions of ecosystems to human well-being, but knowing when and how to intervene requires substantial understanding of both the ecological and the social systems involved. Better information cannot guarantee improved decisions, but it is a prerequisite for sound decision-making”. …“The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) will help provide the knowledge base for improved decisions and will build capacity for analyzing and supplying this information. This document presents the conceptual and methodological approach that the MA will use to assess options that can enhance the contribution of ecosystems to human well-being. This same approach should provide a suitable basis for governments, the private sector, and civil society to factor considerations of ecosystems and ecosystem services into their own planning and actions”. (Alcamo, et al., 2003, p. 1) “Key Definitions" "Ecosystem. An ecosystem is a dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism communities and the nonliving environment interacting as a functional unit. Humans are an integral part of ecosystems. Ecosystems vary enormously in size; a temporary pond in a tree hollow and an ocean basin can both be ecosystems." "Ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems. These include provisioning services such as food and water; regulating services such as regulation of floods, drought, land degradation, and disease; supporting services such as soil formation and nutrient cycling; and cultural services such as recreational, spiritual, religious and other nonmaterial benefits". "Well-being. Human well-being has multiple constituents, including basic material for a good life, freedom and choice, health, good social relations, and security. Wellbeing is at the opposite end of a continuum from poverty, which has been defined as a “pronounced deprivation in well-being.” The constituents of well-being, as experienced and perceived by people, are situation-dependent, reflecting local geography, culture, and ecological circumstances”. (Alcamo, et al., 2003, p. 3) You may also find the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Technical Report (published June 2011) of interest. You can download individual chapters of the report and access the latest news via the following link: http://uknea.unep-wcmc.org/Resources...2/Default.aspx (Chapter 10 "Urban" is of particular relevance with regard to recognition and acknowledgement of the value of street trees; see Chapter 8, too: "Woodlands"). Excerpts from World Health Organization, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Health Synthesis, Geneva: WHO Press. Available as a free PDF document at: http://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/ecosystems05/en/ “Approximately 60% of the ecosystem "services" examined, from regulation of air quality to purification of water*, are being degraded or used unsustainably. Nature's goods and services are the ultimate foundations of life and health, even though in modern societies this fundamental dependency may be indirect, displaced in space and time, and therefore poorly recognized”. (World Health Organization, 2005, p. iii) “Globally, the availability of water per person has declined markedly in recent decades. One third of the world's population now lives in countries experiencing moderate to high water stress. This fraction will continue to increase as both population size and per capita water demand grow - reflecting the escalating use of fresh water for irrigated agriculture, livestock production, industry and the requirements of wealthier urban residents”. (World Health Organization, 2005, p. 2) *Both these services, amongst many others, are afforded by trees. More information can be accessed via the Stocksbridge Community Forum: https://www.stocksbridgecommunity.org/news/contribute-website Edited March 26, 2015 by Native lad To mention the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Technical Report (published June 2011) and correct the date for Alcamo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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