QUADRAT

Date/Time

17/05/2020 - 24/05/2020

Event Information

A series of webinars curated by CPRE London – the countryside charity working for a greener city – as part of the 2020 online Urban Tree Festival

the webinars will explore a range of contemporary issues concerning trees in and around urban areas with leading policy makers and practitioners.  Topics will range from their contribution to a sense of place and the role they play in responding to climate change, to how they can help build stronger, more healthy communities, and provide opportunities to connect with nature and the countryside.

Living with Trees in the City (with Little Toller Books)

There is a long history of connection between communities of people and trees.  How can we learn to live better with trees in urban areas?  What are the best examples of community engagement with local trees and woodlands?  Where can it go wrong and why?  What would it mean to be a tree-friendly town or city? A discussion with Robin Walter, author of Living with Trees (forthcoming publication); and Paul Wood, author of London is a Forest on the delights and challenges of living with trees in the urban environment.  Chaired by Neil Sinden, Director of CPRE London.  This event was originally scheduled to take place at Kings Place as part of its Nature Unwrapped programme. 

Date: Sunday 17th May

Time: 2:00-3:00

The Future Urban Forest

There is great interest in expanding the role of trees and woodlands in urban areas for a variety of benefits they can provide.  A range of bodies have been working on an urban forest plan for London which is due to be published later this year.   How can we best develop the contribution of trees and woodlands in urban areas?  How should be grow the future urban forest?  Explore proposals and future possibilities for the urban forest in London with Jim Smith, National Urban Forestry Advisor at the Forestry Commission, Barbara Milne, Chair of the London Tree Officers Association, and John Parker from the Arboricultural Association. Chaired by Katrina Ramsay from the Greater London Authority.

Date: Monday 18th May

Time: 2:00-3:00

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tree-rings-the-future-urban-forest-in-london-tickets-104448594558

Trees and the New Urban Ecology (with UCL Urban Lab)

Over half the human population now live in cities.  Although urban populations often have better socioeconomic livelihoods, city living is associated with adverse human health effects. Evidence suggests that natural environments, including woodland, in cities offer important health benefits. How can rewilding our cities be good for our health? How should we understand the role of trees in shaping ecological processes in the city in an era of climate change?  What are the mathematics of trees? Explore the issues with Kate Jones, Professor of Ecology and Biodiversity, and lecturer in environmental engineering, Dr Gabriele Manoli. Chaired by Dr Clare Melhuish, Director of the UCL Urban Lab.

Date: Tuesday 19th May

Time: 2:00-3:00

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tree-rings-trees-and-the-new-urban-ecology-with-ucl-urban-lab-tickets-104450492234

Trees, Woods and Nature:

Trees and woods can be a wonderful habitat for many kinds of wildlife.  Their importance often depends on effective management and care.  What are the challenges associated with the conservation and enhancement of urban woodlands? How can we ensure our urban trees and woodlands provide a home for nature?  A discussion of the value of trees and woodlands for wildlife and biodiversity with Richard Barnes from the Woodland Trust, and Mathew Frith, Conservation Director at the London Wildlife Trust. Chaired by Jim Mulholland, an ecologist and chartered arboriculturist with an interest in bats and veteran trees.

Date: Wednesday 20th May

Time: 2:00-3:00

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tree-rings-trees-woods-and-nature-tickets-104451075980

London’s Street Trees

Like many towns and cities in the UK, London has a wonderful inheritance of street trees.  The Planetree, first planted in the capital over 200 years ago, has been claimed by London as one its own.    A very wide range of street trees have been planted in London in more recent years.  Join author Paul Wood, aka The Street Tree and author of London’s Street Trees – a field guide to the urban forest,  Andy Tipping, Trees and Woodlands Manager at London Borough of Barnet, and Sophie Leguill, for an exploration of the history and diversity of London’s street trees.  Chaired by Andrew Stuck, Museum of Walking.

Date: Thursday 21st May

Time: 2:00-3:00

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tree-rings-londons-street-trees-tickets-104548862462

New woodland in London’s Green Belt

In the 1990’s the Government-backed community forest programme aimed to establish publicly accessible woodlands on the fringes of major cities, including the Thames Chase Community Forest on the eastern edge of London.  With a renewed drive to increase the areas of woodland across the UK how can we best increase tree cover in the Green Belt around London and other urban areas? Explore the opportunities and constraints of both policy and practice for afforesting London’s Green Belt, with insights from Peter Massini of the Greater London Authority and Graham Campbell from London Borough of Enfield. Chaired by Bethany Cambridge, Community Woodland Manager at Forestry England.

Date: Friday 22nd May

Time: 2:00-3:00

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tree-rings-new-woodland-in-londons-green-belt-tickets-104550782204

The Urban Orchard

The idea of a community orchard was first promoted by the arts/conservation charity Common Groundover 30 years ago.  Since then the planting of fruit trees in urban areas has grown significantly.  This expansion follows the decline of commercial orchards across much of southern England.  Community orchards are now a feature of many urban green spaces.  Join this discussion of the value of fruit trees and community orchards in urban areas, with a focus on the history of the mulberry, an under-appreciated yet historic fruit tree, with Jo Homan, Training Manager at The Orchard Project, Derek Man and Peter Coles, creator of Morus Londinium.   Chaired by Neil Sinden, Director of CPRE London.

Date: Saturday 23rd May

Time: 2:00-3:00

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tree-rings-the-urban-orchard-tickets-104647485446

Great Trees

This final ‘tree rings’ webinar of the 2020 Urban Tree Festival will celebrate and explore some very special trees. What makes a ‘great tree’? How do you weigh beauty, rarity and history?  What is most important: personal preference or professional judgement? Explore the official Great Trees of London with author Peter Fiennes, who commissioned the first book on this topic published by Time Out in 2010, Margaret Peart, Sheffield Tree Festival, and Simon Edwards, Director of TiCL Media.  Chaired by Paul Wood, author.

Date: Sunday 24th May

Time: 2:00-3:00

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tree-rings-great-trees-tickets-104648283834

We want you to have a great experience celebrating trees with the Urban Tree Festival. Please follow these guidelines and be respectful online.

• To enable this to happen we will be releasing the zoom link enabling you to join your event before an event begins.
• Please make sure you check your emails for the link and that you have Zoom installed on your device and are familiar with how it works if this is your first time using it.
• Please join the event promptly, we will be ‘locking’ events five minutes after their advertised start time and which means late arrivals will not be allowed entry.
• Please do not share the link to the Zoom meeting on social media or elsewhere as there is a capacity limit to each event, and we will only allow entry to those who have booked.
• It is always our desire to create the safest events but we cannot accept any responsibility for the actions of others during live events. We will be moderating events and reserve the right to eject participants.
• Please be wise and help make the Urban Tree Festival a safe and considerate platform for all to enjoy and thank you for supporting the Festival.
• Please be aware that each Zoom meeting / live event will be recorded – you can hide your screen from view from the Zoom window

Event Details