Tree Forum with PlantNetwork and BGCI

24 October 2023

Date – 24 October 2023
Time – 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Join us on the 24th of October 2023, at the University of Birmingham, for this year’s Tree Forum. Brought to you by PlantNetwork and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), we will be looking at and discussing how establishing new plantings during drier winters and summers, or during extreme events, can be challenging. We will also look at some of the issues being considered to improve tree survival in that crucial two-year window from planting, from tree selection to planting considerations and post-planting care. We will have guest speakers focussing on different challenges, ideas, and solutions, networking, and a short presentation on BIFoR Face.

CIH Members are eligible for a £20 discount code – please contact the secretariat if you need a reminder of the code.

Those attending the Tree Forum on the 24th are more than welcome (and encouraged!) to stay for the BGCI International Plant Sentinel Network meeting the next day, where there will be a brainstorming session regarding activities for the UK Garden Sentinel Network.

Register

Tickets for this year’s Tree Forum are sold out but if you send an email to admin@plantnetwork.org / cih@horticulture.org.uk, you will be put on the waitlist.

Speakers

John Parker

John has been Chief Executive Officer of the Arboricultural Association since July 2021 and previously held the role of Technical Director at the Association from August 2019. John is the UK & Ireland President of the International Society of Arboriculture, a member of the European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF) International Steering Group and a UK representative on the European Arboricultural Council. He is a Chartered Environmentalist, Chartered Forester and an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Biology. He frequently presents at national and international conferences and has delivered a TED Talk entitled “Why trees are better than people” (available on YouTube).

Since spring 2020 John has chaired the Arboricultural Association webinar series, covering a huge range of topics to a global audience. From 2012-2019 John was a member of the Executive Committee of the London Tree Officers Association, which he Chaired in 2016-18, and until 2019 he was a Director of the National Association of Tree Officers. In 2018 he was named Young European Urban Forester of the Year and in 2022 he was named one of the 25 Most Influential People in Horticulture by Pro Landscaper Magazine. From 2020 until 2022 he was a Trustee of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, the national UK tree collection.

John is interested in public engagement, green equity and promoting the benefits of trees, with particular consideration for their social and cultural value. He is the founder of the Stonehouse Community Arboretum and is a Trustee of the Doverow Hill Trust. 
Simon Toomer

Simon was appointed as Curator of the Living Collections at RBG Kew in 2022. Prior to that date, he had held a plethora of prominent roles including Senior Consultant for Plant Conservation for the National Trust, where he was responsible for the curation of plant collections, Director of Westonbirt Arboretum, Chair of PlantNetwork, the primary support and advisory network for holders of living plant collections throughout Britain and Ireland.

He is also the author of several books on topics about trees and plant collections, including Trees for the Small Garden (2005) and Planting and Maintaining a Tree Collection (2010).

Keith Sacre

Keith Sacre has an MSc in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, a BSc in Arboriculture, a BSc in Social Science and a postgraduate diploma in management studies. He is currently a director at Barcham Trees, the largest container tree nursery in Europe.

Keith is a co-founder of Treeconomics, a founder member and trustee of the Trees and Design Action Group and a trustee of the UK Arboricultural Association and is a previous chair of the Association. With over 30 years of experience in the nursery industry, he was the lead author of the UK British Standard Trees: From Nursery to Independence in the Landscape published in 2014. Prior to working in the nursery industry, he spent several years managing and developing public open space in the local authority sector.

Dr Samantha Dobbie

Dr Samantha Dobbie is a Learning and Engagement Lead at Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR). BIFoR aims to provide fundamental science, social science and cultural research of direct relevance to global forested landscapes.

She is a qualified secondary science teacher with an academic background in plant sciences. She has experience in translating research outputs into engaging outreach activities, teacher CPD sessions and innovative educational resources for pupils in KS3 to KS5 that are rooted in best practice. Thanks so much to Dr. Samantha Dobbie for speaking at this year’s Tree Forum.

Eliot Barden

Eliot was HTA UK Young Grower of the Year 2022 and AIPH Young International Grower of the Year 2023.
Eliot grew up in rural Hertfordshire and always knew that he wanted to pursue a career in horticulture. While studying for his A-Levels at school, he completed the RHS Level 2 and 3 Certificates in Horticulture, and then joined RBG Kew for an Apprenticeship in Botanical Horticulture, subsequently moving on to the Kew Diploma which he graduated with honours. Eliot developed a keen interest in trees during this period and after graduating, decided to join Majestic Trees, a semi-mature and specimen tree production nursery.
Majestic supply trees up to 12m tall, grown in AirPots of up to 4500L in volume all over the UK. He is responsible for the aftercare services, apprenticeship programme and company-wide training, as well as learning the purchasing side of the business.
Eliot has a big passion for encouraging young people into Horticulture.