nto presentation, a training programme for urban forestry volunteers
TRANSCRIPT
A Training Programme For Urban Forestry
Volunteers
National Tree Officer Conference, Telford 2016
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Thanks to the Center for Urban Forest Research for the use of their slide template Audience: NTO conference Assumption: That the acceptance of the community managing the Urban Forest is at best sketchy! Approach: Persuasive communication of the benefits of community interaction Presenter: A community urban forest supporter that the officials hopefully trust. Time: Approximately 20 minutes. First slide: Introduce self, identify who you represent, and state reason for addressing the conference
Urban Tree Warden Training.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
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The tag line that introduces each session of the volunteer training. It is largely marketed as Tree Warden Training, as that is the group that largely engaged and is done with the full knowledge of the Tree Council.
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Competition announcement, to keep those not interested in community engagement, engaged. Some of the following slides have a picture of this book on them. “The Simple Act of Planting a Tree” which is possibly the single most important book I read, and gave rise to my lifelong determination to engage the community in tree management. Just name the subject in the slide to win a copy of the book. All other entries get the PDF.
Urban Tree Warden Training.
• Some downsides– Volunteer labour is not cheap– Time demands can be great AND out of the 9-5
mindset.– New management skills are required– Achievable targets are needed.– The right people.– Success is demanding, failure more so.
“Let’s all enjoy being victims”Chris Neilan
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Highlight (some of) the issues faced before going on to highlight the positives, and really it was all summed up by Chris’s quote. A definition of madness is to repeatedly do the same things in the same way and expect a different result each time. Change and more, the management of change are never easy but if we as professionals have been doing it the same way for 40 years and it still isn’t going well, isn’t it time for a change? Possibly the most important of the points though is the Right People (on the Bus as the americans say), and absolutely an atmosphere of trust must be generated if the training programme is to be worthwhile for either side.
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In the next few minutes, hopefully we can cover what the training is all about and why.
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So, who delivers this training? Pic: Tom Baker, Dr Who
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Who? The Tree Officers and everyone they know. In Coventry the TW’s engage directly with the Trainer. In Birmingham the City TO’s engage the trainer. In Leicester the Council engage directly, in most authorities there is no engagement at all! Pic: Gary Dremmel, BBC’s famous tree officer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA35XvpGUJQ
Urban Tree Warden Training.
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Pic: White Witch leading orchard wassailing in Walsall – some activities are more contentious than others. In the picture we have Tree Wardens from eductional backgrounds, social services, and two from the round Table – the right people on the bus.
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What is the training about? Pic: James Watt
Contents1. Introduction: The Role of
the Tree Warden.2. The value of trees.3. The Urban Forest.4. Trees and the Law.5. Tree planting.6. Tree Biology.7. Pests and Disease8. Decay in trees
9. Tree surveying.10. How to grow trees.11. Pruning concepts.12. Community events.13. Woodlands.14. Community Orchards.15. Ancient and Veteran Trees.16. Urban Forest Recycling
© Ian McDermott 102016 MTOA Tree Warden Training.
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Discussion of some of the more usual topics covered – hyperlink connectivity, external resources. Pic: slide from the actual course covering the topics as presented in Coventry.
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We spend a long time talking about pruning – and Ed Gilman is referenced a lot.
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If the height of the tree is the problem, is reduction ever the answer? Of course, the topping issue comes up a lot and one of the aims of the programme is to develop the UK’s first “no topping zone”, still an ambition yet to be realised.
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Part of the training looks at the development of tree plans – not strategies. What more should a democratic organisation (such as a local council) do other than engage with it residents and visitors about how they want their environment to look like – at the very least for their children.
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Where? Well anywhere that is convienient and fulfils the requirements for good productive eduction. Local is always best. Pic: Demarcas Ware.
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Pic: Visitors Centre, War Memorial Park Coventry, provided for training of the TW’s free of charge by CCC but the TO’s rarely if ever attend
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Pic: The mayor, Councillors, tree wardens, Tree Officers and builders! When and where else do they ever get together?
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Inaugural meeting of the Tree People in Kings Heath Park – donated free by the City, one of the most diverse groups I have been involved with.
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When? Currently most training is dome on a Saturday morning, but it can be anytime to suit the needs of the volunteers. Of course this sits outside the comfort zone of many LA employees, an obstacle or just a change in thinking?
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Why? The benefits are many and extensive, see following slides. Pic: The River Wye
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For tree officers no further explanation of this slide is needed.
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Ten semi-mature Himalayan Birch sourced and donated by the TW’s for the Arboretum and planted for free by Jack Moody Ltd. This would have cost somewhere in excess of £10k.
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The Birmingham Plane. Another “Oh Dear” story and timely for the conference. Amey are responsible for street trees in Birmingham, but in fairness the project to put the tramway in over-rode their management (extant planning permission) and the developers and of course the planners see no value in Birmingham's oldest street tree plane. Clearly the City TO’s are politically hamstrung and cannot be seen to go against the approval of their authority, but the Volunteers have no such restriction.
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Stoke Green, Coventry, now managed in part by the Tree Wardens. Soon to be replanted with an avenue of Elms from Hilliers at no cost to the City.
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Thanks to Jon Stokes (Tree Council) for this slide – says it all about where we should be concentrating our efforts and why the Forestry Commission still don’t understand the importance of trees.
The Bottom Line...
• Quality of life depends on tree benefits
• Benefits depend on healthy trees• Healthy trees require quality care• Quality care depends on you
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How is the programme delivered.
What You Can Do...
• Establish long-term goals for the urban/community forest
• Fund programmes for maintenance and care
• Support volunteer organisations• Champion community trees
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This is the Call to Action.
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A repeated slide to deliver a point about new style thinking around urban forest strategies where the community are in fact integral, not an afterthought. The Tree officers live in the blue and red circles and the community in the orange and yellow. Everyone comes together in the centre.
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I have never been applauded for a tree I pruned but the work with Urban forestry Volunteers brought significant attention. Invitation to House to receive acknowledgment, The times, TV, etc all for tree planting with Tree Wardens, the effort was well worth it.
A Training Programme For Urban Forestry
Volunteers
Ian McDermott, MTOA.
Thank you for your time.
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Note that the presentation for training is available to TO’s for the use in training, customizable but credit to MTOA is required.
www.mtoa.co.uk
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If you want to use the training materials, or even better, contribute to them, please email MTOA. Competition emails to here also.