28th September 2020
CEO Update – September 2020
Autumn beech at Dyrham Park (photo credit: Brian Muelaner)
An update and an invitation from the CEO
Help us shape the ATF’s future – 175 of you responded to our recent survey about what ancient and other veteran trees need over the next five years – showing us how many of you care and are knowledgeable about ancient and other veteran trees.
You’re now invited to shape the role that the ATF can play in their future by coming to an online workshop on one of the following mornings: 12th, 13th or 14th October – between 10am & 1pm. At this workshop, we will build upon the findings from the recent survey, and ask you to input to the opportunities for the ATF to take in the future.
We’re looking to involve around 30 people in total, so if you can attend and are interested, please email admin@ancienttreeforum.co.uk by Tuesday 6th October with the dates you’re available and also – we particularly welcome you if you’re from an ATF local group, a previous member of an ATF working group, one of the ATF’s partner organisations, or if you personally have a diverse background of any kind (see our diversity policy here). Please state in your email the date(s) you are available and if you have one of these roles/backgrounds.
Republishing the Ancient Tree Guides – We’re working with the Woodland Trust and refreshing and republishing our jointly owned Ancient Tree Guides – involving our very own expert volunteers and also a number of partner organisations from the Arboricultural Association, the National Trust, the Gardens Trust, Lowther Estates, the National Farmers Union and the Soil Association.
Goodbye, and thank you to Jim Mulholland – After four years of working at the Ancient Tree Forum, Jim Mullholland left the post of training and technical officer at the end of August to pursue personal projects of a campervan variety. Jim helped deliver projects such as VETcert and the City of London self-guided trails and oversaw the curation of the Summer Fora. The team and trustees gave him a send-off with many current and past colleagues able to attend the zoom “party” from all over the country, with tea, cake, funny stories of the past and well-wishes for the future. Jim will still be in touch with the ATF through his continued work at the Arboricultural Association, particularly on VETcert. And I’m pleased that Jim will still remain involved in the ATF in other capacities, primarily as a trainer. This is building on the ATF’s positive relationship with other, previous team members, who are also still involved in the organisation.
England Tree Strategy – the ATF’s response
The Ancient Tree Forum submitted its response to this government consultation after collaborating with two groups:
- Our volunteers – we invited a number of our close volunteer experts to write the ATF’s detailed response with us – and we’d like to thank them for their time. You can see the ATF’s official response here.
- Also, we took the main points of our own response above and contributed them to a wider response which was sent direct to Lord Goldsmith, by working as part a coalition of environmental charities convened by the Tree Council. This coalition put together a list of recommendations that should form the basis of the England Tree Strategy – called the “golden thread” – you can see this joint response here.
Laura Alcock-Ferguson, CEO, Ancient Tree Forum
Email: CEO@ancienttreeforum.co.uk
Twitter: @LAlcockFerguson
13th July 2020
CEO Update – July 2020
Knepp cows (photo courtesy of Knepp Castle Estate)
CEO Update – July 2020
With Covid-19, it has been an incredibly busy year so far. The following are highlights and special updates of work undertaken since March.
Local groups – we have worked hard to keep them engaged and supported during the last three months with two Zoom meetings in the absence of an annual network day this year. During these Zoom meetings, Clare, our partnerships consultant, Jim, our training and technical officer and myself as CEO, as well as Russell, our Chair, discussed with local groups:
- Co-producing a Covid-19 risk assessment for local group events (which will not be implemented until government guidance changes to allow this, but is now ready to go);
- Diversity, equality and inclusion – asking their views about what they would like to see the ATF do;
- How they wish to continue to work alongside and be supported by the ATF – this was already planned as part of the EFF2 grant, and is also feeding into the next stage of the strategic review.
Many of our local groups’ volunteers are juggling jobs, childcare and managing ongoing personal and professional changes as a result of coronavirus, so we were happy to have 15 people on the first call. They were keen to input, retained their enthusiasm for their volunteer roles, and were sensible and supportive about the ATF Covid-19 response and its plans for the future. We’ve also been keeping contact with two prospective new groups: Northwest and Northeast England, and the new group, Wales (South and West).
30th May 2020
A New Strategy for New Times
ATF at Minterne (photo credit: Brian Muelaner)
A new strategy for new times
The ATF has seen lots of change over the past few years, with a new Chair and trustees, major successes and growth – with new partnerships, new local groups, and new training courses, as well the usual “sold-out” events and policy wins.
Building on those successes and also acknowledging the potential within and for the organisation, I was invited to become the first CEO of the ATF last year. It was made very clear at interview stage, last March, that I would be asked to prepare the organisation for its next steps. And on joining I knew that the strengths of the ATF are in the people – and so many of you are keen to do more, to give your expertise and time. And I know that the team can harness this support and expertise with even more co-ordination and effort. But to do that well, we need to get organised.
In short, we need a strategy. So, one of my major endeavours this year is to involve as many of you as possible in sharing and shaping ideas to build a picture of what the ATF’s future will look like.
21st May 2020
The Ancient Tree Forum Podcast
The Ancient Tree Forum launches its podcast series.
Stay up to date with goings-on in the world of ancient and other veteran trees as we talk to the experts.
In episode 1 Luke Steer talks to host Clare de Villanueva about tree planting targets, pollarding, ash dieback and wood pasture. What does Luke think about the numbers the UK are looking to plant, and where should we plant them? How is ash die back developing in Cumbria? What makes wood pasture interesting? Find out this and more by listening below.
