Speaking at the Arboricultural Association National Amenity Conference, Lord de Mauley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science has recognised the Association as the representative body for the tree care profession and ‘The Voice of Arboriculture’.
The three-day conference held at Royal Holloway attracted professionals and academics from across the global arboricultural industry and took as its theme, Applied Arboriculture – Healthy Trees, Healthy People.
Attended by a record number of delegates, the conference pressed for political action to recognize the key role that green spaces and tree’d environments play in human health and the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
High profile representatives of the political and health establishment also supported the event.
Baroness Fookes of Plymouth provided the opening conference address and Sir Richard Thompson (recent past president of Royal College of Physicians) and Professor Nicola Spence (Chief Plant Officer, Defra) delivered perspectives on the health and environment issues at stake.
Lord de Mauley also went on to articulate the government’s role and recognition of the importance of tree health:
“We have made safeguarding tree and plant health one of Defra’s top priorities. Whether it is single street trees or woodland in the countryside, trees provide leisure, opportunities for recreation and natural beauty. Their health is essential to the natural environment in the countryside and in our towns and cities.”
