The Arboricultural Association has announced the full line up of 34 speaker sessions for the 52nd National Amenity Conference titled – Soils & Trees – Standing your Ground. The schedule includes 10 prominent international speakers, who will take delegates on narrative journey through soil science and trees, and help us get serious about soils.
Soils and their importance have come into focus in recent years and understanding their science is increasingly recognised as critical to improving the establishment and growth of trees, whatever their setting. For professionals involved in the care and cultivation of amenity trees, Arboriculture begins and ends with the soil.
The Association is thrilled to collaborate with the Sustainable Soils Alliance (SSA) on the latest edition of the premier arboriculture conference in the United Kingdom. The SSA is a partnership looking to reverse soil health decline and work together to restore our soils to health within one generation.
Over the past few years our knowledge of what goes on underground and how it affects trees has rapidly developed. Breakthroughs in science and technology have allowed us to explore soils in ways which were previously impossible.
Following an overwhelming response to the call for papers, ‘Soils & Trees – Standing your Ground’ will take delegates on a journey through these new discoveries and developments.
Mondays’ sessions will be delivered by a diverse range of experts including the acclaimed Lynne Boddy, a regular guest on BBC Radio 4 and numerous TV programmes, as well as Sir Tim Smit renowned for his work on the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project. Beginning with the natural environment we’ll hear evidence of the impacts on soils health, nutrients for trees, fungi and soil and their implications on tree health.
Tuesdays schedule delves into how soils science can affect planning and solutions. Leading specialists will guide us through establishing and managing trees, including Ancient Tree Forum founder and president Ted Green, Professor Andreas Roloff, presenting tree species selection decision tools and Dr Andrew Hirons speaking on species selection for urban environments.
The Arboricultural Association Award for continued contribution to Arboriculture will be presented on the Tuesday evening. Wednesday will focus on the way forward with a series of engaging talks presenting evidence and research that can help us remediate some of the issues discussed. They include 2017 Arboricultural Association Award winner Dr Glynn Percival and urban green space expert Joris Voeten presenting Urban Roofscapes.
The partnership between the Arboricultural Association and the Sustainable Soils Alliance allows us to provide delegates with access to this unprecedented array of quality speakers, presenting their ground-breaking content to empower arborists, ecologists and landscapers alike with the knowledge to apply best practice when it comes to soil science and trees.
Full speaker biographies, abstracts and online booking will be available from 6 June 2018
