How was the AA conference?

[arb culture]

To those who went, how did it go, did you learn anything the rest of us should know?

 

[David Humphries]

Only went up by train for the monday, so can't comment on the the other two days.

 

Numbers appeared to be quite low, maybe 170ish, possibly they may have been expecting more.

 

Thought the presentation on the Olympic site by Phil Askew was pretty interesting in terms of how they see the site developing during & post games.

Had a good chat with him during the tea interval.

 

I found Schwartz's update on Trichoderma fascinating, not sure all in the audience did though.

 

Neville gave a brief but concise update on the NTSG position, and how it will be delivered.

 

Struggled to keep inspired by the guy from Ontario on Tree strategy & policy, though I'm sure this was due to being late in the afternoon, with the prospect of a train journey ahead of me.

 

Bought some books

 

Met up with Paul & Tony S & a few other aquaintances.

 

Glad I went.

 

Not sure I could of dealt with three days though.

 

 

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[arb culture]

Thanks Monkey D.

 

Do you know what the NTSG are now hoping to achieve and by when? They seem to be very behind schedule.

[Amelanchier]

When I've sorted my life back out again I'll make a proper summary post/thread.

[arb culture]

Nice one Tony, that would be good.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

cant wait mr S, having missed out completley

[David Humphries]

Bees delivering trichoderma to strawberry flowers to increase yields by thirty percent was one of Schwartz little gems

 

Ill try and get me notes together for Saturday Tone

 

 

 

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[Paul Barton]

Just got back after 4 days away and head still spinning!

 

It was the first time I have been to an AA conference. I made the mistake of going to too many of the seminars (bad for head) and drinking too many ales in the evening (even worse for head).

 

It was cool to listen to and rub shoulders with the big guns though.

 

I really enjoyed the presentation of the iTree software. This program appears to be able to kick out massive amounts of information about the urban forest. For example the amount of carbon sequestration, cooling effects of urban areas, savings in energy production.......it was really fascinating. The good bit is that having been developed in the US they are now looking for partnerships to get it up to speed for UK use.

 

I also enjoyed the talk on non-invasive decay detection which was mostly about the Picus and tree pulling tests.

 

I will add my twopenneth to Tony's intelligent summary when he gets round to starting it.

[David Humphries]

4 days !!!

 

What was the 4th day all about.

 

Was that only for a secretive uber order of Arbs, that only the very privalleged few have any idea actually exists?

 

 

Sounds intriguing Paul

 

 

 

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[Amelanchier]

Thanks guys, it'll need fleshing out for certain. I tend to only take notes that interest me and we're a broad church here.