SOW

Christopher Neilan who devised the CAVAT system wrote a great article for us in reference to arboriculture in the UK; planning and community engagement and a bottom up approach in getting the public more in tune with their trees - Using Soft Power to Protect Trees by Christopher Neilan | Save Our Woods

Just to let everyone know that the VTA guides have been posted out today, from France so may be a few days before delivery. Apologies for the delay!

Trees: Body language, Diagnosis, Biomechanics- an open door to a wonderful world! by Claus Mattheck For those who missed out on the freebies offered earlier this week, this may be of some compensation. http://saveourwoods.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Claus-Mattheck_KIT.pdf It is a precursor to an article Prof Claus is writing for us - an introduction to the man by those outside the industry and contains a lot of the information on the booklets.

I'll probably get in touch closer to the date, it'd be good to meet up with some pro's whilst at the exhibition - not least to know directions to the bar. Cheers

That'd be brilliant - I've been looking at the acrobatic arborist photos on your blog, It would be brilliant to get an insight into this world out into the public domain. Particularly as the general public seem more and more disconnected with the work of the arborist - there really does seem to be a general perception that arb work is killing trees upheld by a crap general media. I'll message you the email address.

Very kind of you to offer, but you'd probably regret it! And flattering comment indeed. We are actually seeking some articles or scribblings from the Arb world to get message across to the public, (having gained a huge public audience), about the importance of individual trees. Hen was at the recent 'stakeholder' meeting in London, (sat between Stuart Goodall of Confor and Tim Rollinson FC no less!) so we're clearly doing something right - plus we have an article in the wings by Christopher Neilan, CAVAT inventor, (I've seen a preview and it's brilliant) and a promise from Dr Mark Johnston for later in March - so there's some good stuff coming up, as well as the stuff from Claus! Apparently Nick Eden Arb Assoc' really drummed home the message to all present at the stakeholder meeting (& Tree Council on the case as well!) - so there really is no excuse for a dismissal of urban and independent trees in the final report. One thing which would be great is to have something by an arborist about what it is actually like working up in a tree canopy - something the public know little about - so if anyone on here is willing it'd be great to hear from you.

Really sorry about that, wasn't expecting that level of interest! Might be getting some more to give away at the apf exhibition.

Thats’ the lot gone I’m afraid. Don’t think any who have responded will be disappointed. They will be sent off next week.

Wow really popular - only have 6 left now, so anyone who has posted address before this message is guaranteed one - I have'nt been able to reply to all yet. Just to explain a little bit more as to what to expect, this is a foldaway waterproof card with VTA symptoms on one side and fungal fruit body language on the other side, with loads of other info squeezed on taken from Mattheck's updated field guide for Visual Tree assessment - http://www.mattheck.de/english/vtabook1.jpg We were given these and other goodies as Claus is currently writing an article for SoW highlighting issues re urban trees so we can help promote arboriculture to the independent forestry panel, who seemed to have forgotten about it in their pre Xmas progress report! http://saveourwoods.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Independent-Panel-on-Forestry-Progress-Report.pdf First four replies are also getting a poster on tree mechanics by the way.

We have been given a number of the 'VTA Symptoms' waterproof pocket guides from Prof Mattheck. If you want one, please leave a message in our inbox on here, with postal address and we will get one out to you asap. 1st come 1st served.

Survey is now closed, but I want to say a huge thanks to all who contributed. The initial responses and some of the comments can be read here - forest-communication-in-the-uk-survey-november-12th.pdf I will post up the web address of the full analysis on this thread as and when it is done.

Thanks for responding GnarlyOak, as Coppiceer guessed we now have full access to your computer account... Seriously thoguh I will try and explain what we are up to - The Survey is little more than a snapshot of what a targetted audience are focussed on with regards trees and forests and where they source or share information. The most important question is Q2. ''Which of the following Forestry or Tree issues do you believe to be the most important to you?'' Whilst I won't reveal the answer as yet, (survey is open until Saturday), it is to try and guage whether the public are clued up to what the industry does and concentrates on. The survey is just a part of a process in trying to attempt 'knowledge transfer' from those in the know to the general public and thus avoid complaints and misinformation whenever an arborist pollards a willow or when a forester clearfells some spruce. I hope this helps? I will post the results up on this thread next week. Many thanks by the way to all who have responded.

Below is a link to a brief survey in regards communication about forests. It takes literally less than a minute, although there is a box to vent your spleen about anything you want to add. Forest Communication Survey We would really appreciate the comments of those working in industry. Many Thanks