Following the launch of ATO in February 2020, the organisation has actively been supporting and promoting tree officers through its activities during the past 12 months:
Appointment of a new ATO Director - Peter Howson, Principal Tree Officer at Liverpool City Council.
ATO joins the National Tree Officer Conference (NTOC) steering group.
Two successful biannual ATO local authority member on-line events in June 2020 and January 2021. Speakers included:
Dr Charles Lane, Consultant Plant Pathologist of Fera Science: Observatree & International Plant Sentinel Network.
Tom Russell-Grant, Tree Officer, Norfolk County Council: Ash Dieback in Norfolk, focus on inspections and impact of Covid-19.
Pete Stringer, Technical & GI Planning Manager, City of Trees – ‘City of Trees, A Community Forest Re-Invented’
Paul Nolan, Director, Mersey Forest Team – ‘The role of The Mersey Forest Partnership in supporting a Climate Emergency Response’.
ATO responses to national consultations:
- Environmental Land Management
- England Tree Strategy
- UK Parliament Committee - Tree Planting & Woodlands (call for evidence)
- PEFC Trees Outside Forests Consultation, (currently being drafted).
ATO working parties, two currently in progress:
- Joint ATO, LTOA, Tree Forum & Arboricultural Association 5G telecoms infrastructure and trees
- Joint LTOA & ATO tree planting.
Additional website pages (www.ato.org.uk) for:
- Biosecurity
- Tree & woodland strategies/policies
- Government consultation responses.
Four successful quarterly Tree Officer Forum online meetings with on average 20 tree officer group leads attending.
Increased tree officer groups joining the Tree Officer Forum.
ATO ‘Supporters’ - Increased visibility on website.
Increased ATO supporters.
Increased ATO membership.
