• The Association of Tree Officers (ATO)

    The Association of Tree Officers (ATO)

    Representing the views and concerns of tree officers nationwide
  • The Association of Tree Officers (ATO)

    The Association of Tree Officers (ATO)

    Representing the views and concerns of tree officers nationwide
  • 1
  • 2

Welcome to The Association of Tree Officers Website

The Association of Tree Officers (ATO) will promote, support and represent Tree Officers. Administrative control of ATO will be undertaken by the ATO Directors, supported by the National Co-ordinator, Becky Porter.

Current ATO members

Latest News

National Tree Officers Virtual Conference 2021 – Invitation to Present

We’re delighted to announce the launch of the National Tree Officers Virtual Conference 2021.

Building on the success of five previous NTOC events, and in light of continued uncertainty around face-to-face meetings, the conference will take place entirely online on the 2nd and 3rd November.

Developed by tree officers for tree officers, the National Tree Officers Virtual Conference 2021 is a fantastic opportunity for tree, woodland and planning officers to present to others in their profession on the latest research, best practice and innovation across a wide variety of local authority arboricultural and urban forestry work.

We’re looking for presentations relating to the following subject areas:

  • Pests & Diseases
    • Planting & Species Selection in a Changing Climate
    • Planning
    • Ancient/Veteran Tree Management
    • Biosecurity
    • Managing physical damage to trees (e.g. deer, squirrel, dog or vandalism)
    • Public engagement
    • Local authority tree management (incl. tree felling procedures)
    • Tree database innovation, and the use of tree data for management, information and influence

    The above list is not exhaustive - we would welcome any subject of relevance to local authority tree management.

Submitting your presentation idea couldn’t be easier – simply visit https://beta.usecandor.com/join/SUL3O and enter a short description of your proposed topic along with a provisional title. Submissions will be reviewed by the conference steering group with quality, appropriateness, the practical nature of material and potential audience appeal as key assessment criteria.

The submission period for presentations is now open and will close on 14th May 2021. If you have any queries regarding the submission process please contact Becky Porter, Executive Officer at the LTOA – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The National Tree Officers Virtual Conference 2021 is proudly organised by the London Tree Officers Association (LTOA), the Municipal Tree Officers’ Association (MTOA), the Association of Tree Officers (ATO) and facilitated by the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

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.

ATO Events Calendar