Up to one million trees are planted each year as part of The Tree Council’s annual National Tree Week, taking place this year from 23rd November – 1st December. To celebrate trees and encourage planting and care, we will be coordinating a day of activity on Twitter. Alongside the Forestry Minister, Tree Council member organisations and tree champions, we will be highlighting the ways in which the public can get involved with all aspects of trees and woods, encouraging them to get outside and involved.Every hour during the tweet-a-thon, from 9am-7pm on Wednesday 27th November, the public will be able to put questions to a different person who has a unique insight into trees and woods within the UK. From bat specialists to a celebrity woodsman, alongside technical experts and influential campaigning groups, this event will be a fascinating opportunity to learn more about our tree heritage and how we can play our part in getting more trees planted and looked after.
How to take part
To take part, members of the public should have a look at the timetable of events below and simply get online at the right time and start tweeting questions using #NationalTreeWeek to the relevant Twitter name. If you’re not sure who to direct your questions to, @TheTreeCouncil will point you in the right direction.
09:00-09:30 @TheTreeCouncil
Introduction to the day and how it will work. The Tree Council team will also be there to help direct you to the right person. Additionally, we’ll be encouraging the public to ask questions on the theme on this year’s National Tree Week, which is diversity, both of trees and within community engagement.
09:30 – 10:30 @TreesforCities
Heather McIntosh, Trees for Cities
Tree planting and care in urban spaces and how to volunteer for tree planting projects.
10:00 – 11:00 @AncientTreesATF
Vikki Bengtsson, Trustee, Ancient Tree Forum
Ancient tree care and management.
11:00-12:00 @ArbAssociation
Paul Smith, Technical Officer, Arboricultural Association
Sources of advice and expertise relating to technical tree issues, particularly the AA Arb Approved Contractor and Registered Consultant Schemes.
11:00 – 12:00 @FeraGovUK
David Slawson, Head of Plant Health Public Engagement, FERA
Pests and diseases affecting the UK’s trees and woodlands – what you can do to help.
12:00-13:00 @RobPennWildwood
Rob Penn, Author, journalist and presenter of 'Tales from the Wild Wood'.
His personal experience of managing a broadleaf woodland (as featured in BBC4 series ‘Tales from the Wild Wood’) and forthcoming book about the ash tree.
13:00- 14:00 @_BCT_
Helen Miller, Woodlands Officer, Bat Conservation Trust
The importance of trees as habitats for bats, with some unusual and interesting facts about bats and their use of trees and woodland!
14:00-15:00 @DefraGovUK
Forestry Minister Dan Rogerson MP
The public forest estate, tree planting including The Big Tree Plant and other aspects of his ministerial brief relating to trees.
15:00-16:00 @WoodlandTrust
Sharon Wennekers, Woodland Trust.
Tree diseases and their impact on the wider landscape, as well as the Woodland Trust’s current campaign for more funding for tree planting.
16:00-17:00 @CPRE
Emma Marrington, Senior Rural Policy Campaigner, Campaign to Protect Rural England
Focus on hedgerows and their role in the English countryside, as well as wider CPRE campaigns.
16:00 – 17:00 @royal_forestry
Simon Lloyd, Development Director, Royal Forestry Society
Making woods resilient to climate change, trees and pests; why it is important to manage a woodland and why Conifers are not just for Christmas.
17:00-18:00 @GrowninBritain
Dougal Driver, Chief Executive, Grown in Britain
Grown in Britain’s work developing a wood culture amongst the British public and getting our woods managed and more products bought.
17:00-18:00 @CLAtweets
Mike Seville, Forestry and Woodland Advisor, Country Land & Business Association
Forestry issues and how they relate to private land owners, through their eyes.
18:00-19:00 @ForestryCommEng
John Weir, Woodland Creation and Resilience, Forestry Commission England
Diversification of tree species and the effect of climate change on the UK’s trees and woodlands.
18:00-19:00 @TheTreeCouncil
Pauline Buchanan Black, Margaret Lipscombe and Jon Stokes, The Tree Council
How the public can get involved in our work, through volunteering, grants and campaigns.
For any enquiries about the tweet-a-thon, please contact Emma Prout on 020 7407 9992 / ep@treecouncil.org.uk.
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