Provisional programme for ATF conference 2016 in Dorset

Day 1 Thursday 7 July
9.00 / Arrival:
Registration / Teas and coffees / Displays and stands
10.00 / Welcome
Practicalities /arrangements for the day
Introduction to speakers and key theme for the morning:
The challenges of putting an age to trees. / Chris Knapman
ATF Co-opted Board Member, and Chair for morning session
10.10 / The Ancient Tree Inventory: Differentiating ancient from other types of tree and the differences in growth depending on conditions and location across the UK / David Alderman, Woodland Trust Ancient Tree Inventory and Director of the Tree Register of the British Isles
10.35 / Coring trees: An arboricultural perspective / Nev Fay, Ancient Tree Forum
11.00 / Coffee break
11.20 / The challenges of ageing trees: Recent developments in dendrochronology / Andy Moir, Tree-Ring Services
11.45 / Ancient limes and genetic composition: Research from Belgium / Koen Smets, Flanders Heritage Agency
12.10 / Ancient and veteran trees in Dorset, and introduction to afternoon site visits / Sean Cooch, Ancient Tree Forum / Natural England
12.35 / Lunch break and drive to afternoon site (leaving promptly at 13.30)
14.00 / Field visit: ToRingmoor and Turnworth Down near Blandford Forum (Approx 30 minute drive)
16.15 / Bulbarrow Yew - short stop on way past.
17.00 / Afternoon field visit ends
18.00 / Evening field visit: Herringstone (approx 10 minutes drive from Dorchester centre)
19.30 / Evening field visit ends
20.00 / Optional conference supper at Kingston Maurward
Day 1 Friday 8 July
9.00 / Arrival:
Registration / Teas and coffees / Displays and stands
9.30 / Welcome
Practicalities /arrangements for the day
Introduction to speakers and key theme for the first part of the morning:
Tercentenary of Capability Brown’s birth / Brian Muelaner,
Ancient Tree Forum (outgoing Chair)
Chair for morning session
9.40 / Capability Brown - Ecological overview and the Moccas landscape design competition / Leslie Pearman, Natural England
10.05 / Wood pasture restoration at Moccas–contemporary Brown design applied to an historic park. / Saul Herbert, Natural England
10.30 / The Forest of Selwood / Julian Hight
10.55 / Coffee break
11.15 / The National Trust and the ATF concordat / Ray Hawes, Head of Forestry, National Trust
11.40 / Caring for ancient trees at events –Arboricultural Association Show case study / Reg Harris, Ancient Tree Forum
12.00 / VETcert: Proposals for an EU Erasmus project to develop an accreditation scheme for arborists with knowledge of veteran tree management / Helen Read,
Ancient Tree Forum
12.20 / Highlights of the past ATF year
Introduction to the new ATF Chair
Questions and arrangements for the afternoon /
/ Brian Muelaner
13.00 / Lunch break and drive to afternoon site (leaving promptly at 13.45)
14.15 / Field visit: To the Minterne Estate
16.15 / Afternoon field visit ends

Tables /displays

Marion Sidebottom / Ancient tree photography
Julian Hight / World Trees book
Ancient Tree Forum / Books / literature / T shirts
Woodland Trust / Pop up stand