Trees and Design Action Group

The Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) is a world first
TDAG brings together a pioneering group of individuals, professionals and organisations from wide ranging disciplines in both the public and private sectors to increase awareness of the role of trees in the built environment. Learn about what we do

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News

LTOA releases new guidance on surface materials around trees in hard landscapes

On Friday 23rd June, the London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) released a new best practice guidance document: Surface Materials Around Trees in Hard Landscapes. A key challenge for those responsible for selecting materials around trees is to balance the needs of the tree (permeability for air and water) with the needs of the footway (a safe, robust surface). Different professionals – tree specialists, highway engineers, landscape architects etc. – may have different ideas as to the right material to use in any given situation.

The intention of this new document is to demonstrate that a wide range of materials is available; each has its advantages and disadvantages and no single material is right for every scenario. This document has been developed in association with a range of stakeholders including tree specialists, project managers and highway engineers, and is to be used as guidance for anyone involved in the selection of surface materials.

The document was produced by the LTOA Surface materials around trees in hard landscapes Working Party and the design and layout has been kindly sponsored by GreenBlue Urban. Chair John Parker will be presenting the new publication at the forthcoming LTOA seminar to be held in Barnet on July 11th. Surface Materials Around Trees in Hard Landscapes is available free from the LTOA (www.ltoa.org.uk/resources/surface-materials- around-trees).

David Lock Associates launch website ‘MK50 Trees’ to celebrate Milton Keynes, ‘the City of Trees’

As part of Milton Keynes reaching its 50th birthday this year, David Lock Associates has created a special website (www.mk50trees.com) dedicated to the beautiful trees in the Borough. The ‘New City’ of Milton Keynes boasts over 5,000 acres of parkland, rivers, lakes and woodland including over. The website ‘MK50 Trees’ maps out the location of 49 trees across the Borough - nominated by staff at DLA who have worked and lived in the area for many years - for either their location, uniqueness and aesthetic qualities or personal memories they may hold.

The website allows users to search through a gallery of photographs to spot a familiar or interesting tree or they can simply select a location on the interactive map. There they will find facts about species, history and traditional uses, information about the location in which it grows, plus a personal story as to why it has been chosen.

Partner at DLA Simon Collier said: “We want people to explore the website but also to go out and visit the trees and places in which they grow; our 49 trees have a wide geographic spread. We invite people to vote for which type of tree they would like to see planted as a ‘50th tree’ to conclude David Lock Associates MK50 celebrations at the end of this year. The tree species which receives the most votes will then be planted at Brooklands (with thanks to Places for People) to mark the City’s anniversary.”

The TDAG guides win the 2016 Landscape Institute Award for Policy & Research: We are very proud!

The award judges said:

"The guides encourage a collaborative approach across the planning, design and engineering professions"

This work wouldn't have been possible without the continued support from CapitaLovejoy and Martin Kelly, who helped set-up TDAG as a collaborative forum, and continued to provide some core funding to enable its development. We have new projects now in preparation..., which we believe will be award-winning as well: visit our VirginMoney Giving page to become a sponsor!

French version of Trees in Hard Landscapes now available
Thanks to VAL'HOR, the umbrella organisation representing the landscape and horticulture sector in France, Trees in Hard Landscapes: A Guide for Delivery has been translated into French and was launched on Tuesday 31 May at the 99th French Congress of Mayors.
After a send-off by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, an 8-strong team led by the research and knowledge UK Charity Fund4Trees has cycled all the way from London to Paris to come and present the translated version to representatives of the French Association of Mayor's Environment Committee. To download the french version, click here or on the cover image left.

Greater Lyon Tree Charter: a must-read!

The Greater Lyon Tree Charter is now available in English. The Charter was designed by the Greater Lyon Authority as a partnership-building tool to enhance the long-term management of trees across France's third largest city. It offers a set of common principles, together with a powerful rationale for action and a rich set of ideas for implementation for wide ranging audiences. So far, over 100 local and national stakeholders (including Greater Lyon's 59 boroughs, utility companies, the French equivalent of the UK's Landscape Institute, some tree nurseries, etc.) have signed the Charter, committing themselves to adhere to its Principles and to develop their own action plan for implementation. Both the approach and the recommendations featured in the Greater Lyon Tree Charter are highly relevant and directly applicable to the management of trees in towns and cities on this side of the Channel! Click here to download your copy.

Guides

Explores the practical challenges and solutions to delivering trees in 21st century streets, civic spaces and surface car parks, detailing process, design and technical options.

Offers 12 principles of best practice for all those involved in local decision making to ensure that our 21st century towns and cities are underpinned by a 21st century approach to urban trees, for maximum economic, social and environmental returns.

Videos

We filmed international guest speakers Dr Kathleen Wolf and Björn Embrén at our June 2015 seminars.