London’s tree experts explore greater role for volunteer Tree Wardens

London's tree officers are getting together on 6 October 2011 to look at how volunteer Tree Wardens could play a greater role in the capital.

The London Tree Officers Association is holding a seminar in Islington, showcasing the work of community volunteers in the management and care of the nation's trees and woodlands to demonstrate how Tree Wardens could play an even greater role in the capital .

The event is part of the Londoners Love Trees initiative, funded by Mayor Boris Johnson's Team London volunteering programme. The Mayor wants to get 4,000 Londoners involved in growing, planting, surveying and caring for urban trees through this initiative.

The aim of the seminar is to encourage other London Boroughs to set up their own Tree Warden networks to assist Local Authority Officers.

There will be presentations from the Tree Warden networks of South Norfolk, South Walsall and the London Borough of Merton where volunteer Tree Wardens act as both guardians and champions of their communities' trees.

The LTOA is working with The Tree Council to deliver the Londoners Love Trees Project to develop at least 5 new borough-based volunteer Tree Warden networks. The Tree Council, which co-ordinates the national Tree Warden Scheme, aims to recruit around 300 new London volunteers over the next 12 months and offer additional support to existing Tree Warden networks.

Londoners Love Trees is being delivered through The Tree Council and Trees for Cites, working with the London Tree Officers Association and Barcham Trees. Londoners Love Trees forms part of RE:LEAF, the Mayor's campaign to increase London's tree cover.

Dave Lofthouse, Chair of the LTOA, said " We know that Londoners really do love their trees and we want to harness some of that enthusiasm and care to the benefit of Lon

For more information please contact Becky Hesch, Executive Officer on 07771 976238 or email executive.officer@ltoa.org.uk or visit www.ltoa.org.uk.

The LTOA provides an information network for the exchange of views, experiences and ideas on trees and the management of London's Urban Forest. The Association dates back to 1982 and aims to enhance the management of the capital's trees and woodlands. It involves local authority Tree Officers in all 33 London Boroughs, an associate membership of a wide range of tree professionals and those who manage and care for trees. The LTOA is funded by London Boroughs and associate member subscriptions. For more information, documents, advice and guidelines on tree care take a look at the LTOA website at www.ltoa.org.uk.