Gardening in a changing climate

Trees in a Changing Climate Conference

Does climate change signal the end for the trees making up our traditional landscape? Are Mediterranean Aleppo pines soon to be a familiar sight in southern England, and beech forests in northern Scotland?

These were some of the questions raised at a landmark conference held at the University of Surrey in Guildford in June 2005. Experts debated the effects of climate change on the UK’s trees in the 21st century and the serious implications for tree survival, species choice and cultivation in our woodlands, parks and gardens. The conference was organised by the RHS, The Tree Council, Forest Research, UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) and Notcutts Ltd.

Trees in a Changing Climate brought together experts in the fields of horticulture, forest science and ecology to debate these issues - and how the forestry, conservation, heritage and gardening sectors should respond.

Key speakers for the two-day conference included Elliot Morley MP, Minister of State for Environment and Agri-Environment, who will give the opening address on the government’s priorities for action on climate change and its commitment to research. The debates covered the impacts of climate change on tree growth and function, and the implications and the adaptations necessary in nature conservation, timber production and heritage and amenity gardens. The Rt Hon John Gummer MP, formerly Secretary of State for the Environment, gave the conference summary.

Further information on how this could affect you

Programme

The summaries and presentations are available as Adobe Acrobat pdfs. Click on the links to access them.

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Session 1

Charles Notcutt (Notcutts Ltd), Chair - Chairman's opening remarks

Elliot Morley MP
Adobe Acrobat pdf iconOpening address & questions (100KB)

Dr Mark Broadmeadow (Environmental and Human Sciences Division, Forest Research) - ‘Impacts on Tree Growth and Function’
Adobe Acrobat pdf icon Summary (12KB)
Adobe Acrobat pdf iconPresentation (903KB)
Adobe Acrobat pdf iconQuestions (32KB)

Prof Clive Brasier (Tree Health Division, Forest Research and Professor Emeritus, Imperial College London) - ‘Climate Change and Tree Health’
Adobe Acrobat pdf icon Summary (13KB)
Adobe Acrobat pdf iconPresentation (968KB)
Adobe Acrobat pdf iconQuestions (44KB)

Dr Keith Kirby (English Nature) - ‘Impacts on Tree Ecology’
Adobe Acrobat pdf icon Summary (20KB)
Adobe Acrobat pdf iconPresentation (1MB)

Mr Mike Calnan (Head of Gardens and Parks, The National Trust) - ‘Implications and adaptations: heritage and amenity gardens’
Adobe Acrobat pdf icon Summary (9KB)
Adobe Acrobat pdf iconPresentation & questions (60KB)

The Rt Hon John Gummer MP

Adobe Acrobat pdf iconPresentation (64KB)

Session 2

Pauline Buchanan Black (Director-General, The Tree Council), Chair

Prof Jeff Burley CBE (Director-Emeritus, Oxford Forestry Institute) - ‘Implications and adaptations: species choice and timber production’
Adobe Acrobat pdf icon Summary (10KB)
Adobe Acrobat pdf iconPresentation (903KB)

Dr Richard Smithers (Woodland Trust) - ‘Implications and adaptations: nature conservation and biodiversity’
Adobe Acrobat pdf icon Summary (16KB)
Adobe Acrobat pdf iconPresentation & questions (88KB)

Prof Richard Michalet (University of Bordeaux) - ‘The French Experience - trees in the climate of Bordeaux’
Adobe Acrobat pdf iconPresentation (2.3MB)

Adobe Acrobat pdf iconPanel discussion & summing up (124KB)

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