Trees in the townscape - setting the stage

Transcription

1 Trees in the townscape - setting the stage Ian Phillips Landscape and planning consultant

2 We have the technology who needs trees? Or perhaps what we need is more and better managed real trees

3 Trees in the townscape - the first 3 Principles 1. Know your tree resource 2. Have a comprehensive tree strategy 3. Embed trees into policy and plans

4 The target audience decision makers Tree owners and managers Land owners and managers Policy makers Regulators Investors Technical advisors Influencers

5 Tree surveys Purpose and objectives Scope, scale, detail, accessibility, deadlines, budget Resource availability Cost benefit analysis Options

6 Survey objectives To establish an inventory To quantify benefits To assess risks To plan / secure maintenance resources To identify areas of under-provision To target areas of need or opportunity To inform a tree strategy

7 Survey types Whole area or sample study Ground-level visit or aerial photos Canopy coverage Broad tree population classification by area Detailed and specialist assessment of tree characteristics (GPS location, specie, size, condition, age, etc.)

8 Survey resources GIS software and hardware Metadata content and standards Accessibility to data Appropriate skills - in-house or outsourced Lay or volunteer surveyors Technical specialists Briefing notes should extend on basic knowledge: Bushy top or Christmas tree?

9 Survey analysis and options Map the results Analyse data trends, common factors, disparities, etc. Correlate with other datasets to reveal relationships Consider need for protection or management intervention USDA Forest Service identifies commercial and freeware tree survey software -

10 San Francisco tree survey - overview Open source wiki-style freeware Crowdsourcing techniques Voluntary resources Open access to results

11 San Francisco tree survey - detail

12 San Francisco tree survey - data

13 The Urban Forest A collection of trees that grow within a city, town or a suburb Atlanta city in a forest highest % of tree cover in any major US city.

14 The urban landscape

15 Tree strategies Recognise and promote multiple benefits of urban trees Correlate with other natural system strategies Inform economic investment in trees and payback from services provided Green infrastructure Open space Tree strategy Climate change Green economy Flood risk Health and wellbeing

16 Tree Strategies - To protect, develop and manage the urban forest Review of current stock and value - What do we have? Vision and objectives, including potential value of benefits - What do we want? Policies and delivery mechanisms - What do we do? Monitoring and management - Are we getting what we want?

17 A post Localism / NPPF hierarchy for GI policy and strategies The whole can be more than the sum of its parts. Think global act local Street trees as stepping stones

18 Trees as a resource Essential element of ecosystem for human habitats Climate change - reducing urban heat island effects comfort, air pollution, health, energy, flood risk Biodiversity Microclimate Quality of life Property value Biomass Timber and produce

19 Tree Strategies key elements Leadership from local authority with executive sponsorship Inputs from multiple, cross-disciplinary interests Inclusion of private and estate trees as well as public realm 70% of urban trees on private land Local relevance and applicability Delivery mechanisms to include stick and carrot policies and programmes; sources of funding and skills; monitoring of progress and long-term sustainable management plans

20 Case Study: Manchester City Tree Strategy Objectives 1 - to involve creatively 2 - to manage sustainably 3 - to plant appropriately 4 - to protect strongly Community led initiative strong backing from Council, businesses, charities and interest groups Key part of Green City initiative aims to raise awareness of trees value, plant 5000 trees p.a, increase tree cover by 10% in new development

21 Mayor of London s Tree Strategy Guidance Preparing Borough Tree And Woodland Strategies Adopted July 2012 as SPG Component of broader London Plan green initiatives and includes: guidance on the implementation of the London Plan Policy 7.21 to protect, maintain and enhance trees and woodland in London. policy requirements to be included in local plans issues to be addressed Modular approach and timetable for delivery

22 Policy principle #1 Supporting the Prime Minister s pledge to be the greenest government ever

23 Policies and Plans In-house policy and plans Directly owned trees Good practice guidance, standards and advice Third party / privately owned trees Planning system intervention and controls

24 Integrating planning, policy, management and actions

25 In-house policies for land owners Incentives Raising awareness of trees as assets Planned asset management and budgeting Risk management Environmental responsibility PR value Carbon offsets Value from ecosystem services and materials Local authorities should set examples

26 Case Study Tor Homes 9000 homes managed in South Devon 2006 tree management policy adopted full tree audit Publicity and information for tenants presumption of tree retention wherever possible Risk assessment BS5837 standards applied to new development Increased resources

27 Trees and the Planning System Objective: Increasing and managing the urban tree population Protecting existing trees Minimising loss through development Planting more trees Maintaining new trees to independence

28 Planning powers Legislation National Planning Policy Framework Natural Environment White Paper Local plan policies Supplementary planning guidance / documents Good practice guidance and standards TPOs and conservation areas Planning conditions S.106 agreements CIL

29 NPPF review Design Biodiversity Heritage? Landscape? Brownfield / greenfield development? Housing? Strategic initiatives Countryside Sustainable development Major infrastructure projects Clarity

30 Applying the planning system constructively on new development Problem: Urban growth and development adversely impacts natural systems and services Solution: Development should incorporate mitigation measures + enhancements Avoid tree loss where possible Seek net gain in tree cover Apply tariff to fund new planting and aftercare Enforce additional measures to compensate for direct tree losses. Require management plans and resourcing for all trees to be retained or planted on private or third party land or apply TPOs.

31 Planning tools for management Policies and supplementary guidance Green infrastructure and regeneration Strategic landscape character, open space and tree studies Application of TPOs and conservation area controls

32 Case Study: Sefton Council Policy DQ3 in UDP conforms with NPPF Greenspace, Trees and Development - SPD (2008, updated 2012) sets standards Residential: 3 new trees per new home Non-residential: 1 new tree per parking space or 50 sq. m Each tree lost: 2 new trees Commuted sum payment: per tree Green space strategy informs expenditure of monies received

33 Making best use of space? Here s good advice for practice: go into partnership with nature; she does more than half the work and asks none of the fee. Martin H. Fischer ( )