Community tree growers from across the UK joined The Tree Council for workshop sessions to help demystify and further enhance biosecurity processes at their sites.
Led by Jackie Shallcross, The Tree Council’s Project Lead, the first workshop took place in person, in Edale, Derbyshire, with a follow up online session to reach a wider audience.
Jackie said: “Biosecurity and how it applies to community tree nurseries (CTNs) can be a bit daunting, so with this project we are bringing people together, to unravel and demystify the topic.
“Working together we can help prevent the spread of pests and diseases which are threatening the nation’s trees.”
In total, 32 community tree growers from across the UK joined the workshop sessions to explore a range of issues; including pest and disease identification, and raising awareness of the ability of pests and invisible pathogens to move from open countryside to tree nursery, and back again.
The group was also joined by experts from project partners, Plant Healthy and Fera Science, who spoke about the Plant Health Management Standard and how it underpins good biosecurity practice.
“Working together we can help prevent the spread of pests and diseases which are threatening the nation’s trees.”
As well as providing an opportunity to learn and develop, participants were invited to share their experiences and insights. This will help inform the development of resources to support enhanced biosecurity practices at CTNs.
Jackie added: “There’s always a buzz in the room when community tree growers get together and it was really inspiring to see such enthusiasm and desire to do the right thing.
“Thanks to everyone who attended and shared their experiences.”
The workshops were part of the Defra-funded project Enhancing Biosecurity in Community Tree Nurseries: Development to Impact, delivered in partnership with Plant Healthy and Fera Science. The project aims to provide community tree growers with clarity around good biosecurity practice, as a compliment to existing biosecurity schemes.
Further workshops will be taking place in the autumn, with any community tree growers invited to get in touch to take part. Please email scienceandresearch@treecouncil.org.uk with the subject line CTN biosecurity workshops.
To find out more about The Tree Council’s work with community tree nurseries, please visit www.treecouncil.org.uk/growing-together/
