Events

Full Details

Time: 2-4pm (GMT)

Designing with trees –  Part 2: below ground (subsurface?) challenges

It is recognised that there are challenges to resolve with some urban tree locations especially urban streets – both in new developments and retrofitting –  and in constrained urban sites where trees and green infrastructure compete with density and below ground congestion. All these challenges need to be understood and overcome if city dwellers are to have access to nature and greenspace as recommended by the 3-30-300 rule, for example and the vital need to increase biodiversity and ensure  improved human mental and physical health and wellbeing. This seminar will examine some of the practical challenges and how they can be resolved.

Chair: Holger Kessler,  Senior Stakeholder Manager, Atkins Réalis (invited)

Legal rights to the subsurface

[Who legally owns the subsurface? What rights do utilities have? Can they impose conditions on tree planting?]

Speaker tbc

 Trees, SuDS and utilities can co-exist

[The evidence shows the value of urban trees including street trees which enhance the quality of places, improve the conditions for walking and cycling etc, etc. The impacts of climate change and increasing heavy rain events means that sustainable draining systems are part of the solution both in new developments and retrofitted in existing streets. New  guidance (being developed?) by the GLA considers how potential conflicts can be avoided or overcome]

Anne Jaluzot, Senior Policy and Programme Officer, Greater London Authority

Katrina Wylie, Associate Civil Engineer, Civic

What do trees need and can we predict their behaviour?

[We know that trees need two critical elements to survive and thrive – air and water. Problems with tree roots emerge when adequate provision is not made for these and the roots have to take action. To what extent can we predict the way in which tree roots in a given location might behave? Are their species behaviour patterns? Are they entirely a decision made by each tree?]

Speaker tbc

What is the decision making process for planting street trees in urban landscapes?

(Is this decision making approach useful or might it be covered in the GLA presentation?)

[This is not intended to favour any one way of planting street trees as there is no ‘one method’ for doing so. The question here is to understand the criteria which might favour one method over another Is it on a prestigious site requiring higher end tree surrounds and protection and probably requiring a larger tree to be planted? Are you planting one tree or a row of trees? In all cases how does the way in which the tree is planted overcome potential problems with the surrounding area and other occupiers of the subsurface…etc..etc]

Speaker tbc

Partners: Institution of Highway Engineers, Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, Landscape Institute, Urban Design Group