Our Urban Forest Future: A FREE event from Barcham Trees

Thank you to all of those who attending our events at the Barcham Trees nursery.

Below are the presentations from each speaker – simply click the link to view the PDF:

Climate projections and risks for the UK to 2050

Sue James, Convenor  of the Trees and Design Action Group

Trees with extreme climate challenges – progress report from Saudi Arabia

Dorella Pinter Burus, Consultant, BPLA, Riyadh

From high mountains to rainforest – the west coast, USA  

Keith Sacre, Arboriculture and Urban Forestry Director, Barcham Trees

The climate challenges for our treescape– Royal Parks

Greg Packman, Treescape Curator, Royal Parks

Developing a community tree nursery – a complementary approach

Marcelo White, Chair, Tree Musketeers and Tree Officer, LB Islington

Provenance can be surprising – the role of propagation

Nick Dunn, Propagator at Frank P Matthew’s Nurseries

Tree biology is central to decision making

Dr Andy Hirons,  Director at Urban Plant Lab Senior Lecturer in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry at University Centre Myerscough

Getting it right for trees to live their long lives

Tony Kirkham MBE, VMH, FICFor (Hon), Retired Head of the Arboretum, Gardens & Horticultural Services at RBG Kew.

Barcham Trees in association with the Trees and Design Action Group and other partners are hosting two in-person seminar days at our nursery near Ely to further explore some of the critical issues that are  influencing and will influence the future of our urban forests.

Dates: 5th & 12th August 2026

Time: 9:15am – 4pm

Location: Barcham Trees, Eye Hill Drove, Ely, CB7 5XF

Questions such as those posed below will be discussed and debated:

• What are the implications for designing with trees in the urban forest?
• What do they mean for species selection?
• What do they mean for provenance and nursery production?
• What are the actions that must be taken now if a sustainable and enduring urban forest if to be achieved?

Led by a different panel of speakers on each day the sessions will be interactive both in the presentation room and out on the nursery. At our event you will have the chance to hear from industry experts, as well as experiencing the journey of trees through production on our nursery, and a guided tour around our flourishing Barcham Garden.

The content will be of interest and value to arboriculturists, horticulturists, landscape architects, landscape contractors, tree nursery managers, architects, specifiers and those involved in site supervision and delivery. The outcomes are intended to have provided an increased understanding of the challenges and solutions that we need to put into practice starting now.

Timeline of the day(s):

9:15am Arrival and Registration

10am AM Session begins (Group 1 with speakers, Group 2 on the tour)

12:30pm Lunch provided by Spitting Pig Co.

1:30pm PM Session begins (Group 2 with speakers, Group 1 on the tour)

4pm Approx. Finish

Click here to read more about our speakers.

5^th August – Getting the best from trees and for trees

We need trees for the many benefits that they deliver for both people and place – trees do not need us!

So, we have a responsibility to ensure that when we plant trees, we plant them in the right place and in the right way so that they have the ability to live out their long lives. Getting it right involves many players and many fundamental decisions: how important is provenance to enable trees to respond to changing climatic conditions? What are the implications for tree nurseries being asked increasingly to propagate species from the appropriate climate provenance? Do we properly understand what trees need or which tree species we need?  Do we have sufficient skills to ensure good ongoing management and aftercare?  Do we need gardeners and plant growers (horticulturists) rather than arboriculturists to see this establishment process through?

12^th August: Climate reality – trees and adaptation

Even if we stopped carbon emissions today, there is enough carbon in the atmosphere to influence our present and future climate. Events experienced today in some parts of the world – increased temperatures, increased heavy rain events and flooding, increased extensive wildfires  –  which may sound extreme to us, offer valuable insights into possible climate conditions that we will need to respond to at home. In this session we will explore trees at the ‘extremes’ and how they both adapt themselves and their environments.

How to RSVP:

To RSVP please click here and email across:

• Your Preferred Date
• Name
• Organisation
• Any Dietary Requirements

Please let us know if you’d like to attend by Monday 27th July 2026.

If you have any queries please speak to our team on:

E: info@barchamtrees.co.uk

T: 01353 720950