England's Community Forests are within reach of more that 50% of the population. With local communities we have planted more than 16m new trees over the past 25 years.

Millions of people use and enjoy the new and growing forests that have been created. They provide a wide range of benefits for people and wildlife, as well as setting the scene for growth and jobs.

In 2020 our annual conference focuses on trees and carbon. With trees in the media almost daily and new targets and aspirations for new woodland creation to lock up carbon as a reponse to climate change, what is the role of Community Forests in helping to achive these new targets? What is the role of trees and woodlands in mitigating the likley impacts of climate change? How quickly can we respond to the challenge of a dramatic increase in levels of planting?

We have great speakers and the workshop will undoubtedly be lively as usual.

Places are limited so please book early.Tickets are available at £30 (plus fees £32.63) to cover refreshments and the cost of room hire.

Title

Speaker

09:30

Registration and refreshments

10:00

Introduction

Sir Harry Studholme

Sir Harry has been the chair for our annual conference for the past eight years. Having just stepped down as the Chair of Forestry Commission, Sir Harry will look back on past conferences and ahead to the future of the Community Forests

10:30

Community Forest Update - what have we been up to? What's ahead?

Jess Thompson,

City of Trees

Projects and programme update from across the Community Forests.

10:50

Trees for Learning

Tim Hughes, DEFRA/ Clare Olver, The Mersey Forest;

Results of the four-year project working with schools across the Community Forests

11:00

Trees and Carbon

Mark Broadmeadow and Chris Waterfield, Forestry Commission

With an increasing focus on planting new woodland and urban tress to help tackle climate change. Mark and Chris will provide an overview of the science of carbon modelling and the options and opportunities available through the Carbon Guarentee Fund etc.

11:30

Break

12:05

The biomass debate

Drax

What is the role of biomass in helping to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels?

12:30

How carbon funding can unlock your planting project

James Hepburne-Scott

Forest Carbon

Examples of schemes that have been developed using funding for carbon offsetting. How might this work for Community Forests?

12:55

Forest Strategy

Defra

Update on progress on plans to consult on a Forest Strategy for England

13:15

Lunch

14:00

Workshop and discussions focussed on trees and carbon. Opportunities and issues

15:45

Next steps: Sir Harry Studholme

16:00

Close