Russell Ball (Chair of Trustees), Peter Wharton (Director, WNIC) & Mick Boddy (Trustee)
It is with great pleasure and pride that Wharton Natural Infrastructures Consultants, at the 53rd Arboricultural Association Annual Conference, met with the trustees Russell Ball and Mick Boddy of Fund4Trees to agree an annual donation of £500.00 to the Research Strategy. This money will assist in funding research into sustainable treescapes in the urban environment.
The Fund4Trees Research Strategy provides a focus for our research supporting sustainable treescapes. It covers a five-year period from 2019-2024. It guides how we commission research, provides a focus for the awarding of grants and bursaries, and informs our communications. The strategy arose from a meeting held at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in July 2018, attended by trustees and expert members of our Research Advisory Committee.
Key Themes:
Our research focus is on three interlinked themes: planning for trees in green infrastructure, ensuring successful tree establishment, leading to the delivery of multiple benefits to society and the environment.
As a company we feel it is vital for us to be supporting the development and implementation of this type of work as it affects so many professionals and individuals. Green infrastructure and its management plays such as vital part in our day to day lives, both consciously and sub-consciously providing social, economic and health benefits, however still such little money is provided to research and acknowledge the benefits.
Peter commented
Having worked with Russell and Mick for many years in organising and taking part in Rides4Research, there was no hesitation that this donation on an annual basis is the right thing to do. As an industry and society we are at a crossroads in relation to the damage we do to the natural environment and the enhancements that we can make for the next generations. This vital work being undertaken for the Fund4Trees is a key component for increasing public awareness and providing specific research in this complex matter. This is why we support Fund4Trees Research Strategy and would encourage any other company to get involved, whether you be in the industry or an allied industry, we are all impacting in the environment.
Ride4Research delivering the Arboricultural Associations Biosecurity document to the House of Commons