1. Helen Jones, Engagement Officer Woodland Trust
Observatree in 2017
Helen Jones, Engagement Officer
Woodland Trust

2. What you achieved to date (surveying)
Of 2270 surveys carried out, 800 found pest or disease and 405 found a suspected Observatree priority tree pest or disease
The priority diseases that were discovered include OCGW, Chalara, AOD, oak processionary moth, Dothistroma needle blight, Sirococcus tsugae, great spruce bark beetle, European mountain ash ringspot
Negative reports are just as useful as positive sightings so report healthy trees too

3. What you achieved to date (verification)
77 have been sent to verifiers
43 have been verified
19 have been retrieved by Lucy (passed 2 week deadline and verifier had no response from reporter)
6 have received the information and hit verify but forgotten to fill in the verification tab
9 have hit verify but not filled in the verification tab because not received a response from the reporter

4. A few changes to the project
New site survey form to use
Aligned to the Tree Alert reporting form
Online version available

5. A few changes to the project
Expanded range of sites available for site surveys
The Public Forest Estate in England
Working on access in Scotland and Wales
Network Rail

6. A few changes to the project
More targeted surveys to get involved with through the year
Trialling new technology e.g. Bluetooth trackers
Oak powdery mildew
Oak processionary moth
Sirococcus tsugae

7. A few changes to the project
Improvements to your volunteer forum:
Uploading photos
Regional groups
Survey results
Maps of sites surveyed
Online survey form
Any ideas?

8. A few changes to the project
More of a regional focus
Setting up regional groups on the forum so you can discuss findings and sites visited
Publishing regional survey results – maps showing locations surveyed, findings reported
Arranging your own regional get-togethers
Buddy up with other volunteers in your local area

9. Final year of Life+ funded project
Volunteers attending meeting with Life+ funders in March
Evaluation surveys with a small group of volunteers in March/April
Celebration event for volunteers in July
Closing conference in September
Funding ceases at the end of Sept 2017
What next????

10. What next? Observatree
Partners are keen to see the Observatree project continue
Drafting a business plan to secure support and future funding
Volunteers will be kept informed of progress
We want you to be involved in the planning process
So we need your input