Observatree Volunteer Training Event Venue, Location

Tree Identification Challenge Can you match up the conifers with their cones? Suzy to lead this tree identification activity. A good opportunity for volunteers to get to know each other and us, as well as a good introduction to tree identification.

Helen Jones – Engagement Officer, Woodland Trust Trainers Suzy Sancisi-Frey - Tree Health Disease Diagnostic and Advisory Service, Forest Research Helen Jones – Engagement Officer, Woodland Trust Welcome and introductions. Ensure volunteers are given the opportunity to introduce themselves too!

Aims of the day To learn about five priority pests and diseases in more detail, signs and symptoms to look out for and how to diagnose them To learn observational and surveying skills required for the project  To gain a good understanding of the project surveying protocol To carry out a survey using the protocol and survey recording form  To learn more about the triage and verifier roles To receive an update on the redevelopment of Tree Alert The training event will provide: A review of the three volunteer roles being offered and an update on the redevelopment of Tree Alert (reporting tool developed by the FC for members of the public to report pests and diseases, and for volunteers to verify their records) Then hand over to Caroline/Simon to cover 5 of the priority pests and diseases in more detail. This will include the signs and symptoms you need to look out for in the field or when verifying records Lunch at about 12.30pm After lunch, Caroline/Simon will go through some observational skills required for completing the survey form and go through some signs and symptoms that may be confused with pests and diseases e.g. environmental factors such as drought stress, waterlogging, frost damage etc We will then go out into the park to run through the surveying form we’ll be using this year, and then you can go off and try to work through the form independently Any questions? Travel arrangements? Buses/trains to catch?

Observatree Project Website Observatree website has gone live – lots of information about the project and partners, pests and diseases with links to further info and details of how to report sightings. The website is only a starting point, we will be adding more information throughout the four years of the project. There will also be a secure area of the website where you can log in to access resources such as the presentations from training events, expense forms etc Please take a look and let us know if you spot any spelling mistakes/grammatical errors and any suggestions of what you would like to see on there

Tree Health Surveyor Choose local woodland sites to carry out surveys Decide on a date and time to visit and complete lone working form before departing. Follow biosecurity guidelines. Follow survey protocol and complete the survey checklist Return the survey form to the Engagement Officer Report any urgent pest and disease incidents through Tree Alert http://www.forestry.gov.uk/treealert Record the activity and time spent on this using activity diary Quick review of the three roles

Tree Health Triage Researcher Review survey forms and Tree Alert records to identify missing information Contact recorder for additional information / photographs Resubmit record for verification Record the activity and time spent on this (see later slide) Out and about? Follow biosecurity guidelines Report any pest and disease incidents through Tree Alert http://www.forestry.gov.uk/treealert

Tree Health Desktop Verifier Reviewing Tree Alert records from members of the public and survey forms from surveyors Using the information and photographs supplied, attempt to diagnose pests and diseases Refer record to a researcher if there is insufficient information to make a diagnosis Out and about? Follow biosecurity guidelines Report any pest and disease incidents through Tree Alert http://www.forestry.gov.uk/treealert

Verification Portal Log in through the Observatree website volunteer area Select a record to triage or verify (researchers will only see triage requests and verifiers will only see verification requests) The record will be assigned to you and should be completed within 10 days Triage or verify the record and then resubmit the information A reminder will be sent if this is not completed within the time frame The verification portal is your way of accessing Tree Alert records. This will be used by the volunteers carrying out the desk-based roles

Volunteer roles in year 1 Focus will be on surveying and surveyors will be asked to select their own sites Triage researchers and desktop verifiers will be involved in testing the new Tree Alert system and verification portal Tree Alert phase 1 (general tree health) and phase 2 (pest and disease reporting) are ready for testing The verification portal (phase 3) is under development and will also need testing In summary . . . Surveyors will be carrying out visits to sites of their choice. Desk-based volunteers will be testing the systems they will use later on in the project. A quick update on Tree Alert – Phase 1 has been built and this is the general tree health report. If you have seen a “poorly” tree, you can report it by filling in your details, information about the tree (species, location, symptoms etc). Phase 2 is being built at the moment and includes more details tree disease reporting lines. If you have seen an ash tree with suspected Chalara, Tree Alert will lead you through a series of questions to aid diagnosis of what you have seen. Phase 1 and 2 will be tested by volunteers before public release so please let us know if you would like to be involved. Phase 3, the verification portal will be built next and will also need to be tested by volunteers. It is essential to get good feedback now while we’re still working with the contractors and we can still make changes/improvements. Any questions???