Join us for #MembersHour on 23 February with Mike Appleton, James Anderson-Bickley and Nicola Abbatt from the Forest Plastics Working Group.
Plastic tree shelters protect new trees as they grow, enabling many saplings to survive that would otherwise die. But the plastic they leave behind is polluting our soils and waterways. The Forest Plastics Working Group is driving an industry-led response to the problem, paving a way forward for less single-use plastic in woodland creation.
During this session, members of the group will focus on its work, the trial of recycling hubs, the profligacy of plastic in the sector, and what we can all do to make a change.
Speakers
Mike Appleton – Plastic Free Woodlands Officer, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust
Mike has a degree in English, and professional experience in sports journalism, team management and welfare. He has been leading YDMT’s Plastic Free Woodlands programme since January 2021 and is an integral part of the Forest Plastics Working Group, providing strategy and communications support.
James Anderson-Bickley – Chair, Forest Plastics Working Group
James left school in a hurry at sixteen to work in forestry contracting and construction, the adventure continued and included working as a tree surgeon in the Republic of Ireland for a number of years, mountain runner, environment advocate, Highland piper and infanteer with the 51st Highland Regiment. A different route beckoned; a return to education and a forest science degree from Aberdeen University was followed by professional practice in the West Highlands of Scotland, Cornwall and the west of England with the Forestry Commission. James has been in forestry for over 35 years, and is a chartered forester and surveyor
Nicola Abbatt CEnv – Environment, Sustainability & Assurance Manager, Tilhill
Nicola is an experienced environment, sustainability, and assurance manager. She is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv, MIEMA), a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner (CMIOSH), and a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS). Nicola began her career in forestry and has since worked in highways, utilities, rail and construction. She has worked on a variety of waste and carbon improvement projects, including on grounds maintenance contracts for London borough parks and construction projects with Liverpool and Rochdale City Councils partnerships. She joined Tilhill in 2013 where she leads on environmental management and sustainability strategy. She is currently completing a Master of Laws in Environment and Law at Lancaster University (in her spare time!). Protecting our environment and contributing to solutions to deliver a sustainable future is at the heart of Nicola’s career. She believes that environmental management and sustainability must consider society and economy as well as the environment to be truly successful.
Taking place on Zoom, this presentation will be followed by an interactive Q&A session.
This #MembersHour will take place on Thursday 23 February between 11:00 and 12:00.
If there’s a subject you’d like to discuss, or potentially host, in a future #MembersHour session then please let us know via icf@charteredforesters.org.
