Aim
- The aim of this “tree health learning pathway” is to provide information and guidance to encourage anyone to engage with and get involved with nature, and with trees and tree pests and diseases, in particular
Who is it for?
- This learning pathway is aimed at everyone and caters for all ages and abilities
How does it work?
- Tree health in the learning pathway focuses mainly on harm to trees caused by pests and diseases. Many other factors, such as drought and physical damage can also harm trees.
- The pathway consists of ‘Steps’:
- “Specialisation” increases from left to right along the pathway; from ‘nature’ to ‘trees’ to ‘tree pests and diseases’
- “Level of expertise” increases from the bottom to the top of the pathway; from ‘beginner’, to ‘improver’ to ‘experienced’
- All steps on the pathway have equal importance
- If your enthusiasm is captured and you want to learn more, you can move to the next step but if you find a Step that suits you, it’s fine to stay there. You can make a positive contribution at any step
- For each Step on the pathway, links to relevant activities and guidance are presented in the tables below.
- A 9-minute video explaining the tree health learning pathway appears below.
Getting started
- Start at Step 1. If you already have existing knowledge of nature and trees, then jump in at any Step suitable to your knowledge, including to Step 3(a) if you have existing knowledge of tree pest and diseases
- At any step, connect to the links/resources and simply have a go at anything that interests you
Moving along the pathway
- If you find that you are interested in trees and want to learn more, move to Step 2(a) and then, if you are interested in tree pests and diseases, on to Step 3(a)
- Alternatively, if you find that you are interested in aspects of nature other than trees (e.g. birds, bees, butterflies, mammals, fungi etc.) then an alternative pathway has been provided for you at Step 2(b) and Step 3(b)
- If you get to Step 3(a) or Step 3(b) and want to keep learning, then carry on further
- Also, if you reach Step 3(a) ‘trees’ or Step 3(b) ‘other species’, you are encouraged to apply your skills of identification, recording and reporting to look out for all species
Video Explaining the Learning Pathway
Step 1: “Get started with Nature“
| Task | Resources | Details/Links |
| Learn about nature, plants, animals and fungi | BBC Springwatch | Ideas, information and resources to help wildlife |
| | Field Studies Council | Simple easy-to-use identification guides for a wide range of plant, animal and fungal species |
| Animal and Plant Health Agency | Izzy the inspector, a fun activity book for children | |
| Start looking at nature in your local area | UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology | Top tips to discover wildlife in your area |
| Wildlife Trusts | Visit a local nature reserve to explore | |
| Podcasts (include trees and many other aspects of nature) | Woodland Walks Trees a Crowd Knepp Wildland Podcast |
AFTER STEP 1, you should:
- Know about wildlife sites in your local area
- Be familiar with some of the most common plant, animal and fungal species
- Perhaps have developed an area(s) of special interest
Step 2(a): “Improve your knowledge of trees“
(If you decide that you have a particular interest in trees.)
| Task | Resources | Details/Links |
| Learn to identify different tree species | Woodland Trust | British Tree Identification App |
| Field Studies Council | The FSC Tree name trail features 34 of the commonest broadleaved and conifer trees found in Great Britain and Ireland | |
| Field Studies Council | Tree identification courses | |
| Podcasts | Completely Arbortrary | |
| Visit and get involved with local woodlands | Woodland Trust | Find a wood to explore |
| Try a general tree Citizen Science activity | Treezilla | A Citizen Science project to map, measure and monitor trees |
| Woodland Trust Ancient Tree Inventory | Help find ancient trees across the country Ancient Tree Inventory |
AFTER STEP 2(a), you should:
- Know about woodlands in your local area
- Be able to identify the most common species of tree
- Have participated in a general tree citizen science activity
Step 2(b): “Improve your knowledge of other species“
(If you decide that you have a particular interest in species other than trees.)
| Task | Resources | Details/Links |
| Learn to identify different plant and animal species | Field Studies Council | Simple easy-to-use identification guides for a wide range of plant, animal and fungal species |
| iNaturalist | App to identify species from photograph (they have communities of experts to help you too) | |
| iSpot | App to identify species from photograph (they have communities of experts to help you too) | |
| Visit and get involved with local nature reserves or parks | Wildlife Trusts | Find a local nature reserve to explore |
| Parks and Gardens | Find a local park | |
| Try a general tree Citizen Science activity | Woodland Trust Nature’s Calendar | Track the effects of weather and climate change on wildlife near you |
AFTER STEP 2(b), you should:
- Know about wildlife sites in your local area
- Be able to identify some of the most common plant, animal and fungal species
- Have participated in a general citizen science activity
STEP 3(a): “Support the tree health surveillance and research communities” & “Learn about tree pests and diseases“
AFTER STEP 3(a), you should:
- Be able to identify some of the most common pests and diseases of trees
- Know how to report any suspicious sightings of potentially new tree pests and diseases
- Feel part of the network of people contributing to science protecting our trees from pests and diseases
Step 3b: “Support the biological recording community“
| Task | Resources | Details/Links |
| Get involved with a specialist ecological/ biological recording society(ies) | Biological Records Centre | A national focus for terrestrial and freshwater species recording schemes and societies |
| | British Ecological Society | A learned society – the oldest in the world for the advancement of ecology |
| National Biodiversity Network (NBN) and NBN Atlases | A national network and online platform to share biological data NBN Atlas NBN Atlas Scotland NBN Atlas Wales NBN Atlas Northern Ireland NBN Atlas Isle of Man | |
| Help out by looking for tree pests and diseases | TreeAlert | The website for reporting signs of dangerous tree pests and diseases in Great Britain |
| TreeCheck | A website for reporting signs of dangerous tree pests and diseases in Northern Ireland (and Ireland) |
AFTER STEP 3b, you should:
- Be able to identify many species of plants, animals, fungi etc. depending on your area of interest
- Feel part of the biological recording community
- If needed, know how to report any suspicious sightings of potentially new tree pests and diseases
Biosecurity
Finally, the table below lists a few resources to help you enjoy the countryside and woodlands without inadvertently spreading pests and diseases yourselves.
| Organisation | Resource | Details/Links |
| European Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) | “Don’t Risk it” | Downloadable posters for tourists and travellers |
| Forestry Commission and Animal and Plant Health Agency | How biosecurity can prevent the introduction and spread of tree pests and diseases | Comprehensive information, guidance and further links |
| Scottish Forestry | “Keep it clean – don’t give tree pest and diseases an easy ride” | Biosecurity advice to help to protect our trees |