Okay, so I don’t usually write about trees in a work context, but bear with me, because this week’s View from the Top has taken a slightly leafier turn.
I’ve been enjoying a rare, travel-light month, which has given me the headspace to really dive into the policy support side of my work. It’s amazing what you notice when you’re not dashing from place to place.
As someone who devours research, policy updates, government releases, and cross-sector articles like snacks, I’m always looking for those threads that connect back to our members. And yes, that’s where trees come in – specifically, ash trees, and the ongoing challenge of ash dieback, particularly on our highway networks.
If you’ve worked with (or in) any Highways Authority recently, you’ll know what I mean. Ash dieback, caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, has been wreaking havoc on safety and infrastructure since it was first identified in the ’90s, and later spotted in the UK in 2012. Back then, predictions warned of up to 95% tree loss. Thankfully, more recent research shows it’s not quite that severe, however the impact is still huge.
Councils, already under budgetary pressure, have had no choice but to manage the damage, especially where highways trees are concerned – death from unsafe trees is a horror no council wants. That’s why it was good to see The Tree Council released an updated and much valued version of its guidance last Friday, originally developed four years ago. Many of our members are involved in helping councils take stock of their highway tree inventories and this work is vital, even if it doesn’t always grab headlines.
Now, I know what you might be thinking: “What about potholes?” Believe me, I haven’t forgotten. Potholes and the politics around them are the loudest topics right now. But for me, it’s never just about “holes in the road” – it’s about the full picture: roads, environment, people, economy, and climate. It’s all connected, and trees are just one of the many threads in that complex network.
Speaking of climate, one thing that did catch my attention was the “Early Warnings for All” initiative. In contrast, the government has been relatively muted on climate lately, which I suspect many of us find a bit frustrating. While everyone’s shouting about potholes, there’s a quieter storm building around the resilience of our infrastructure, both natural and manmade. It’s under pressure from every angle, including from greater risk of disease to the green part of our networks.
On a brighter note, event season has kicked off with a bang! After the success of last week’s RSTA Conference (a big congratulations to the LCRIG team, especially Charlotte and Claire for the huge part they played), we’re now rolling full steam ahead into a packed schedule: the TTF Conference, ITS European Congress, Innovation and Learning Festival, Apprentice Awards, Strictly Highways plus an AI webinar and more supplier webinar events. It’s a whirlwind, but an exciting one! I hope you are coming because late booking is fraught with risk due to the popularity of LCRIG events!
So yes, this week it’s trees, and next week, who knows? But whatever it is, I’ll be reading, watching, and piecing it together, probably on a chocolate fuelled stomach with the (Easter) break ahead.
Paula Claytonsmith, CEO