“Trees are vital to the future sustainability of our towns and cities and we must plant and care for trees like never before. To achieve that we need to recognise that the roots of good practice are based firmly in good research. Without this research our efforts are likely to be wasted. ‘Ride for Research’ and ‘Fund4Trees’ are excellent initiatives providing much needed funding for this crucial research and I would urge everyone to support these efforts.”
Dr Mark Johnston MBE is the Course Leader for the MSc programme and a Research Fellow at Myerscough College. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, a Chartered Arboriculturist, Fellow of the Institute of Horticulture and Member of the International Society of Arboriculture. Mark has nearly 40 years experience in the arboriculture and forestry industries, including working as a contractor, a Tree Officer in local government and a consultant in private practice. He has initiated and managed a number of major urban forestry projects in both Britain and Ireland and has extensive international experience. He holds a PhD in urban forestry from the University of Ulster and has gained international recognition for his research and project work in this field. In 2007 he was awarded the MBE for services to the development of urban forestry in Britain. In 2010 he received the International Society of Arboriculture Award of Merit for an outstanding contribution to his field.
