Futurebuild 2026

We are told that we must ‘plant the right tree in the right place’ – but what is ‘right’ when we need to ensure increased biodiversity and trees that will be able to reach maturity and live their potentially long lives in a changing climate? At the same time responding to the impact of climate change also requires an increase in urban tree canopy cover – but how much and where? These are challenges for designers, specifiers, and developers.
Finding the right answers is explored in this seminar.

Chair: Melissa Arthur, Head of Biodiversity, Barratt Redrow

Reporting our research outcomes on trees species and biodiversity value
Dr Andrew Hirons, Director at Urban Plant Lab and a Senior Lecturer in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry at University Centre Myerscough

Tree species selection with projected climate changes in the UK
Kevin Martin, Head of Tree Collections, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

How much canopy cover should we aim for and where?
Kieron Doick, Head Urban Forest Research Group, Forest Research