PRESS RELEASE

Joint press release from the Arboricultural Association and

International Society of Arboriculture (UK and Ireland Chapter)

Friday 4^th July 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Future of Arboricultural Representation in Britain and Ireland

In recent years there has been much greater co-operation between the various bodies that represent the arboricultural industry and its practitioners. As a progression of this co-operation, initial discussions have been opened between the Arboricultural Association and International Society of Arboriculture (UK and Ireland Chapter) about the possibility of these two organisations becoming one new organisation to provide a unified democratic voice for British and Irish arboriculture.

In order to know how to progress, the leaders of both organisations are seeking the views of their respective memberships through an identical postal questionnaire. It was felt that in order to continue the discussions, it was necessary to have a positive mandate from the respective memberships. The questionnaire was sent out to AA and ISA (UK&I) members on 30 June.

Members are being asked to respond with either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question: ‘Do you support the principle of the Arboricultural Association and ISA (UK and Ireland Chapter) becoming one new organisation to provide a unified democratic voice for British and Irish arboriculture?’ Members are also encouraged to give their written comments on the question. Response must be received no later than 18 July and the results for each organisation will be published on their respective websites by 1 August.

If both the AA and ISA (UK&I) received a majority of positive responses from their members, the discussions on forming a new organisation will continue.

Following this joint press release, both the AA and ISA (UK&I) have agreed to make no further comment until the results of the consultation exercise are known. At that time, a further joint press release will the issued.

The text of this press release can be viewed on the website of the Arboricultural Association at: www.trees.org.uk and the website of the International Society of Arboriculture (UK&I) at: www.isa-uki.org

ENDS