Invitation to The State of the UK's Oaks Webinar
What does the future hold for our oak trees?
In March, Action Oak is launching a first-of-its-kind report that seeks to answer this question.
The State of the UK's Oaks is the first tree species-specific report of its kind in the UK.
Join us for a webinar panel discussion about the report and its findings.
What? A webinar panel discussion about the new report: The State of the UK’s Oaks.
When? Tuesday 17 March, 2026, 2pm-3pm
Report cover image (C) Charles Sainsbury-Plaice
The Panel
Join us to hear our four expert panellists share their views on the report and what the future holds for our native oaks.
Professor Nicola Spence CBE
Chair of Action Oak's Research and Monitoring sub-committee. Nicola is the UK Chief Plant Health Officer and is the Head of the National Plant Protection Organisation. She advises ministers, industry and others about the risks posed by plant pests and diseases, ensuring that measures are in place to manage those risks and minimise their impact, as well as leading the operational response in the event of a disease outbreak.
Dr Kate Halstead
Climate Change Scientist, Forest Research. Kate completed her PhD at Newcastle University, where she investigated the drivers of oak damage during Storm Arwen as part of a 3.5-year project funded by Action Oak and supported by Forest Research. She now specialises in wind risk and climate change research, with expertise in ForestGALES, GIS and remote sensing.
Tony Kirkham MBE, VMH, FArborA, FICFor (Hon)
Chair of Action Oak's Knowledge into Action sub-committee. After studying at The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew on the 3-year Diploma course, Tony was the Head of the Arboretum, Gardens and Horticultural Services, responsible for the management and curation of over 14,000 trees and curated and managed the hardy shrub collections until July 2021. He retired after 43 years’ service, for which he received an MBE and the RHS VMH.
Lisa (Smith) Brooks
Co-Chair of Action Oak. Lisa is the Chief Operating Officer of Forest Services in the Forestry Commission. She has over 25 years' experience in Defra, specialising in environmental policy, operational delivery, and building science capability.
Moderated by Dr Chris Nichols
Head of Conservation Outcomes & Evidence, Woodland Trust. Chris completed his PhD at Forest Research on woodland ecology and invasive species. He has since worked as a Research Scientist at the Animal & Plant Health Agency and Conservation Evidence Manager at the Woodland Trust.
