Amenity Forum Conference - Exceeding Expectations
I had the pleasure of attending the 2023 Amenity Forum Conference last week. Located at the British Motor Museum in Warwick, it was just a short drive from where our International Invasive Weed Conference takes place on 16th November.
The theme for this event was "A Changing Landscape", and I was keen to explore how the amenity sector is evolving. Most importantly, I wanted to discover key takeaways applicable for PCA invasive weed members and why this conference should be on their radar for future attendance....
Significant impact & insightful contributions
The keynote speakers and presenters made a significant impact with their insightful contributions. The workshops and sessions were informative and thought-provoking, equipping attendees with practical tools and strategies to tackle the challenges we face in this field. It included discussions such as:
- How do we calibrate and spray machines to suit the needs of invasive species?
- How do we embed sustainable methodologies into remediation strategies?
- Are drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI) the way forward for surveying and managing new invasive species?
These were just a few questions which were asked and answered by some of the presenters.
Herbicide usage & managing grasslands
Speakers included Mike Potts from the CRD enforcement team, who shed light on the efforts to crack down on rogue organisations operating outside of the Official Controls Regulations. This was a much needed update, especially in the ongoing debate surrounding herbicide usage. Members can find out more about this at our own conference when we discuss glyphosate.
Simon Clark explained how Heathrow Airport manages its grasslands within a complex environment along with their efforts to introduce new grasses to improve resistance and find the ideal grass height to discourage wildlife nesting. Revegetation is an important step of rehabilitation after successful control of invasive species, and Simon showed the importance of matching the vegetation or grass type to the new intended uses of the area.
Compliance, sustainability & drones
Paul Bannister from Amenity Training delivered a presentation that left me with more questions than answers (in the best way possible) highlighting the importance and practicality of compliance in easily digestible portions. When was the last time you checked the date on your eyewash packs or first aid kits? When was the last time you cleaned the filters in the sprayers? These seem rather trivial, but regular checks often get overlooked!
However, the afternoon session is where the conference truly picked up pace. Dr. Dan Jones shared his insights on sustainable management, reminding us that whilst we encourage innovative "green" ideas, they can sometimes produce a larger carbon footprint compared to our current remediation methods.
Finally, Ed Davis from Railscape Ltd discussed the use of drones to treat Buddleia along railway embankments. Railscape Ltd will delve deeper into their presentation at our conference in November, and the prospect of using AI and colour spectrometers to map and identify plants over a large area - this left me eagerly anticipating its potential applications!
Delivering real value
The value of the conference extended beyond the speakers. Exhibitor stands were abundant and it was good to see PCA member Japanese knotweed Ltd there, manned by industry experts John Butcher and Darren Greatbatch.
The networking opportunities at this conference, much like our own events, are always a highlight and enable attendees to connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences and establish new partnerships. These connections are bound to have a positive impact on our work and the industry as a whole.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
This year's event demonstrated a firm commitment to fostering innovation, sharing knowledge and promoting best practices within the amenity sector. Although the attendance was low, engagement was high and it exceeded my expectations, leaving me feeling optimistic about the future of our industry.
I eagerly look forward to future Amenity Forum events and the ongoing growth and development of the amenity sector. I would strongly encourage our invasive weed members to attend next year too...