Kieron Doick
BSc, MRes, PhD
BSc, MRes, PhD
Science Group Leader
This role involves conducting research on the urban forest, urban greenspace and land regeneration to forestry.
Kieron received a 1st class honours in Environmental Science with Chemistry at the University of Plymouth in 2000 before moving to Lancaster University to undertake an MRes. Kieron’s Masters project was part of an international collaboration, investigating the effects of climate change on VOC emissions from plants. He then undertook a NERC CASE (National Grid plc) studentship at Lancaster University investigating the bioavailability of organic contaminants in soil. Kieron undertook a short post-doctoral position at Lancaster having been awarded his PhD in 2005, before moving to Forest Research in June 2005.
Alice Holt
Alice Holt Lodge
Wrecclesham
Farnham
Surrey
There are potentially many Vacant and Derelict Land (VDL) sites which could be used for the establishment of vegetation, such as trees and woodland. Such sites are often challenging and historically there has been mixed success in delivering vegetation establishment schemes. A clear delivery pathway for VDL sites, supported by contemporary technical guidance, is needed to ensure that schemes are successful, and the benefits are fully realised.
Vacant and Derelict Land (VDL) woodland will contribute beneficial ecosystem services to UK communities. To realise these benefits, such woodlands must be resilient to current and future climate change risks. This requires understanding these risks and the adaptation and mitigation approaches that can minimise them.
This work helps us to understand the overall value of our treescape, in which non-woodland trees play a critical role. We define non-woodland trees as single trees in urban and rural places, groups of trees covering less than 0.1 hectares, and small woods covering less than 0.5 hectares.
Short summary of evaluation of outcomes and benefits of conducting i-Tree Eco surveys in the UK.
Collating ecosystem service provision by different sizes and species of common UK urban trees to inform species selection
Ecosystem provision by urban trees to inform species selection and tree replacement rates
Describes the use of HemiView to estimate the leaf area of urban trees
Bringing a fully functioning i-Tree Eco to the UK to support the quantification, valuation and resource management of urban trees, greenspaces and forests.
Overview of Forest Research's projects for the quantification and valuation of ecosystem service provision of urban trees
This paper summarises the results of Forest Research’s citizen science canopy cover webmap. Tree canopy cover was measured by contributors to the project in 5,749 urban wards in the UK using a random sample, manual image classification tool called i-Tree Canopy. The area-weighted mean canopy cover across urban areas in the UK was found to be […]
Urban trees provide a range of benefits or ‘ecosystem services’ to society.
Trees and greenspaces can play an important role in reducing the negative impact of the urban heat island effect on urban communities.
A study of historic and current urban tree canopy cover in Great Britain using aerial imagery.
Research into the sustainability of 12 urban forests across Great Britain, and recommendation of a framework to rate sustainability of urban trees.
Evaluation of the impacts of I-Tree eco surveys in the UK
Urban forests provide ecosystem services that contribute to human health, liveability and sustainability. The management of trees influences the delivery of these ecosystem services and thus helps determine the total benefit provided by an urban forest. This Research Note summarises two Research Reports that assessed the delivery of regulating ecosystem services by 30 tree species […]
This Research Report reviews the provision of four ecosystem services by 18 small and medium stature tree species using the i-Tree Eco model and compares the performance of these trees in different age groups.
This Research Report reviews the provision of four ecosystem services by 12 large stature tree species using the i-Tree Eco model and compares the performance of trees in different age classifications and climate regions.
This Research Note describes the negative impact that elevated urban temperatures can have on human thermal comfort and health and how urban green infrastructure can help lessen this impact.
Trees in cities provide important benefits (or ecosystem services), such as decreased local air temperatures, reduced air pollution and the attenuation of storm water. The range and volume of the benefits provided depends on the size of the trees and their canopy. While city locations can be good places for trees to grow, […]
This Research Report looks at a broad range of urban forest-based ecosystem services and disservices and, using a literature review, links their provision with four aspects of urban forests (physical scale, physical structure and context in terms of location and proximity to people and land use and ownership). A key objective of this report is […]
Tree allometry describes the relationships between tree biometric variables, such as tree diameter, height and crown width. Understanding of these relationships helps urban foresters to assess many of the economic and ecological benefits (e.g. carbon storage, rainwater interception and regulation of temperatures) provided by trees, such as through the use of the urban forest management […]
The regeneration of brownfield land to green space can deliver multiple benefits to society and the environment through improvements in the quality of a site and its surrounding landscape. Successful delivery of regeneration projects is dependent on the planning of project delivery and on good project management. This Practice Note describes the process of brownfield […]
An overview of how greenspace can be established and used in a sustainable regeneration context on brownfield land. By T.R. Hutchings, D. Sinnett, K.J. Doick, K. Pediaditi and A.J. Moffat. CL:AIRE SUBR:IM Bulletin 11 Contact Kieron Doick
A monitoring and evaluation strategy for urban greenspace. Contact Kieron Doick
This Information Note describes investigation of brownfield land for potential redevelopment into greenspace. Written for site owners, foresters, planners, managers and consultants, it gives step-by-step guidance on site selection and evaluation.
Research Programmes
This project aims to facilitate the use of i-Tree Eco in the UK. i-Tree Eco is a software application to quantify the structure and environmental effects of urban trees, and calculate their value to society.
Urban trees and greenspace in a changing climate
This project delivers scientific knowledge on the UK’s urban forests. Our work includes quantification and assessment of the urban forests of towns and cities across the UK, quantifying helping to clarify the role of urban forests in delivering ecosystem service benefits to society and valuing these services.
Urban tree management with CAVAT
Determining the extent of CAVAT use across Great Britain and understanding how and for what purposes CAVAT is being used
Sustainable restoration of brownfield sites
Creating effective and sustainable greenspace by planning for and creating the correct site conditions to enable trees and other vegetation to reach maturity
Restoration guidance for landfill sites
Supporting growth of trees and other vegetation on restored landfill sites
Brownfield site investigation procedures for greenspace development
Evaluating bioindicators and assessment techniques for greenspace development on brownfield sites
Evaluating the impact of trees, woodland and forests on quality of life
Part of Forestry Commission England’s Methuselah initiative to develop a framework for monitoring the impacts of greenspace
Recent publications
Doick, K.J., Buckland, A., Clarke, T-K. (2020). Historic Urban Tree Canopy Cover of Great Britain. Forests, 11 (10), 1049.
Peer-reviewed publications
Vaz Monteiro, M., Handley, P., Doick, K.J. (2019). An insight to the current state and sustainability of urban forests across Great Britain based on i-Tree Eco surveys. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research, 93 (1), 107-123.
Moffat, A.J., Doick, K.J. (2019). The Petersfield i-Tree Eco survey – an exercise in community ownership. Arboricultural Journal. 41, 153-71.
Raum, S., Hand, K.L., Hall, C., Edward, D.M., O’Brien, L., Doick, K.J. (2019). Achieving impact from ecosystem assessment and valuation of urban greenspace: The case of i-Tree Eco in Great Britain. Landscape and Urban Planning. 190,103590.
Li, X., Bardos, P., Cundy, A., Harder, M., Doick, K.J., Norrman, J., Williams, S., Chen, W. (2019). Using a Conceptual Site Model for Assessing the Sustainability of Brownfield Regeneration for a Soft Reuse: A Case Study of Port Sunlight River Park (U.K.). Science of the Total Environment. 652, 810-821.
Moss, J.L., Doick, K.J., Smith, S.T., Shahrestani, M. (2019). Influence of evaporative cooling by urban forests on cooling demand in cities. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 37, 65-73.
Davies, H.J., Doick, K.J., Hudson, M.D., Schaafsma, M., Schreckenberg, K., Valatin, G. (2018). Business attitudes towards funding ecosystem services provided by urban forests. Ecosystem Services. 32 (part B), 159-169.
Ashwood, F.E., Butt, K.R., Doick, K.J., Vanguelova. E.I. (2018). Effects of composted green waste on soil quality and tree growth on a reclaimed landfill site. European Journal of Soil Biology. 87, 46-52.
Smithers, R.J., Doick, K.J., Burton, A., Sibille, R., Steinbach, D., Harris, R., Groves, L., Blicharska, M. (2018). Comparing the relative abilities of tree species to cool the urban environment. Urban Ecosystems. 21(5), 851-862.
Doick, K.J., Neilan, C., Jones, G., Allison, A., McDermott, I., Tipping, A., Haw, R. (2018). CAVAT (Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees): Valuing amenity trees as public assets. Arboricultural Journal. 40 (02), 67-91.
Vaz Monteiro, M., Doick, K.J., Lawrence, V., Wilson, J. (2018). Estimation of leaf area for open-grown urban trees in Great Britain using HemiView. Arboricultural Journal. 40 (01), 3-15.
Vaz Monteiro, M., Doick, K.J., Lawrence, V., Albertini, A. Handley, P. (2017). Investigation into the drought tolerance of broadleaf street trees using chlorophyll fluorescence. ISHS Acta Horticulturae. 1189, 427-430.
Ashwood, F.E., Butt, K.R., Doick, K.J., Vanguelova. E.I. (2017). Interactive effects of composted green waste and earthworm activity on tree growth and reclaimed soil quality: a mesocosm experiment. Applied Soil Ecology. 119, 226-233.
Davies, H.J., Doick, K.J., Hudson, M.D., Schreckenberg K. (2017). Challenges for tree officers to enhance the provision of regulating ecosystem services from urban forests. Environmental Research. 156, 97–107.
Doick, K.J., Davies, H.J., Moss, J., Coventry, R., Handley, P., Vaz Monteiro, M., Rogers, K. and Simpkin, P. (2017). The Canopy Cover of England’s Towns and Cities: baselining and setting targets to improve human health and well-being. Conference Proceedings of TPBEIII. Urban Trees Research Conference. 5-6th April 2017. Institute of Chartered Foresters, Edinburgh.
Vaz Monteiro, M., Levanič, T., Doick, K.J., (2017). Growth rates of common urban trees in five cities in Great Britain: a dendrochronological evaluation with an emphasis on the impact of climate. Urban For. Urban Green. 22, 11–23.
Vaz Monteiro, M., Doick, K.J., Handley, P. (2016). Allometric relationships for urban trees in Great Britain. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 19, 223–236.
Vaz Monteiro, M., Doick, K.J., Handley, P., Peace, A. (2016). The impact of greenspace size on the extent of local nocturnal air temperature cooling in London. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 16, 160–169.
Doick, K.J., Peace, A., Hutchings, T.R. (2014). The Role of One Large Greenspace in Mitigating London’s Nocturnal Urban Heat Island. Science of the Total Environment. 493, 662–671. .
Ashwood, F.E., Doick, K.J., Atkinson, G.E., Chenoweth, J. (2014). Under-utilisation of organic wastes during brownfield regeneration to community woodland: Tackling the barriers. Waste Management and Research. 32 (1), 49 – 55.
Atkinson, G.E., Doick, K.J., Burningham, K., France, C. (2013). Brownfield regeneration to greenspace: Delivery of project objectives for social and environmental gain. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 13 (3), 586-594.
Riding, M.J., Doick, K.J. Martin, F.L., Jones, K.C., Semple, K.T. (2013). Chemical measures of bioavailability/ bioaccessibility of PAHs in soil: Fundamentals to application. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 261, 687– 700.
Doick, K.J., Atkinson, G.E., Cordle, P., Giupponi, N., (2013). Investigating design and provision of access facilities as a barrier to woodland use. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 12 (2), 117-125. .
Doick, K.J., Ashwood, F. (2011). Brownfield regeneration to a soft-end use: Barriers to using a quality planting medium. Reclamation (Journal of the BLRS), November 2011, pp.3.
Rolls, W., Doick K., Dandy, N., and Ambrose-Oji, B. (2011). Growing Woodfuel on Former Landfill Sites. Contract report to Warwickshire County Council.
Doick, K.J. (2010). Learning lessons in monitoring brownfield land regeneration to greenspace through logic modelling. IN Fox, H., R & Moore, H. E. (Eds.) Restoration and Recovery: Regenerating land and communities. Dunbeath, Scotland, UK, Whittles Publishing.
Pediaditi, K., Doick, K.J. and Moffat, A.J. (2010). Monitoring and evaluation practice for brownfield regeneration to greenspace initiatives. A meta-evaluation of assessment and monitoring tools. Landscape and Urban Planning. 97 (1), 22-36.
Doick, K. J., Sellers, G., Castan-Broto, V. and Silverthorne, T. (2009). Understanding success in the context of brownfield greening projects: the requirement for outcome evaluation in urban greenspace success assessment. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 8 (3), 163-178.
Hutchings, T.R., Sinnett, D., Doick, K.J., Pediaditi, K. and Moffat, A.J. (2009). Integrated Remediation, Reclamation and Greenspace Creation on Brownfield Land (PDF-576K). CL:AIRE SUBR:IM bulletin SUB 11. CL:AIRE, London.
Doick, K.J., Pediaditi, K., Moffat, A.J. and Hutchings, T.R. (2009). Defining the sustainability objectives of brownfield regeneration to greenspace. International Journal Management and Decision Making. 10 (3/4), 282-302
Semple, K. T., Doick, K. J., Wick, L. Y. and Harms, H. (2007). Microbial interactions with organic contaminants in soil: definitions, processes and measurement. Environmental Pollution. 150, 166-176.
O’Brien, L., Foot, K. and Doick, K. J. (2007). Evaluating the benefits of community greenspace creation on brownfield land. Quarterly Journal of Forestry. 101 (2), 145-151.
Hutchings, T., Sinnett, D. and Doick, K. J. (2006). Best Practice Guidance Note for Land Regeneration No. 1: Soil sampling derelict, underused and neglected land prior to greenspace establishment. Best Practice Guidance. Forest Research, Farnham. 12pp.
Doick, K. J., Clasper, P. J., Urmann, K. and Semple, K. T. (2006). Further validation of the HPCD-technique for the evaluation of PAH microbial availability in soil. Environmental Pollution. 144, 345-354.
Semple, K. T., Dew, N. M., Doick, K. J. and Rhodes, A. H. (2006). Does mineralisation predict the microbial availability of organic chemicals in soil? Environmental Pollution. 140, 164-172.
Doick, K. J., Burauel, P., Jones, K. C. and Semple, K. T. (2005). Distribution of aged 14C-PCB and 14C-PAH residues in particle-size and humic fractions of an agricultural soil. Environmental Science and Technology. 39 (17), 6575-6583.
Doick, K. J., Dew, N. M. and Semple, K. T. (2005). Linking catabolism to cyclodextrin extractability: determination of the microbial availability of PAHs in soil. Environmental Science and Technology. 39 (22), 8858-8864.
Doick, K. J., Burauel, P., Jones, K. C. and Semple, K. T. (2005). Effect of cyclodextrin and transformer oil amendments on the chemical extractability of aged 14C-polychlorinated biphenyl and 14C-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon residues in soil. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 24 (9), 2138-2144.
Doick, K. J., Klingelmann, E., Burauel, P., Jones, K. C. and Semple, K. T. (2005). Long-term fate of polychlorinated biphenyl and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in agricultural soil. Environmental Science and Technology. 39 (10), 3663-3670.
Semple, K. T., Doick, K. J., Burauel, P., Craven, A., Harms, H. and Jones, K. C. (2004). Defining bioavailability and bioaccessibility of contaminated soil and sediment is complicated. Environmental Science and Technology 38, 228A-231A.
Scholefield, P. A., Doick, K. J., Herbert, B. M. J., Hewitt, C. N. S., Schnitzler, J.-P., Pinelli, P. and Loreto, F. (2004). Impact of rising CO2 on emissions of volatile organic compounds: isoprene emission from Phragmites australis growing at elevated CO2 in a natural carbon dioxide spring. Plant Cell Environment 27, 393-401.
Doick, K.J. and Semple, K.T. (2003). Bioavailability of organic contaminants in Soil: What does it mean, and can it be measured? CL:AIRE View (Summer 2003).
Doick, K.J., Lee, P.H., Semple, K.T. (2003) Assessment of spiking procedures for the introduction of a phenanthrene-LNAPL mixture into field-wet soil. Environmental Pollution. 126, 399-406
Doick, K.J. and Semple, K.T. (2003). The effect of soil: water ratios on the mineralization of phenanthrene: LNAPL mixtures in soil. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 220, 29-33.
Lee, P.H., Doick, K.J. and Semple, K.T. (2003). The development of phenanthrene catabolism in soil amended with transformer oil. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 228, 214-223.
Books / Book Chapters
Gugan, A., Walker, H., Mooney, H., Scott, C., Birch, H., Bliss, T., Chowdhury, A., Cooney, P., Doick, K.J., Robinson, S. (2019). The University of Leeds: Enhancing the Benefits of the Trees on Campus. University of Leeds, Leeds. 53pp.
Defra. (2018). Urban Tree Manual: The Right Tree in the Right Place for a Resilient Future. Barbrook, J., MacKenzie, R., Doick, K.J., Griffiths, A., Salisbury, A., Smith, J.C., (Eds). Defra, London. 33pp.
Rogers, K., Doick, K.J., Watson, J., Osborne, E. (2017). Valuing Ealing’s Urban Trees. Ealing i-Tree Eco Technical Report. Trees for Cities and Treeconomics. 56pp.
Mutch, E.M., Doick, K.J., Davies, H.J., Handley, P., Hudson, M.D., Kiss, S., McCulloch, L., Parks, K.E., Rogers, K., Schreckenberg, K. (2017). Understanding the value of Southampton’s urban trees. Results of the 2016 i-Tree Eco survey. University of Southampton, Forest Research, Treeconomics and Southampton City Council, Southampton. 81pp. ISBN 978 0 85432 004 2.
Moffat, A.J., Doick, K.J., Handley, P. (2017). Petersfield’s trees – their importance and value. Results of the 2016 i-Tree Eco survey. Report to East Hampshire District Council, South Downs National Park Authority and Petersfield Town Council. The Petersfield Society, Petersfield Farnham. 59pp.
Rogers, K., Sacre, K., Goodenough, J. and Doick, K.J. (2015). Valuing London’s Urban Forest. Results of the London i-Tree Eco Project. Treeconomics, London. ISBN: 978-0-9571371-1-0. 82 pp.
Doick, K.J. Wilson, J. (2015). Monitoring and evaluation of green infrastructure. A logic model and ecosystem services approach (Chapter 23). In: Green Infrastructure: Planning, design and implementation. Sinnett, D. Smith, N. and Burgess, S. (eds). Edward Elgar, UK. 511pp. ISBN: 978 1 78347 399 1.
Trade publications, magazine articles and reports to industryforestresearch.gov.uk/…/London-i-Tree-Report.pdf
Ansine, J., Dewhurst-Richman, N., Doick, K.J., Fay, L., Handley, P., Wheeler, P. (2020). Tree Data Standardisation: Collect once, use many times: why we need a new data standard for individual tree surveys. Chartered Forester, Member magazine for the Institute of Chartered Foresters. Summer 20. P22-23.
Doick, K.J., Buckland, A., Schuder, I. (2019). Understanding Urban Canopy Cover. Pro Landscaper, November 2019, p67. www.prolandscapermagazine.com.
Doick, K.J., Vaz Monteiro, M. (2019). Keeping it cool. Exploring the cooling benefits of urban trees. Pro Landscaper, October 2019, p72. www.prolandscapermagazine.com.
Hall, C., Doick, K.J., O’Brien, L., Hand, K., Raum, S. (2018). i-Tree Eco – Is it having an impact on the urban forest resource? The ARB Magazine. Vol 181 (Summer 2018), p13-14.
Howgego, J., Doick, K.J., Neilan, C. (2018). The world’s tallest tree costs more than a private island. New Scientist, 9th May 2018. 2pp.
Doick, K.J., Moffat, A.J. (2018). i-Tree Eco Petersfield – Implemented by volunteers, acknowledged by Ministers. The ARB Magazine. Vol 180 (Feb 2018), p23.
Blicharska, M., Smithers, R.J. Doick, K.J. (2017). Bundle natural capital of city trees. eLetter to Science. 19 May 2017.
Handley, P.H., Doick, K.J., Goodenough., J. (2017) Treezilla – The monster map grows. Chartered Forester, Member magazine for the Institute of Chartered Foresters. Spring 17, p18-19.
Moffat, A.J., Doick, K.J., Handley, P.H. (2017) An i-Tree Eco survey for Petersfield – a story of community engagement. The ARB Magazine. Vol 176 (March 2017), p47-48.
Doick, K.J., Davies, H.J., Handley, P., Vaz Monteiro, M., O’Brien, L., Ashwood F. (2016) Introducing England’s urban forests: Definition, distribution, composition and benefits. UFWACN (Urban Forestry and Woodlands Advisory Committees (FWAC) Network), 14pp.
Doick, K.J., Davies, H.J. (2016) What are urban forests and how beneficial are they? The ARB Magazine. December 2016, p48-50.
Doick, K.J., Ashwood, F. (2012) Brownfield regeneration to a soft-end use: Barriers to using a quality planting medium. Reclamation (Journal of the BLRS), November 2011, 3pp.
Forestry Commission publications
Buckland, A., Sparrow, K., Handley, P., Hill, D. and Doick, K. J. (2020). Valuing Newport’s Urban Trees. A report to Newport City Council and Welsh Government. Forest Research, Farnham. 66 pages.
Hand, K.L., Doick, K.J. (2019). Understanding the role of urban tree management on ecosystem services. Forestry Commission Research Note 39. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. 10pp.
Hand, K.L., Doick, K.J., Moss, J.L. (2019). Ecosystem services delivery by small and medium stature urban trees. Forestry Commission Research Report 32. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. 30pp.
Hand, K.L., Doick, K.J., Moss, J.L. (2019). Ecosystem services delivery by large stature urban trees. Forestry Commission Research Report 31. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. 28pp.
Hand, K.L., Vaz Monteiro, M., Doick, K.J., Handley, P. Saraev, V., Rogers, K. (2019). Valuing Cardiff’s Urban Trees. A report to Cardiff Edinburgh City Council and Welsh Government. Forest Research, Farnham. 89pp.
Vaz Monteiro, M., Handley, P., Morison, J. I., and Doick, K. J. (2019). The role of urban trees and greenspaces in reducing air temperatures. Forestry Commission Research Note 37 (FCRN037). Forestry Commission, Edinburgh, 12pp.
Doick, K.J., Handley, P., Ashwood, F.A., Vaz Monteiro, M., Frediani, K., Rogers, K. (2017). Valuing Edinburgh’s Urban Trees. An update to the 2011 i-Tree Eco survey – a report of Edinburgh City Council and Forestry Commission Scotland. Forest Research, Farnham. 86pp.
Davies, H.J., Doick, K.J., Handley, P., O’Brien, L. and Wilson, J. (2016) Delivery of Ecosystem Services by Urban Forests. Forestry Commission Research Report. (in press). Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.
Doick, K.J., Albertini, A., Handley, P., Lawrence, L., Rogers, K. and Rumble, H. (2015). Valuing urban trees in the Tawe Catchment. Forest Research, Farnham, Surrey, 99pp.
Doick, K.J., Albertini, A., Handley, P., Lawrence, L., Rogers, K. and Rumble, H. (2015). Valuing the urban trees in Bridgend County Borough. Forest Research, Farnham, Surrey, 74pp.
Ashwood, F., Albertini, A., Doick, K.J. (2015) Best Practice Guidance Note for Land Regeneration No. 20: Drought Tolerant Tree Species and Land Regeneration. Forest Research, Farnham, 4pp.
Hicks, B., Doick, K.J. (2014) Best Practice Guidance Note for Land Regeneration No. 16: Lowland Acid Grassland – Creation and Management in Land Regeneration. Forest Research, Farnham, 6pp.
Harris, P., Brearley, A., Doick, K.J. (2014) Best Practice Guidance Note for Land Regeneration No. 17: Lowland Neutral Grassland – Creation and Management in Land Regeneration. Forest Research, Farnham, 5pp.
White, T., Doick, K.J. (2014) Best Practice Guidance Note for Land Regeneration No. 19: Soil Preparation for the Creation of Species-rich Grassland Habitats. Forest Research, Farnham, 5pp.
Atkinson, G.E., Doick, K.J. (2014). Planning for brownfield regeneration to greenspace. Forestry Commission Practice Note 22. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh, 12pp.
Doick, K.J., Hutchings, T.R. (2013). Air temperature regulation by urban trees and green infrastructure: the current state of knowledge. Research note 12 (FCRN012). Forestry Commission, Edinburgh, 10pp.
Hutchings, T.R., Sinnett, D., Doick, K.J. (2006) Best Practice Guidance Note for Land Regeneration No. 1: Soil sampling derelict, underused and neglected land prior to greenspace establishment. Forest Research, Farnham, 12pp.
Doick, K.J., Hutchings, T.R. (2007) Greenspace Establishment on Brownfield Land: The Site Selection and Investigation Process. Information note 91. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh, 20 pages.
Doctoral Students – Industrial supervisor
Kathryn Hand (PhD, Open University, 2019 – to date) (Industrial supervisor). Project entitled “Building the evidence base for the benefits of urban trees using citizen science”. A NERC CENTA studentship, with additional in-kind contribution from Forest Research.
The project will use a range of methods suitable for citizen scientists for measuring tree characteristics linked to ecosystem service provision. From this we hope to identify methods to support greater quantity and quality of urban tree data collection which can improve our knowledge of our urban tree resource and improve the models used to estimate and value the ecosystem service provision of individual trees.
Dean Bell (PhD, University of the West of England – UWE, 2019- to date) (Industrial supervisor). Project entitled ” The role of urban tree species, health and vigour in their delivery of ecosystem services” and supported by the UWE, GreenBlue Urban Ltd, and Forest Research.
This project aims to examine species-specific performance in delivery of key ecosystem services under a range of planting situations and management regimes in urban areas; Investigate the uplift in ecosystem service delivery provided through improved health and growth under favourable planting conditions; and Provide new knowledge to guide practitioners in urban tree species selection.
Philip Wells (PhD, University of Southampton, 2019- to date) (Industrial supervisor). Project entitled “Optimising survey plot numbers for calculating urban tree population estimates through statistical modelling” and supported by the University of Southampton, Scottish Forestry Trust, Forestry Commission, and Forest Research.
This project aims to critically examine urban forest sampling protocols with a view to optimising i-Tree Eco surveying. By clarifying the surveying effort required and maximising output accuracy the project aims to increase the opportunity for cities to gain the inventory data required for evidence-based policy creation, and development of management strategies that maximise delivery of tree benefits to urban society.
Helen Davies (PhD, University of Southampton, 2015-2019) (co-industrial supervisor with Gregory Valatin). Project entitled “Money doesn’t grow on trees: How to increase funding for urban forest regulating ecosystem services delivery?” and supported by EPSRC, the Scottish Forestry Trust, and Forest Research.
Helen’s research seeks to propose a new approach to urban forest management, governance and funding in Britain that will enhance the provision of urban forest-based regulating ecosystem services (specifically air purification, stormwater regulation and temperature regulation) and thus facilitate climate change adaptation in British cities. Helen’s publications include:
Davies, H.J., Doick, K.J., Hudson, M.D., Schaafsma, M., Schreckenberg, K., Valatin, G. (2018). Business attitudes towards funding ecosystem services provided by urban forests. Ecosystem Services. 32 (part B), 159-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2018.07.006
Davies, H.J., Doick, K.J., Hudson, M.D., Schreckenberg K. (2017). Challenges for tree officers to enhance the provision of regulating ecosystem services from urban forests. Environmental Research. 156, 97–107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.03.020
Mutch, E.M., Doick, K.J., Davies, H.J., Handley, P., Hudson, M.D., Kiss, S., McCulloch, L., Parks, K.E., Rogers, K., Schreckenberg, K. (2017) Understanding the value of Southampton’s urban trees. Results of the 2016 i-Tree Eco survey. University of Southampton, Forest Research, Treeconomics and Southampton City Council, Southampton. 81pp. ISBN 978 0 85432 004 2. http://doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/P0001
Davies, H.J., Doick, K.J., Handley, P., O’Brien, L., Wilson, J. (2017) Delivery of Ecosystem Services by Urban Forests. Forestry Commission Research Report 26. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh, 34pp.
Doick, K.J., Davies, H.J., Handley, P., Vaz Monteiro, M., O’Brien, L., Ashwood F. (2016) Introducing England’s urban forests: Definition, distribution, composition and benefits. UFWACN (Urban Forestry and Woodlands Advisory Committees (FWAC) Network), 14pp.
Doick, K.J., Davies, H.J. (2016) What are urban forests and how beneficial are they? The ARB Magazine. December 2016, p48-50.
Thomas Chung (EngD, University of Reading, 2013-2015 to date) (Industrial supervisor). Project entitled “Understanding the radiative performance of urban trees” and supported by EPSRC and Forest Research.
Thomas’ research seeks to ‘Understand the radiative performance of urban trees’; understand the interactions between vegetation and the surrounding area can significantly influence the urban thermal environment; understanding how the thermal sink and source properties of trees could become valuable in selecting the right trees for urban environments under a changing climate. Thomas’ publications include:
Chung, T., Smith, S., Doick, K.J. and Shao, L. (2015). Understanding the radiative Performance of Urban Trees: Does leaf reflectance up to 2.5 μm vary significantly with cardinal direction and sample locus? Presentation at the 17th International Conference on Near Infrared Spectroscopy, NIR 2015; Foz do Iguassu, Brazil, from 18th to 23rd October 2015.
Martin Lampert (University of Central Lancashire, 2017-to date)
Martin is studying Organic amendments in land regeneration: benefits to trees, soil fauna and long-term carbon sequestration. He started in January 2017 and is due to complete in Dec 2019. Martin is based at the University of Central Lancashire.
Frank Ashwood (PhD, UCLan, 2013-2016)
Frank successfully completed a 3-year doctoral training programme (PhD) through the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), entitled “Woodland restoration on landfill sites: Earthworm activity and ecosystem service provision”. Dr Kieron Doick was a co-supervisor, along with Dr Elena Vanguelova of Forest Research and Dr Kevin Butt of the Earthworm Research Group (ERG) at UCLan.
Ana Macías Palomo (PhD, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 2010-2016)
Ana conducted her PhD research part-time studying “The role of visualisations in urban forestry. Conclusions from managers’ perspectives” and using London, England as a case study. Ana returned to Spain in 2015 to write her thesis and completed Jan 2016.
Gail Atkinson (EngD, Surrey University, 2009-2013)
Gail studied “Land regeneration for greenspace establishment: balancing engineering, environmental and social considerations” for her 4-year industrially based Engineering Doctorate (EngD) training programme, in collaboration with the University of Surrey. For those involved in land regeneration to a soft-end use her imminent Forestry Commission Practice Note entitled “Planning for Brownfield Regeneration to Woodland and Other Green Infrastructure Practice Note” is a must-read publication.
Masters students and interns
Llewelyn Woodman (BSc in Environmental Science, University of Southampton, 2021) Kieron was industrial supervisor. Llewelyn completed a project entitled “Urban canopy cover in Liverpool and Southampton: understanding the spatial distribution of trees”.
The aim of this research was to examine what variables hold the greatest influence over urban canopy cover and its distribution within two case study cities: Southampton and Liverpool. Factors assessed included: land-use, greenspace, landcover and socio economic factors. This project hopes to generate information that can help inform policy and tree planting strategies by highlighting areas that require greater focus for tree planting schemes.
Jeffrey Wilson (MSc in Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey, 2014)
Kieron was industrial supervisor. Jeffrey completed a project entitled “A Framework to Map Ecosystem Service Provision and the Delivery of Wellbeing from Urban Woodland”. Additionally, Jeffrey provided project support for the London iTree Eco study and undertook a study into hemispherical photography for determining the LAI (leaf area index) of urban trees. His Master’s thesis was subsequently re-written and published as a book chapter:
Doick, K.J. Wilson, J. (2015). Monitoring and evaluation of green infrastructure. A logic model and ecosystem services approach (Chapter 23). In: Green Infrastructure: Planning, design and implementation. Sinnett, D. Smith, N. and Burgess, S. (eds). Edward Elgar, UK. 511pp. ISBN: 978 1 78347 399 1.
Rudy Genazzi (MSc in Environmental Science, ETH Zürich, 2013)
Kieron was industrial supervisor. Rudy was engaged in a 20-week international exchange to undertake an industrial internship with Forest Research. Amongst other duties, Rudy provided project support for the iTree Eco studies of Glasgow and Wrexham, and “measuring the growth rate of urban trees”.
Arianna Del Biaggio (MSc in Forest and Landscape Management, ETH Zürich, 2011)
Kieron was co-industrial supervisor with Jake Morris. Arianna was engaged in a 20-week international exchange to undertake an industrial internship with Forestry Commission Scotland and Forest Research. Amongst other duties, Arianna provided project support for “Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Woodlands In And Town (WIAT)”.
Duncan Rose (MSc in Environmental Diagnosis and Management, Royal Holloway-University of London, 2009)
Kieron was co-industrial supervisor with Tony Hutchings. Duncan completed experimental laboratory work at Forest Research for his Master’s thesis into “Stimulating the biodegradation of PAHs in soils with a history of contamination, using chemical and physical techniques”, for which he was awarded a Distinction.
Kathia Belhocine (MSc at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Greece, 2007)
Kieron was international supervisor. Kathia completed a project into “Economic indicator development for a sustainable HEVAs management strategy in the Mediterranean region”. Kathia’s methodology included face-to-face interviews to assess the concept of willingness to pay with users of Samaria Gorge National Park in Crete.