Prof Catharine Ward Thompson has been invited to speak at Trees and Development 2026: Putting Nature at the Heart of Urban Design and Planning Future Woodlands, a conference organised by the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

The one-day event will take place at the University of Stirling on 17 June 2026 and will bring together the people shaping Scotland’s next generation of greener, climate-resilient urban spaces.

The conference will be chaired by Karen Anderson FRSE, President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, for whom the subject is of particular personal interest.

With thought-provoking talks, real-world examples and a collaborative design challenge at its heart, the event will provide an opportunity for practitioners, researchers and policymakers to learn, connect and explore how trees and woodlands can help create nature-rich towns and cities.