The original Bramley apple tree is one of Britain's most important living landmarks.

Every Bramley apple grown around the world today can trace its origins back to this single tree in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Yet despite its extraordinary history and cultural significance, its future has recently been at the centre of a passionate campaign.

In this episode, I sit down with artist and environmental campaigner Dan Llywelyn Hall, who became closely involved in the effort to protect the original Bramley apple tree and raise awareness of its importance.

We discuss the remarkable history of the tree, why it matters far beyond horticulture, the campaign to save it, and what its story tells us about how we protect the UK's most important heritage trees.

We also explore Tree Preservation Orders, conservation areas, public access to historic trees, and whether our current legal protections are enough to safeguard these irreplaceable living landmarks for future generations.

If you've ever wondered why some trees become part of our national identity, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

🎙️ Enjoying the podcast?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can leave me a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/treelaw – your questions or reflections might even feature in a future episode.

🎧 Huge thanks to Mike at Making Digital Real for producing and editing this episode to such a high standard.

In this episode of Trees in a Pod, I’m joined by Mandy Keech and Clegg Gifford from Lantra - the organisation behind many of the UK’s land-based training standards. We talk about what it really means to be “competent” in arboriculture, why training isn't just a box-ticking exercise, and how Lantra is working to create more inclusive, accessible pathways into the tree industry.

Mandy shares her experience in curriculum development and the importance of supporting learners from all walks of life, while Clegg reflects on how vital it is to balance skills, safety and sustainability in fast-changing landscapes.

If you've ever wondered who decides what “qualified” looks like in our sector - or how we make space for the next generation of tree professionals - this conversation is for you.

🎧 Plus: why a chainsaw ticket is more than just a card, how mental health fits into competency frameworks, and what Lantra’s vision is for the future of environmental training.

🎙️ Enjoying the podcast?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can leave me a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/treelaw – your questions or reflections might even feature in a future episode.

🎧 Huge thanks to Mike at Making Digital Real for producing and editing this episode to such a high standard.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Tim Farewell, Director of MapleSky Environment and Infrastructure, to explore the invisible forces beneath our feet. We dig into the science of subsidence, the role of clay soils, and how climate change is reshaping risk across the UK.

We also talk about infrastructure resilience, insurance models, public perception, and the complex relationship between trees, property and heat. From the rise of wildfires to the limits of AI in subsidence cases, this episode brings together law, data and lived experience.

If you’ve ever wondered how a tree might be saving your street or cracking your foundations, this one’s for you.

Useful Links
• The Response of Three Soils to Water (YouTube Video) – A simple, visual explanation of how different soils shrink and swell with moisture, featuring Tim and his daughter.

• MapleSky Environment & Infrastructure – Learn more about Tim Farewell’s work in subsidence modelling, infrastructure resilience and environmental data.

• Extreme Heat and Mortality in Europe (Nature Medicine) – A research article exploring the health impacts of rising temperatures across Europe.

🎙️ Enjoying the podcast?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can leave me a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/treelaw – your questions or reflections might even feature in a future episode.

🎧 Huge thanks to Mike at Making Digital Real for producing and editing this episode to such a high standard.