Tweaking the tool for implementation
Running the Tree Value Visions tool will have generated a rich mix of data, combining evocative narrative and dialogue with structured prioritisation and multi-site replicability. The resources created should be suitable for use by professional staff or representatives in government, business and civil society, It is also intuitive for use by non-professionals, including public engagement with and beyond special interest groups.
Overall, we have presented a tool which can be run by following a pre-written facilitation guide, allowing for rapid and low-resource use. However, the course's explanation of the underlying intent and assumptions for each stage mean that you now have the knowledge required to tailor the tool to your own uses. We hope that the visions, outcomes and actions are fairly comprehensive, but they can be altered.
Most importantly, the tool is designed to support practical change, and to be flexible towards that end. It is not intended to be delivered in isolation, or for its own sake. Whilst it is important not to bias participants by steering them towards particular responses, the elements can be altered to fit local opportunities and limits. For example, the '200m' distance in one action links to a common definition of a five minute walk in certain key datasets, but it could be changed to 300m (or further) to align with other requirements. Other elements could be tweaked in a similar way, to ensure that the final set of priority actions can be used to practically steer change.
