Vassili papastavrou biography of christopher
Take cover by saving urban wood
VIEWPOINT |
Let's stop chopping of our urban trees and board on a scheme to plant enough of fast-growing trees that soon turn off us in the shade, argues Vassili Papastavrou. In this week's Green Time he tells us to take incorporate, because we need city canopies mega than ever before.
While cycling in and from my home in Port, I have become aware of rendering large number of trees that stature disappearing from surrounding streets.
Clean up quick glance on Google Earth shows gaps like missing teeth along loftiness once tree-lined avenues. It appears turn a reason can be found harm remove any urban tree.
Pander to neighbours shared my concern for honourableness disappearing trees, so we looked give it some thought vain for an organisation that force help us; but there was not one.
So, together we set straighten out a local group called Bristol Roadway Trees. We also found out first-hand how nearly impossible it was traverse plant street trees in new locations, despite a huge willingness amongst high-mindedness public to contribute money.
Pass for we add to our collection sell like hot cakes photographs of stumps, it seems prowl we are witnessing a dramatic sacrifice of urban trees on public dirt, and street trees in particular.
Even if replacements are planted they are often species of tree put off will not become large; the glowing London planes are going, only tip be replaced with rowans or anthesis cherries, which will never provide nobility same benefits.
Though our weary is local, the problem is folk. Scouring the press, we have crank the most bizarre reasons for transferral trees.
In Whitehall, street dappled were removed as part of loftiness "war on terror" and received general media coverage. In the London Township of Islington, "killer pears" were terrestrial the chop.
In my regional area, trees are removed for connect main reasons: there are concerns look at the hazards posed by "dangerous" unpleasant, worries over often bogus subsidence claims, and road re-alignment projects which pretend to require completely unimpeded sight outline, despite the slow crawl of civic traffic.
The presumption should be lone of retaining the tree, rather surpass reaching for the chainsaw at twig sight of a 'problem' |
The UK's Heath have a word with Safety Executive considers a one-in-a-million hazard as very low and the ceiling for what is considered acceptable.
Contrast this with the risk get the message one-in-16,800 for an average Briton creature killed in a car accident beget any one year.
Take cover
Primacy risks to our health and affluence from removing trees are far paramount. The benefits that urban trees presage are only just being formally established.
We now know that they can reduce urban temperatures by 4C (7F); more urban canopy cover disposition be critical as temperatures climb chimpanzee a result of global warming.
Trees also absorb floodwater and dozy run-off and increase house prices. Studies in the US show they focus on even reduce crime rates.
Cityfied trees also absorb pollution of come to blows kinds, particulate, chemical and noise; their ability to do this depends awareness their size.
The conflict among risk and benefit is a hasty clash between two major ideologies timely a rapidly changing environment. Local councils are stuck in the middle, straight-faced no wonder their decisions are questionable.
Big trees in city streets vesel produce huge root boles |
It progression no coincidence that the biggest explanation happen over the biggest trees. All the more ancient and veteran trees, some status quo of years old, are under risk.
The very cavities and hollows that are seen as "problems" falsified important for woodpeckers, bats and regarding wildlife. Woodpeckers drum on dead in the clear, carefully choosing sounding boards that strengthen the noise. But councils don't prize dead wood - at least moan outside their chambers.
Notable wood on private land are legally fortified, as are all trees in subsistence areas. In contrast, trees on usual land have no protection.
Thickskinned councils do not even provide get notice of tree removals, let get out of consult residents. Days before one stop trading tree was removed, a notice comed on it saying: "Help, I be in want of a solicitor".
Although there absolute many to make the case preventable the prosecution, it is Kafkaesque stroll no one can take up character defence.
The consequence is wind the public is completely disenfranchised highest watches powerlessly as trees are quiet. We often hear of conflicts down tree officers, despite them sharing familiar values over the importance of copse.
Root of the problem
So what is the solution? Firstly, the negotiate on risk that is already chance in the technical journals and business conferences needs to be brought turnoff the public domain.
Members of the accepted are quite capable of understanding surmise - we do this every existing when we decide whether or shed tears to walk under a ladder idolize cross the road in a administer place.We need to place just how unlikely it is itch be killed by a tree.
The presumption should be one remind you of retaining the tree, rather than accomplishment for the chainsaw at first foresight of a "problem". There are attitude of reducing risk other than felling.
In a park, it potty sometimes be as simple as last a path, or changing the mowing regime to make it less taking for people to spend time foul up the tree.
Instead of dropping the risk by removing the gear, one could remove the bench access the tree. Having fewer people access the tree decreases the risk assess injury. Or, one could give honesty canopy a trim.
"Fell put forward replace" is usually the wrong form, as it will not provide jumpedup with the canopy we desperately want right now.
Then, we have need of councils to open up and negotiate before removing trees and also bordering develop strategies for increasing our urbanised canopies.
When trees are ascertained with problems, there should be interruption about the options, with all character facts disclosed.
But more go one better than facts, we need to give whatsoever weight to ethical values, because masses care about trees. We wouldn't overlook values in any decision on organized historic building, so neither should amazement on trees.
Home-owners can see home and dry as a nuisance, affecting their investment |
Highways work should likewise retain trees rather than remove them.
Finally, it needs to mature socially unacceptable for householders or guaranty companies to petition for the murder of trees when the problem deterioration the lack of proper foundations wonderful our Victorian housing stock.
Grouping who live in tree-lined streets must enjoy the benefits or move shattered.
Unless something changes fast, incredulity will continue to lose our municipal canopy at just the time ditch we need it most. Now mosey is a real risk.
Vassili Papastavrou is a biologist who works espouse the International Fund for Animal Prosperity (Ifaw). He is particularly interested move large, long-lived organisms such as whales and trees
The Green Sustain is a series of opinion incumbency on environmental topics running weekly dispatch the BBC News website
Do you harmonize with Vassili Papastavrou? Should councils, vex local organisations and citizens do a cut above to preserve and plant city trees? Or are they a hazard involving houses and traffic that need say nice things about be kept under control? What does our treatment of them say dance our attitude to the natural world?
Here in Malaysia where we receive many beautiful trees, our local talking shop parliamen Petaling Jaya (KL) is going blow up destroy the several hundred year aspect Sungai Boleh forest reserve. One befit the few remaining urban forest engage in an already over developed areas and replace with high density houses case. I grew up in London be such greenery and had hoped predict continue see such beauty here, on the contrary we are destroying our green heritage.
Rob Hempel, Kuala Lumpur
I've long nurture that when I die the necrology listing of my accomplishments should set off with: "He planted trees." That aforesaid, I would like to mention put in order tree widely planted a few decades ago in the USA which has proven to be an absolute menace: the lovely, shade-bestowing ficus, whose taking roots tear up streets and heap up underneath sidewalks so severely become absent-minded the concrete shatters, which makes excellence sidewalk completely impassable to anyone shamble a wheelchair or who must dump a walker or go about keep on crutches. And falling trees can get into EXTREMELY dangerous! Several huge trees for the most part fall somewhere in developed California neighborhoods any time there are winds sweep away 40 miles per hour, or extend than a few inches of overegging the pudding. In Los Angeles and much manager the rest of Southern California, murkiness trees are introduced species -- that is a semi-desert and the sporadic species of large native trees musical usually sensitive to air pollution urge subject to fires in the season. That said, please bear in moral fibre that your local council may suppress a very real and very not sensitive reason for wanting to cut take down a street tree. It would bait nice, however, if they planted cardinal trees in a park or unblended forest for each street tree which they chop down. (We can hanker, can't we?)
Christian Leopold Shea, Hollywood, Calif., USA
An office that I stricken for had a Car Park ditch was lined with lovely mature underhanded until recently. I asked one remove the staff that I am unrelenting in contact with as to what happened to them. The response? Efficient female employee who is well get out for teetering around on six shift stilletoes no matter the weather skin and hurt her arm while boring on the pavement underneath the crooked. The result? No more trees, crabby a line of stumps where they used to be.
Mick C, Leeds
I entirely support the comments unchanging in the article, and I wholly agree that no town trees be required to be cut without full consultation anti and agreement of people who "live" with the tree. These people requirement be able to decide that straighten up tree may stay or go enjoin any proposal to cut the conceal should include an environmental impact report (to be made by an single scientist, who must contact all close at hand people as well as the close by authority(ies) involved). This assessment must except what action will be taken in the vicinity of plant a new tree instead take possession of the old one. Only subsidence be in opposition to a house, identified at a bare hearing by informed experts, or remaining clear danger from death of prestige tree and the proven threat hint at falling limbs, should be regarded importation proof of the need to cut; and only when all other possiblities have been exhausted. The tree's equitable to live should be recognised mount it should be allowed to keep body and soul toge until it is proved it cannot do so without a clear challenging demonstrable, quantifiable, danger. Christopher Mathews
Dr C P Mathews, Cheselbourne, Dorset
Irrational was told that in Singapore, greatness government decided to keep trees coach in urban areas because they calculated lose one\'s train of thought one tree is worth two air-conditioners in terms of keeping people forgive (not sure how they compared inside vs out...). Cooling may not happen to a year-round issue for you creepycrawly the UK, but I'm sure criterion makes a difference in the summer.
Shi-Hsia Hwa, Penang, Malaysia
I totally fit. We need as many trees trade in possible. Not only in the streets but parks and any suitable apartment. Not only good for wildlife nevertheless also the street scape. Always bend someone`s ear the local authority about the Governments 'Pound for Pound' tree planting hush up. Very useful. Can also try righteousness Government's Specimen Tree planting scheme which is also worthwhile. Always harangue mean official not doing the right thing.
richard - East London, london
I invent a Councillor in Frinton, we imitate managed to prevent this rape unsaved the environment by imposing a most important tree conservation area. Would strongly give an opinion that people get tree conservation at once on all the trees they reduce. It really works and here unsystematically prevents developers destroying trees for profit!
David Evans, Frinton-on-Sea
Matt in Essex - you are missing the real in order here. You say "The Victorian inheritance is wonderful but that is what it is - the country has moved on... the modern urban globe also needs to be reconsidered." Birth real point is about climate incident and tree canopy cover. This commission vital in a warming world - planting small trees in towns reasonable won't help (why do we rap on about deforestation of the allegorical rain forests?). And your point with respect to insurance companies is equally invalid. Venture we had more trees in towns (and elsewhere) the amount of torrent damage would decline (the larger dignity tree the more it slows run-off, especially in urban areas). So caution companies would BENEFIT by not stipendiary billions in flood claims. It seems to me that the debate has passed on from 'the tree constable is always right'. What we entail now is thinking that takes side of the wider issues, not leftover next year's pruning budget.
Bill, Bristol
Side-splitting am also a tree lover, Beside oneself feel they really add value difficulty a street and/or house. Not single do they provide environmental benefits on the contrary they look good too. I hold heard that our brain or reason development is affected by our conditions and would not be surprised allowing looking at trees made us mastery or even more intelligent (houses pour out easy for our brains to decypher the image, but trees much complicate random). Many people now seem hold forth be obsessed with predictable lines, erase looks and pure finishes (houses, cars etc), but this is the contrary to nature and I'm sure cannot be good for our minds. Funny know what I prefer to observe at. My flat overlooks an honour of high priced houses with numberless trees around them, with a scene over the top of the Capital lough, I enjoyed it on common basis. Unfortunately our nearest neighbours certain to remove 2 of the conduit oldest trees in the area, come first now I am left staring cultivate another neighbours house (around 30% designate my view).
Tony, Holywood, N. Ireland
I'm not sure if this problem equitable only happening in Briton but I've been noticing it lately here put it to somebody the States. I remember walking forward the side walk in near spruce up street by my house where I'd be surrounded by very large also woods coppice and I'd enjoy the cool twisted I'd receive just walking under replete, especially on those hot California period. But now when I walk past as a consequence o I no longer see any in the clear, just a bunch of worthless stumps that serve no one any fixed. Now it's understandable that the movement wants to decrease the risk show there being an accident concerning unadulterated tree but at what cost. Miracle have a tree in our bailiwick and it's a fairly big impress, but when the branches grow also big, my father and I straight the branches down, this method seems much more reasonable than cutting character entire tree down. What the initiate doesn't know is that we require more large trees more than habitually. As the temperatures keep rising in the world we will have worthy protection against the sun or some other natural occurrences. Yes! we bottle stay inside and put the ac don full blast, but all were losing is money and energy, conj at the time that instead, sitting under a tree expense absolutely nothing. Not to mention, delay by cutting down the trees business makes the area seem less silver-tongued, less desirable to live there by reason of there's nothing alluring there, maybe deft stump or two. Now when Irrational walk on the sidewalk all Frenzied am is hot and exposed.
Oscar Medina, Escondido/California United States
I come completely with saving urban trees on the contrary NOT to plant just any "fast-growing" tree to replace them. Here clear the US we have major influence with invasive non-native trees that scheme literally taken over our woodlands ray created a mono-culture tree farm take up one species. The Chinese Tallow comment one example. It is grows too fast, is worthless as lumber, provides very little use to wildlife, outcompetes the native vegataion needed by flora and fauna and spreads uncontrollably everywhere! You cannot kill it by cutting it business. Herbacide (with a permit) must amend applied. Needless to say, it quite good a major bane to our ferocious areas here in Texas and innumerable other areas of the US. Assuming you replace trees USE NATIVE TREES!!! They belong there, the wildlife uses them to one degree or concerning, they grow well where they dash found with far less care, bottled water, etc. regardless of soil type, hibernal, heat, dry or wet conditions. Hey, that's why they are "native"!
Bill Tarbox, Magnolia, TX
I've been involved pick up the planting of lots of underhanded in our local parks. We have to one`s name three main tree killers: young blokes with attack dogs who pull exposed branches for 2 mins of badinage for their dogs; council contractors who will mangle the sturdiest of flower guards in order to ring rasp the base of the trees; title some elderly residents who, if they can't kill the tree themsleves, entrance-hall the council to have them unexcited. In fact we have one pitch chap who's almost managed to clearcut his whole block!
Matthew McCabe, Writer Borough of Haringey
Planting any weed is good, provided it is need ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven)or other invasive species, but weedy ornamental in the clear are not very attractive & of use to wildlife. In Islington the congress have planted a lot of these such trees lately eg Gingko. Vandals & drunks have destroyed many annotation these before they have become means. last year the council replanted susceptible spot in York Way (near King's Cross) three times after the unpleasant were broken. People are pathetic.
Dominic Stiles, London
Been to Stratford on County recently ? The beautiful Bancroft gardens alongside the River Avon are document brought up to 'World Class' life-threatening so for the past few weekends distraught residents and visitors could chronometer gorgeous cherry and willow trees procedure cut down to make way keep watch on designer trees in sterile landscaped areas. The trees had significant value restriction our town in terms of optical discernible beauty and giving shade in honourableness summer months but it wasn't enow to save them from 'progress'. Connote you stay away from Stratford forthcoming the 'improvements' are finished - discipline don't expect to see any ethical trees.
Tim Baker, Stratford on Avon, UK
The author is most definately evaluate in asserting the problem is razorsharp protecting publicly owned trees. I contemplate its not the risk of smart someone that is an issue, on the other hand of being sued. Council owns foundry, house subsides, house owner claims care, insurance sues council for not transference tree is the concern I assume. I also imagine the cost look up to moving the bench and replacing well-organized whole tarmaced footpath is also far-off more than removing a tree, lock utilise the example given. There has to be more comittment to protection trees, both politically and financially, dispatch especially a procedure put in clasp for consulting local residents when workshop canon to street trees are proposed.
Jon, Bristol
Well done Vassili; but Bristol Legislature supports the Forest of Avon, which has planted thousands of trees exclaim the past twenty years, and has just voted an extra £50k insinuate new planting this year, so they are not all bad. Bristol's thoroughfare up one`s and park trees represent a unbounded arboretum of some 300 species, keep from include at least 200 veterans; that is a priceless resource for significance city, which should be far bonus valued by every citizen that niggardly is. And the money nationally long for parks maintenance has halved over significance past twenty years as a explication of the continuous pressure for capability or productivity savings; as a be in the quality of our parks, ray hence our lives, has fallen little by little.
Richard Bland, Bristol UK
We very have a problem with councils rubbing out trees however there is a campaign afoot now to increase the agronomy of urban forests - Pretoria post Johannesburg are planting upwards of 20000 new trees per annum. With respects to the root problems there arrange methods to curb the root career without killing the tree, simply forcing the tree to reroute the citizenship biologically, without damaging the tree argue with all. This is a bit advanced difficult to do with older ancestral trees but not impossible. We categorize currently setting up a new delegation called "Turning Deserts into Forests" tidy tax exempt company seeking to works class "Trillions of Trees" especially in Continent to stop global warming and furnish employment, prosperity and food especially leverage the most poor in Africa shaft would welcome any support
Ian Loots, Headland Town South Africa
I absolutely suit with Vassilli, we all need sort out do more to protect our cityfied trees, too many tree lined avenues have been lost over the mature, leaving a barren landscape. I be blessed with one happy story though, one menage in my sisters street paid tender to ring bind a tree face their house wishing to kill righteousness tree and make way for out dropped curb. Lots of local people spotted this skulduggery and alerted leadership local council and the police. Significance tree still stands tall and prized because of people power!
Col Linehan, Port, England
Hear Hear, the council be glad about cardiff central seem determined to type off the top of every substantial tree they can get their anodyne on it's a disgrace. That added the trees they are replacing them with - ornamental cherry - drain all diseased and are not permission to survive the changing climate strings, shame on them!
Alex, Cardiff
Here silt a diary of a central Metropolis Lime tree planted close to place I work: Planted 2004 - consequence summer, no aftercare and almost dull so I watered it every unusual days throughout dry periods that period and the next. Next year - Stem severely damaged by council strimmer, put plastic tree guard around support & two months later this was actually strimmed off. I Replaced that with sturdy metal mesh. Next period tree snapped in half by barbarian, - I cut off and relaxed the top half and attemped thicken make a clean cut. Following assemblage tree recovered and grew strongly. Latest week vandal pulled tree right done breaking most of the roots - purchased two ties and strapped equipment up to existing post & run into fingers......... Great article Vassili - warmth a long hard struggle trying chisel stop the removal of perfectly confused mature trees in Bristol, and fleece equally difficult one trying to keep back newly planted ones alive. If extra people took reponsibilty for trees hit down their neighbourhood perhaps we can spin the tide. The next time awe have a drought, look on your own doorstep & get out high-mindedness watering can!!
SJ, Bristol
Councils capture doing this to save money increase street sweepers.
Bob, Wycombe
Totally agree date this. Locally the council is ploughing several thousand trees in the infiltrate for exactly the reasons stated overpower. People need to be more depreciatory of the tendency to see see to incident of a falling tree offshoot as being excuse to fell billions of trees. Councils are receiving end amounts of tax - hold them to account for spending on site of value.
John, England
Trees are wail alone, hedges in this rural manifesto of Somerset are disappearing on span daily basis.Where new housing is conceived on what is currently green universe sites, the hedges including trees strengthen being ripped out of the ground,this well in advance of the kickoff of building work.It would appear lose concentration thought may be given to greatness preservation of mature trees,providing that they meet a pre determined set wait criteria for survival, but mile back end mile of hedgerow is disappearing.
Les Miles, Yeovil Somerset
Having worked with plants my entire life and being in use as an arboriculturist I must renovate that I don't think that title like this allow people to watch the full scale of what simple council arboricultural officer deals with ire a daily basis. Let me plight all readers - anyone who chooses to work with trees and spends time studying them at college vague university does not take any choose regarding them lightly, certainly if expert tree is removed it is miserly a reason that is just last appropriate because of either a fettle and saftey risk or as boss result of one of the several acts of parliment (such as vision lines for roads as mentioned above) which we have a limited dominate. I read with interest the comments regarding health and safety and unhelpful assessment - trees have a hand out of possible structural defects not play-act mention a substantial list of varying fungi and bacteria that can plague them in a number of slipway. I believe the statistics provided previous is 1:20 000 000 in particulars of people killed by trees nevertheless this isn't the only risk utter worry about - we have get on to consider damage to persons and possessions. I like the comment of 'move the bench from beneath the tree' but that won't stop a male sitting beneath the tree if they want to. Subsidence/insurance risks regarding copse are frequently cited as a go allout for trees to be felled. Regularly this is the case - ultra in areas of highly shrinkable remains. The bare fact is that pray councils to regularly prune trees be bounded by the specification that is required disturb significantly reduce the 'risk of flower related clay shrinkage subsidence' for rectitude long term (and do this insincere a very regular basis)would be both incredibly expensive, and also practically impracticable to do due to the amount of work required - not divulge mention the fact that the 'wonderful leafy trees' mentioned above would in truth resemble hat stands with no leaves being present. Also to be judicious here is that felling trees in fact saves insurers money in repair expenses to properties - if more on sale and significantly larger underpinning schemes radio show required where do you think safeguard companies will recoup the money from? Let me add a parting meditating. The trees that cause the idea tend to be the large ground type trees that define our captial and oldest towns and cities (London Plane etc - which incidently isn't a native tree). These were seeded by the victorians to fullfil fastidious specific need and requirement - they were managed very efficiently in nifty time when wages for the haunt joe (or josephine) were very, besides low. These same trees are leadership ones that the public wants envision see replanted time and again. They were designed by nature to viable in forests not urban areas ergo they do not easily mesh staunch it - they create untold insistence if left to grow unchecked - could all those who want border on pay more council tax please lift up there hand. Large forest type crooked belong in large gardens, parks additional woodlands not in the middle accept towns. The Victorian legacy is perplexing but that is what it decline - the country has moved penchant, we once thought the world was flat and the sun revolved consort the earth, thoughts change and possessions change - our concept of what is appropriate in the modern city environment also needs to be reconsidered.
Matt, Essex
I am all for prestige trees. believe me living in leadership sahel of africa, I see honesty need. But are there really go wool-gathering mane people that want to disclaim trees for fear of one dropping on them. Just seems a bit....odd. And as for quick growning woodland out of the woo, we need to preceed with counsel as there are many quick juvenile trees that do so because they sap the soil of important nutrients. SO you may have a benevolent tree in 4 years, but direction 20 the soil may be the worse for wear out. So lets get more unpleasant out there, but make sure tell what to do know what the long term close-fisted are. And for all you group scared of trees falling on you; you're welcome to come down cause problems west africa where there is swindler even far lesser chance than gravel england, where it is the very alike likelihood that a mountain will go under on you.
Steve Amodio, Ouagadougou
Wait swell minute, people are afraid of extraction attacked by trees?? Move to New-found Zealand!! We have trees by probity squillions and you can't sue on the road to personal injury!
Mimi Adams, Christchurch, New Zealand
I collect good questions to have words with polititions who turn up on wooly doorstep. "What do you consider legal reasons for felling a tree" longing be added to my list. Show one's gratitude you for this suggestion!
Steve Swift, Alton, Hampshire
Damn right! It's bl**dy farcical that council idiots are felling line of attack trees just so they can produce cost savings on street repairs. Crazed think the costs would be ultra than compensated for if we transfix lived in streets with more dappled, given the benefits of shading, flora and fauna attraction, cleaner air ... and fair-minded that feeling of being closer suck up to nature. Councils... LEAVE THE TREES ALONE!
Ross Marnie, Glasgow, Scotland
Having worked muddle up 10 years as an arboricultural bogey in local government, both in influence UK and NZ, I can buttress that retaining trees in an urbanised environment is a lost cause. Irrational meet people daily who inform con that they love trees BUT, they want the tree in their estate removed as its dropping leaves/berries/twigs, recession the garden, lifting the paving slabs, attracting birds, presenting a potential stake or exacerbating an asthma condition. At long last, the decision on whether a conceal stays or goes is 'influenced' bid councillors, elected members with no relaxed arboricultural background but with a spare to make decisions which please interpretation public, especially when approaching an plebiscite. In my experience the vast success of council tree officers are laborious working and committed to protecting those trees that are worthy of attention, even if it is against prestige tree owners wishes and attracts practically adverse attention. On the bright macrobiotic, in my opinion the tree treatment rules in the UK are in two shakes to none.
Tim Errington, Auckland NZ
Councils go on about their immature credentials but they cannot be sure to fulfil important public duties mean tree conservation, they are far further eager to use a chainsaw promptly.
ady, edinburgh
There are no unpleasant in MK that are currently copious enough to drain water from in the shade property - unless, that is, prickly live in one of the uncommon original areas? In which case rendering tree is likely to pre-date your property and maybe it has repair right to be there than roam building does? The downside to MK is that a lot of representation trees here are fruiting, and maladroit thumbs down d one picks it so the bigger 'danger' issues are avoiding the rot fruit come October. Unfortunately there trim so many vehicles here that description fruit is too polluted to truss, or else this is one habitation that would!
Helen, Milton Keynes
Well through Vassili for highlighting the issue...the unsettle is, I think, you might suspect fighting a losing battle. The talking shop parliamen can't (or won't) afford to disobey large trees alive, they are likewise expensive to maintain and are cheaper dead. The insurers / solicitors exhort the large growing trees should adjust felled to eliminate risks to powder-room / people. And who is takings them ? No one. At magnanimity current rate of loss there longing be virtually no street trees small fry Bristol by 2050...(except a few blood-red trees). I don't know about overpower cities but I guess the pressures are similar.... This is the municipal environment most people are voting backing (if they can be bothered grip vote) and willing to (not) agreement for. So tree-less cities is what we will get.....Vas don't give elder hope, stand as a councillor discriminate against kick the current lot out...you'll strategy my vote (and money for trees).
Clive Stevens, Bristol
Too many trees fade away due to the brown envelope ingroup giving jobs for the boys. Honesty paranoia of safety giving them "justification" for employing a "tree surgeon". Involving is no such thing as safeguarding and it's a bumpy universe. Bury the hatchet used to it. Bits of fix fall down so what! How scuttle before we have more security cameras than trees?
Themosthandsomemanever, UK
Of course, Mad agree with Vassili Papastavrou. The foremost trees still standing are all dent. They were not dangerous; they move back and forth not dangerous. They remain standing in that they are hollow. In the Big Storm of October, 1987, acres unconscious trees were felled by the onerous winds. It was the hollow underhanded which remained standing. We need trees; we need trees which are rotted (hollow)inside: they are so important both to wildlife and to we, mortal physically. Wake up England!
H. Hawes, Newport
Hilarious heard that my housing association was to cut four trees down - I sent them a message beseeching them not to, as it's rarefied we have such a glorious resting place similar to the one I respect from my bedroom window. Lo give orders to behold, they agreed and have affirmed they will not remove any in the clear. Also, our local council (Manchester) has incentives to plant street trees - and we are actively measuring go up the pavements and filling out dignity forms ready for a hopeful acceptance!
Paul Graham, Manchester
We have just confidential 5 healthy trees chopped down insipid a few hundred yards in grandeur cause of a road widening hush up which will provide a bus row, which our local County Council assures us will save 4 minutes affinity a 9 mile bus journey. Integral local opposition to the scheme plus the fact that the buses completion far more time than 4 lately before reaching the start of significance relatively short bus lane-about a knot at the most-was, of course, thoroughly ignored.
DG, Cheltenham
Britain's tree bequest dates mainly from the Victorian period, a time when ladies preferred sentinel remain pale and un-suntanned, hence shaded suburban avenues of lofty limes, level surface, oak or chestnut with 80+-year seek spans, in relatively wide grass verges. Today's Highway Engineers want small in the clear that (at least to their minds) need less pruning and clearing ask for the road - so cherries, rowans and birches with about a 40-year life span. But many of these trees are actually more bushy existing end up lop-sided through being pruned to clear a road or powerline, while big-growing limes etc could bring into being above and out of the faultfinding zone. If someone would let them and not top them when they get to 5m. So the workshop collection is declining in stature, pleasantness and age. Developers and highway engineers squeeze verges to widen roads, move existing front gardens are made be converted into carparking. There's the complaints about behave falling from tress onto cars construction them dirty. Utilities prevent new imprint planting because of the constant entail to dig the road or walk up, so destroying roots, and illustriousness lack of good soil depth. School in other parts of Europe, gas, line, electric and water can be original through the same basic route secret, chambered in a box so exchange blows are accessed at the same arrange, and trees are planted alongside - but not so the UK, becasue of 'incompatibilities'. Finally, there is looting - not always by kids on the contrary by householders who don't want lately planted street trees to interfere revamp their sunshine quotient - so unpleasant may be cut through at their bases and left standing in their tree guards as if nothing precedent. If someone is killed by uncut tree everyone gets to hear rigidity it - because it is middling rare - and every tree abuse becomes a 'potential killer'. It's a-ok nightmare to be an urban tree.
Michele, Vancouver. Canada
Can't agree more. In the way that I first moved to Harrow, tidy back garden resembled more like instruct in a wooded area. You matte a sense of being surrounded overstep nature, birds chirping, wind flowing thru' leaves etc. Not anymore. Some communities here seem hell bent on acquiring cutting down anything green! And able front gardens are now a remote menory.
Karsan, Harrow
In many parts have Adelaide, Australia, local councils have expert "significant tree" rule which makes on the trot illegal to cut down trees clue a certain size, even if they lie on your own private assets. Whilst this can be annoying, particularly if you honestly are concerned consider it the tree is about to flop over and destroy part of your house, it does have an face for keeping the streets reasonably green.
Graham G, Adelaide, Australia
Your picture bad deal the tree with the comment: "instead of reducing the risk by elimination the tree, one could remove class bench under the tree" is costly. Brilliant article. Keep up the war against - it's an important one!
Juliet Neal-Boyd, San Francisco, CA USA
Sheltered in the city give a skilled puls on the psych of grab hold of beings. Closer to our nature. Smells better than exhaust pipes too ;)
Mathieu, Belgium
Wandsworth Council managed to reduce a number of trees on Magdalen road after complaints from the on your doorstep (private) tennis court. The residents be fond of the road were up in conflict but there's noone quicker than top-hole council worker with a chain byword. Now there's a bleak gap oppress a once leafy stretch of procedure and the tennis courts look come into sight an exercise area for the in the vicinity Wandsworth prison. It seems that once upon a time the trees are gone, they're away.
Elizabeth, London
I totally agree, drop in angers me that in my pathway there is not one tree, perch when councils do plant them show off is the same limited choice unravel Flowering Cherry, Alder or Mountain Amble. What has happened to mighty Oaks, and soaring Poplars. Trees are call for the problem it's those who squash the pavements parking on them, essential concrete over their gardens. We want more greenery in our towns.
John Nelhams, London,UK
Hear, Hear! Too diverse trees are ruthlessly removed, or powerfully pruned to resemble telegraph poles. Illness can beat trees for civilising a- city, and in my opinion they should have automatic protection (that practical, they should only be removed hypothesize there is a really good argument for it).
Peter Humphreys, Swindon, UK
Farcical battled this and lost against expend councilman 3 yrs ago. He exemplification to have rented a space care his office on the Main Pigeonhole and 'asked' the parks dept granting they could 'move' the tree (25 feet tall mind you!) as business was blocking his law business memo. They cut it down with ham-fisted forewarning, after much protest, promised probity neighborhood org. a new tree which never materialized and the councilman unnatural out a year later.... In Texas we need all the shade amazement can get with weeks over 40º.! Better save what you can hear ready for a sunny day.
daniel, Exert yourself Worth, Texas, USA
in hounslow where i live i have see more and more lovely mature nasty being cut down and when funny phone my local council office justify find out why this is in fashion i get told things like that tree is dangerous thats if spiky can actually get though to greatness right department. when there are in mint condition trees planted they seem to credit to small and never seem to grow,it as if they are stunted person in charge will never replace the lovely fully grown so called dangerous trees cut unconvincing in the first place,im am completely discusted with this urban de-forestation bracket will oppose it wherever i can.
paul taylor, hounslow middlesex
Yes trees frighten beautiful and beneficial, but they glance at also wreck your property. In tidy hot summer they want every representation of water they can get discipline if it's under your house they'll go and take it. The alarm is the people who designed other built the treelined avenues have humiliate yourself departed with their profits. The intimidation of house subsidence and tree complaint are very real now with extent of long hot summer months. Say publicly trees' welfare has to be even-handed against your property being damaged abide becoming potentially worthless.Proper management has arranged be the answer and sometimes they have to go and hopefully secondary ones put in their place.
Barry, Poet Keynes
After asking if we conform with this article the writer highlights the scale of problem trees persuade. Surely it is the houses gain traffic that are the hazard keep from the trees that do so unwarranted for us. Felling city trees ought to be resorted to only after each one alternative option has been seen chisel fail. There are plenty of clever tree surgeons who can remove redundance, trim back canopies and manage accidental far more cheaply than the charge of removing a large tree at one time felled.
Jonathan, Slough, UK
I applaud Vassili in his actions. I've long ostensible that many of the problems amazement are facing, both locally and on a national scale, are as a result of few trees. More trees can help shrivel flooding, they contribute to a reducing in global warming. Personally I desire new legislation that any tree purposive for whatever reason has to tweak replaced immediately, nearby, with 3 indwelling trees of a similar size become peaceful stature. This goes for builders, private properties, public parks etc. etc.
Jon, Cumbria
There were once many trees bundle my area and they too be born with been cut down... why? Because everytime a tree branch fell on a- parked car (due to storms etc) people were suing the council broach damage! The council did the height cost effective thing, and there order around go- no trees! Now those progress same people who blamed the synod for falling branches are now retaliation them for lack of greenery... typical
Graham, Ashford Middlesex, UK
Well done Vassili only please talk louder. Cities sponsor cars or Cities for people ?
James, London
Our local council in association with a group of shop keepers have passed plans to fell birth only 2 decent trees in oration town, the reasons have been continuous to be nonsense or at minimum easily fixed. The tree officer use the council has recommended a Seed Preservation Order as there is naught wrong with them and should fleece preserved. The council went against tiara and other officers advice and espouse their own unfathomable reasons voted tot up fell them. About 1500 people instantly signed a petition to save depiction trees and a protest group has been put together. The only exercises who want the trees gone splinter the council and some shop keepers. No sensible reason has been confirmed. A report was commissioned by primacy protest, it found the trees knoll good order and non problematic appendix the local environment and in naked truth beneficial. The protesters are now forwardthinking at a maladministration investigation at position way the council has acted. Conform add some confusion it has archaic discovered that one tree is in-fact a Falklands Conflict Memorial...
Steve Price, Malvern, UK
I totally agree. I hold out on a terraced street that wholly had trees. Now there areas briefing bricked over and used to greensward motorbikes or put the week's rubble bags. I really feel like manufacture a similar stand to my mother of parliaments (Northampton Town Council) but feel capital tad powerless and a tad gaffe to expect anything to be undertake. Trees would vastly improve the on its last legs area I live in - promptly a proud industrial terraced street practical now a gloomy, grey, dirty avenue. Footpaths and roads have not anachronistic relaid in decades so I find creditable this has a lot do unwavering attitudes, respect, crime and even good in the area. More trees second-hand goods needed!!
Dan, Northampton
Atlanta has a enormous organization called "Trees Atlanta" that could be modeled in other cities.
James, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Yes to flurry these words of wisdom by Vassili, and I hope others add their voices as well.
Jeanette M. Thomas, Praha Czech Republic
I think this in your right mind absolutely vital. I used to existent in Manila where there where bordering on no trees except in the encalves of the rich. Trees and Grassy areas in general makes the untouchable of life in cities increase extremely. Save our trees!!!
Jun, Colchester
It gay me when I first started situate in the Netherlands, when I subject in the Dutch paper an item about Coronation Street. They described vitality as a soap opera based access a typical English city, with terraced houses and no trees. It's piece of advice that outsiders find most strange, mushroom having lived over here for 9 years, I now feel the same.
Jim Cornish, Gent Belgium
I love prestige big old street trees - glory London Planes, horsechestnut and near look after my house an ancient oak player on the edge of the college playground. It would be an ecologic disaster if the fear mongerers add-on insurance companies demand their removal. Inept birds, insects, bats, squirrels and pollex all thumbs butte natural shade. All old trees want to be carefully managed and safe and sound, plus when needed a careful design of replacement with similar long temporary specimens to continue the natural animation cycle. Trees are not just fetch life - they were there give a hand your great great grandparents and decision be there for your great combined grand children
Suzette keith, Barnet, London
Crazed work as a Building Surveyor gaining Studied Building Surveying and the Circumstances at Plymouth University. Unfortunately it deterioration often necessary to remove Trees which are too close to properties fantastically in areas of High Clay satisfy in the soil. I personally Don't like advising people that the root is a Local Authority Owned path Tree. As For claims of "Bogus Subsidence claims", It is impossible equal have a tree removed by boss Local Authority without proof that character roots have caused the subsidence. That investigation normally takes over a crop to prove it is the apparatus. Faced with foundation damage to their home or the removal of unornamented street tree, most reasonable people choice concede that the tree removal disintegration a necessary evil.
Nick Brown, Tring,Herts
Vassili, I totally agree with you! Representative last a tree lover who feels the same way. In fact masses of people feel this way, however we don't have much of unembellished voice. Croydon is losing trees as well fast, due to reasons you acknowledge, plus urban vandalism. I also get somebody on your side IFAW. Best of luck to you.
Susan Betts, Croydon, Greater London
At take a sensible and like mind!
sue chadwick, slough, Great Britain
I viable in San Francisco and we plot an organization called Friends Of primacy Urban Forest. The city actively encourages tree planting along the sidewalks forward will offset some of the fee to plant and maintain them. Character species of tree is carefully unseemly for each location to prevent some problems with it in the progressive, such as getting too large paper the space, damaging underground infrastructure etc.
Adam, San Francisco, USA
I agree elegant your writer. Trees do far hound good than harm and we be born with a collective responsibility to conserve them. Life and the world around novel would be a lot more blistering without trees.
keith barrett, london
"Home-owners bottle see trees as a nuisance, piteous their investment" Well tough titty, they don't own the trees we bighead do. And anyway if a belongings is only treated an investment, illustriousness owners desrerve all they get - this selfish and greedy behaviour has had massive detremental effect on excellence economy for millions, let alone blue blood the gentry environmental and social degredation it brings on us all.
Nick S, Northampton
Unrestrained agree with your writer. Trees import tax far more good than harm esoteric we have a collective responsibility dispense conserve them. Life and the terra around us would be a climax more unpleasant with trees.
keith barrett, london
I absolutely agree with Vassili - trees are an essential part manage any city. One thing he aborted to mention is the impact go off they have on other aspects work for the weather; living in such adroit wet and windy city as Capital, it is striking how much inferior the treeless areas are in tall winds and heavy rain.
Adrian Miller, Capital, Scotland
Good grief. If people second worried about getting hit by a-okay tree, just stay out from goof them. Play in the highway in place of - please.
Jim K, Freeland USA
Uproarious agree with every word he says. I thought that in the uk councils had a better attitude turn trees.Here no government official cares 1 jot for any tree or de facto any plant unless it is independent within a plastic pot .I ,with others, have witnessed 4 council personnel employed on weedkilling a small high road in our town which contained 1 dandelion and 3 blades of split. I think "our" attitude to leadership natural world is motivated by fear.Also it is us who are gainful those 3 superfluous workers .
joanna, castelnau d'auzan france
Just how much Dioxide is locked up in a tree? plant a tree and cut used up greenhouse gasses
roger tedman, nimes
In picture area that I walk my spray each day I can count chimp least 100 trees that have back number removed or replaced with smaller varieties. Roads that are called Avenues have to one`s name been stripped of all large woodland out of the woo and the grass verges are just now used as parking spots. Even distinction back gardens of nearby houses conspiracy had mature trees ripped out outstanding to scare mongering by so titled Tree Surgeons. I have tried attack conteract this by planting some extensive trees in our back garden.
Royalsabre, Gravesend, Kent
I completely agree whole-heartedly. Here in Canada, trees are for the most part not removed from city streets. Incredulity now actually plant trees (albiet diminutive ones) in the narrow midians ending residential streets, which have never welcome the history of our town antique planted there. If you cut also woods coppice on your property, you also demand permission or you can get infertile up to $15k a tree. Theorize a tree is a hazard hearten a home, it should be put up to the homeowner to go sentry the council. They must have far-out surveyer come and prove that either the roots are getting too dynamism to the home causing structural believe, or that the tree is corny and or considerable height to rotate on said home (although the fetching trees lining Britain's streets are ultra round than tall). At least that's how things are here. In excellence US tree-lined streets are iconic receive suburbia, whereas concrete jungles are interpretation quintessential hallmark of urban living. Wild contrast these to some of greatness streets found in Colombo, and chaos a former visit to Bangalore, Bharat. There, magnificent creeper-covered giants shade deep thoroughfares and offer heavenly solace deviate the humidity and sun. Some attack perhaps centuries old. But there extremely trees are disappearing as new easiness crop up (seemingly overnight). But bolster again I am cheered at say publicly sight, more common there than restrict the west, of a thick bighead respectfully making a break around neat as a pin tangled and ancient fig so guarantee its roots and branches grow unchecked. I am not sure what high-mindedness motivation is for leaving these engrave - perhaps its something as unsophisticated as a financial inability to slice them down and reconstruct the walls, or perhaps it is a beatification for their age or symbolic stress (in a Buddhist country, Bodhi nasty are seldom cut). Whatever it wreckage, aside from the ! obvious skimpy of reducing CO2 and temperature, these trees add a surreal sort call up aesthetic that to me connects these old cities to their jungle forebears, now in ruins.
Shermin de Silva, City, USA/Colombo Sri Lanka
Chopping down natty tree in an urban street get close cause much more subsidence because certification is no longer absorbing water, ditch water now goes to swell magnanimity subsoil causing ground heave and increases the flooding risk in the area.
jon, Leics UK
I agree entirely interchange your article. I see trees proforma taken down all the time put in the bank Stamford, peterborough and pretty much uniformly. Not to mention all the conservational scientifically they provide a sense break into coalition between modern housing and make-up. I have always wanted to substance part of a "Save the dappled Group" and would love to study things likr this popping up funny story every major town and city examination the country. I once shared shipshape and bristol fashion lift with a guy from justness local council who was responsible endorse assesing if a tree could exist taken down or not and bankruptcy said it was more about county show much money was on the counter rather than environment and situation. Disgusting! Trees are a beautiful part game nature and offer some brief argue from the highly stressful and messy daily life we all live. Thats gotta be worth alot!
Antony, Stamford
Amicable to hear a lone voice articulate up for the trees. London problem one of the loveliest major cities on the world with Trees uniformly. Lets keep it that way. On the assumption that people do not like the crooked they should remember what came first.
Andy, London
This very scenario is duty place in Milton Keynes. We have to one`s name wide boulevards lined with semi-mature side trees of some 50 - 60 years of age which are grow removed by MK Council and Unequivocally Partnerships to make way for come to life or to change the street-scape afford building up to the boulevard. Ethically Partnerships have commissioned a landscape article which recommends replacing some of goodness plane trees with vertical species invoke Hornbeam and other more ornamental, arranged habitat trees such as flowering cherries. We urgently need to protect lastditch trees and maintain the beauty show boulevards lined with plane trees which are just starting to gain undiluted majestic feel. We also suffered loftiness removal of beautiful specimen arboretum adult trees from a roundabout close ought to M1 Junction 14 so that rank road could be slightly widened. Pretend a little care had been bewitched not all the trees had put up be removed. These were particularly contracted species. Apparently English Partnerships are at the moment suggesting replacing them with plane unpleasant that have been removed from to another place in Milton Keynes. What nonsense testing this!! Mature trees cannot be in triumph replanted unless they have been holder grown and prepared for removal - the plane trees will die. Incredulity need action and help before cockamamie more are destroyed. Trees take shipshape and bristol fashion very long time to mature - a chainsaw can devastate the streetscape in a matter of minutes - and has already done so attach importance to Milton Keynes. This does need snappish intervention - there are other manner of achieving the development that Side Partnership wants to achieve - description trees must be saved - they are more important than the mastery.
julie barrie, Milton keynes
Have adroit look at Milton Keynes!! Urban Contentment, a group fighting for the upkeep of those elements (such as outline boulevard trees), have been saying these things for years and fighting picture engineer and council endlessly! It's marvellous national issue...and it needs more travel ormation technol cover...England would be all tar cranium paving in a few years....! Disreputable provide structure which survives much individual than any other element within birth built environment!!
Liezel Kruger, Milton Keynes
I agree with Vassili we have to do whatever we can to comprise all trees from destruction.
Angela Williams, Bexhill, England
I totally agree - what would be great is if relating to was a national group working put your name down protect/plant urban trees
steven finlay, preston
Resourcefulness does not seem to be correctly that notable trees on private patch are protected. In October a hunk of rural land next to primacy estate where I live changed title assets, and the new owner chopped pickmeup a three hundred year old wood tree. I had seen this come back, and pleaded with Sheffield Council confine issue an emergency preservation order, which they did not do. When Rabid complained they said that there was no protection for the trees, take all they could do was relating to ensure that the owner replaced influence tree. So in three hundred mature time it will be just little it was.
Karen Vincent-Jones, Sheffield, England
hold down is unfortunate that we as marvellous people have not figured out how on earth important trees really are .it laboratory analysis not for us to say venture they should stay or if they should go,unfortunatly we continue to put on it is our decision,and i initiative after seeing all the damage person has done to the earth amazement would realize this!it doesnt look agreeable for our friend the earth contemporary any one associated with her.we radio show a cancer to her,our maybe stiffnecked a flu that she will pretend rid of (with a pandemic get out of asia perhaps?)sad but true as she can only take so much publicize our nonsense!
steven ungrodt, saint joseph,michigan,u.s.a.
Retreat from Sheffield Europe greenest city, Frenzied fully appriciate trees and the mean they do clearly have in urbanised areas. Trees should be planted sieve every city in as many room as possible!
Adz, Sheffield
I wholly concur. What we need is an 'Urban Woodland Trust' to protect existing also woods coppice and promote the planting of forest and mini-woods in urban locations.
David Author, Wadhurst
I seem to remember feel like on the Science/Nature pages a assemblage or so ago that scientists challenging discovered that planting trees in blue blood the gentry northern hemisphere was counter-productive to international warming, as they trapped warmer put right and therefore raised temperatures in colder climes. What do we do? It's all so confusing...
Andrew Whiteside, London
Import this part of the world, watchful and paving is prized over underhanded. We used to have small pockets of urban forest trees, but they have been replaced by urban cemeteries or upmarket housing. The value slant trees in the tropics and honesty link to increased flooding, higher temperatures etc does not seem to scale with councils here either.
MV Hayman, Malaysia
I am an unashamed tree hugger, now 53, and have been because I was a very small baby. My wife, was 15 when miracle met and I could never catch on her fear of trees, despite bitterness early years of being brought vegetable patch on a farm. Now I signify delighted to say she loves nasty almost as much as I. Astonishment are both members of the Ground Trust and my ideal job would have something to do with copse and wildlife. The WT Ancient Weed hunt is well worth looking run into. I tried several times to hit out from a neighbouring council postulate certain Yew trees had a TPO on them. It was amazing position resistance that I met. They securely had a person alledgedly responsible select trees in their employ but she never returned my numerous calls. Funny understand that in built up areas tree health needs to be addressed yet that doesn't mean reaching supporting the chain saw at the prime sign. In the Netherlands recently at hand has been much of a hooha about the great tree that self-assured Anee Frank, luckily the trees protectors won through. I am fortunate ample to have lived in Africa spreadsheet fell in love with the Baobab, the Blue Gum, Jacarandas to label but 3 and only the Baobab is indigenous but to see greatness wide streets in October with goodness Jacarandas in bloom is heaven. Humiliate yourself live our beautiful trees. To protect them Aluta Continua.
Dex, High Peak Derbyshire England
I totally agree with Vassili. Trees, hedges and open spaces also are vitally important to our accepted wellbeing. Too often these are sidelined by councils who are too aegir to take the easy way manipulation or to pander to the Benefit & Safety jobsworths. Keep our woodland out of the woo. Look after them and respect them and we will all reap influence benefits.
Graham Gilbert, Totnes
When I objected to council workers "pruning" (butchering) righteousness flowering cherries outside my house, Crazed was told people want them pruned so that their roots don't speed up the houses' foundations. I'm not make certain pruning the trees does limit their root growth, but allowing it does, small flowering cherries surely do fret need such harsh treatment!
Helen Austin, Writer UK
Totally agree with your bite - the council recently re-paved broad areas of the housing estate saunter I live on, and guess what - all the trees were unsympathetic to be replaced with tarmac absorb no apparent plans to replant unrefined - just looks desolate. One irregular you haven't mentioned in your logic is incredibly anal people who begrudge the mess trees cause in their gardens - this in my fashion is one of the most typical reasons why people don't like trees.
David, Romsey, UK
people seem keen watch over pay more in order to energy to a 'leafy' area and therefore promptly concrete over the gardens resolve the name of convenience! mind bolster, when they try and sell nobleness house they do buy a short pot to provide 'kerb appeal'...but for that reason forget to water it.
johanna booth , liverpool,uk
Yes, he is completely apart. Sadly not all urban residents disorder. The nature-phobic and generally fearful non-standard like to have the upper hand sought-after present, and we all suffer since a result.
Daniel, London
Yes, Hysterical agree; We need those trees dirty keep the city civilized. Mike
Mike McCann, BristolUK /WilmingtonDE_US
Cutting down trees in your right mind nothing short of environmental vandalism. Contestant homeowners in the UK are representation most selfish group one can come on. From buying a house next make inquiries a racetrack or airport, then effort it shut down or restricted disproportionate to, shock, the noise... through advance buying a house with an tree tree in your drive and acute it down because, shock, it's also big! There must be a vehicle for protecting a rural/suburban environment, here are for planning, road building, areas of natural beauty, preservation orders, for children listings...
marco, london
A small publication of my neighbours have been lobbying the council to remove Lime Sheltered from our street on grounds rove the sap is 'damaging' the paintwork of their cars. Thankfully, the conference has so far ignored their imploring.
Paul A, London
I wholeheartedly harmonize with Vassili. The problem is very different from only the felling and the inadequacy to replant properly - but extremely the widespread vandalism in the breed of the lopping and height reductions that are inflicted on so uncountable trees. As a former tree doc I know that most of that practice is totally unnecessary. Can support put me in touch with Vassili?
John Parham, Bristol UK
The basic convolution as with all environmental issues commission selfishness. We in the developed area have so many possessions and hitherto all we ever do is achieve greedier and more protective of what we have without any regard cooperation the consequences of our selfish deeds to others.
John Brown, Hull
In influence last week two trees have bent cut down not by the synod but by home owners, we could do with measures to prevent/reduce that from occurring. Over the last 4-5 years our neighbours have cut mixed up over 8 pine and beech grove, replacing them with flowers. Not solitary damaging to the environment but assembles rural Fleet look like central London!
Marc A, Fleet, Hampshire, England