I hope when EU ministers responsible for urban and spatial development meet in Leipzig this week, that they will have given serious consideration to boosting the number of urban trees in our neighbourhoods.
I live in Cambridgeshire, the least wooded county in the country, and not the best of place to be as I adore trees and avenues. I feel an adrenalin rush whenever I see a row of glorious lime, plane or maple trees. I do love the avenues and tree-lined squares in France.
So I was totally engrossed by The Politics of Trees on Sunday’s Politics Show which told how lots of urban trees are being cut down without proper justification, taking the easy way out to please insurance companies and local authorities. I can understand it if a tree is causing structural damage to the house, but that should only be a last resort.
In 2004 an African woman, Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize for recognising the social and economic benefits of planting thousands of trees in Africa.
But when did you last see a newly planted avenue? Will they come back into fashion and make our communities brighter and greener?
And could science not intervene so trees are genetically designed to have shorter roots which would cause less structural damage to nearby buildings? What trees could be planted in streets to keep everyone happy?
Hi Elle,
I enjoy my morning walk
along the tree lined paths on Jesus Green
or Christ’s Pieces.
I guess some could be planted alongside the path that cuts across Parkside, and still leave plenty of room for cricket either side.
PS – Any idea what’s happening with Milton Park, now that Vicky Ford got her ‘extension’
Oh and by the way have you seen all the trees along the rail-line from Cambridge to Norwich, most of them in the next county of course. lol!
Yes, Nelson’s navy and the charcoal burners of yesteryear denuded huge parts of our country of trees. Thankfully there are now many reforestation schemes in operation, the next generation should enjoy the fruits.
Q9, lucky you, I am now off to the gym for my “morning walk”. Vicky has done a great job with Milton Park, I’ll ask her to update us.
Jim, Lord Nelson is still my hero 😉
Four huge trees were cut down to make room for a bungalow behind my house and next door cut theirs down too – the difference in sound and air quality is noticable. I don’t think you need to genetically engineer trees, just not put houses on the tiniest postage stamp. Control immigration and build terraced houses like the Victorians did.
In the 60’s there were several surveys carried out, I understand, that asked people what they wanted and the overwhelming response was a nice kitchen and a bit of garden. They ignored public opinion and the people in power, the ‘activators’, built high-rise flats instead, even though they could house the same number of souls in houses on the same land. Tree lined avenues are not seen as modern and award winning.
We have a new playgound at the local park. Most of the play structures are pieces of modern architecture that provide little or no play. They are mostly just not fun to play with. But somewhere, someone, at sometime, had to submit these plans and impress an ‘activator’ who probably never had any friends so never spent much time at the park.
Update on the park. The week after next we will be meeting with all the different people who have expressed interest in partnering / managing/ taking on the park. It will be a busy week. I anticipate that we will make more progress then.
“could science not intervene so trees are genetically designed to have shorter roots which would cause less structural damage to nearby buildings?”
Shorter roots would mean they were more likely to fall down killing some unfortunate soul in high winds though….
An avenue of trees is a lovely thing. Here there is nothing like sitting in the shade of a large carob tree in summer. But I’m not a “countryside” sort of person so I can’t tell one tree from another and it’s not often I really notice them – or the lack of them. As I write, here, the comune workers are out ruthlessly pruning all trees and hedges and cutting back vegetation – it’s too much of a fire risk in the summer heat. First part obscured by photo again, Ellee.
Did you hear about Bette Midler’s initiative to plant urban/city areas? It’s been a resounding success.
Snafu, I always say nothing is impossible. You won’t know until you try.
Philipa, Bette Midler is a great character, I’m glad she spearheaded this, but I didn’t know anything before you mentioned it.
I just love urban neighborhoods shaded by tall green trees.
That’s been the hardest adjustment…. living in the suburbs with little sparse saplings. Ugh.
Elle, Thanks!
Hi Vicky, I’ll try and attend
I’ll check for details on your blog!
‘Can’t see the wood for the trees’
Well, Elle – I can’t see your text for the wood !
I agree with you, trees are uplifting and soften bleak architecture and stark skylines.