| One constant concern I have had for a number | | | | I believe there is an urgent requirement for the |
| of years, and the reason for this article, has been | | | | employment of a person (or committee) who act |
| the gradual loss of the urban treescape | | | | as the "Guardian[s] of London's Treescape". This |
| throughout Britain, especially in London. To define | | | | person or committee would have two main |
| urban treescape, I mean the collective term for all | | | | duties; |
| the public and privately owned trees that sit | | | | 1. To comment on all Council tree work |
| amongst the built environment. I am talking | | | | applications to prune or fell trees above a certain |
| particularly about trees that grow above and | | | | height - say, 10m. The guardian would have the |
| beyond the roofline. The urban landscape has | | | | power to over-rule the Council's decision if it is for |
| always been a passion of mine because it forms | | | | the greater good of the landscape. Only in |
| the backdrop of a town or city, setting the tone | | | | situations where the tree is deemed (by an |
| and atmosphere around it. The treescape is a | | | | independent expert) to be dead, dying or |
| crucial element of that landscape and essential to | | | | dangerous would consent be granted for pruning |
| any city. | | | | or removal. Otherwise, the assumption would |
| It is as important as the architecture, theatres | | | | always be in favour of retaining the tree for the |
| and museums and it needs to be valued, | | | | greater good of London. This procedure should |
| protected and enhanced. Part of the problem is | | | | also apply to tree works carried out by statutory |
| that significant trees are valued by everyone | | | | undertakers and Local Authorities. |
| except those that live close to them or wish to | | | | 2. The "guardian" would have a budget set aside |
| develop land around them. To those that live | | | | to identify sites for the planting of "significant |
| close to the big trees they are now considered to | | | | landscape trees" and "groups of significant |
| be a threat instead of an asset. The litigious | | | | landscape trees". They could then take |
| society that we all now inhabit has changed the | | | | suggestions from the public, schools, local interest |
| perception of trees in the eyes of the general | | | | groups and anyone else about street corners, |
| public, local authorities, highway departments, | | | | schools, and parks etc that could support and |
| statutory undertakers etc. This pressure has | | | | benefit from a substantial tree. These can then |
| created an unfounded fear of trees by claiming | | | | be planted, denoted as significant London trees, |
| "they are dangerous" "they undermine houses" | | | | automatically protected and benefit society for |
| "someone will sue me" etc. House owners have | | | | the next couple of centuries. |
| become neurotic, Building Control officers have | | | | Overall, people need to be re-educated to love |
| become paranoid and insurance companies have a | | | | trees and not be scared of them. We all need to |
| vested interest in removing trees. The changing | | | | value our urban trees and take pride in them and |
| attitude has resulted in a decline in the number of | | | | treat them as an asset in our environment. We |
| large mature trees and what appears to be an | | | | also need to act now to preserve what is left of |
| embargo on the planting of any trees that might | | | | the urban treescape and without delay; we need |
| achieve any real stature. | | | | to replenish lost trees stocks with trees that |
| Even highway departments now only plant small | | | | have the potential to make a really significant |
| garden trees that do not have the potential to | | | | impact upon future generations. To achieve this, |
| influence the environment beyond the road they | | | | the financial impact would be minimal but the net |
| are planted in. Individual authorities do their best to | | | | benefit to Londoners and visitors would be |
| protect existing trees that are perceived to be at | | | | immeasurable, not only now but for generations |
| threat with planning legislation e.g. tree | | | | to come. The costs would be for the |
| preservation orders and conservation area | | | | employment of the Guardian (or committee) to |
| legislation. But the pressure on trees grows all the | | | | oversee expenditure, the employment, either |
| time and the time is running out. Something needs | | | | directly or indirectly, of a small team to carry out |
| to be done to protect the key trees in London | | | | the works and the costs of the purchase of |
| whilst we still have them, to replant new stock | | | | trees and associated material. |
| for the future and to change the public's | | | | Beyond that there would need to be a budget set |
| perception of trees. The benefits of trees in cities | | | | aside for publicising the work and for the key |
| are many: they "humanise" the built environment | | | | element of education. This is a low cost, high |
| by giving scale to buildings, they reduce particulate | | | | benefit initiative that can only have a positive |
| and gaseous pollution, absorb co2, reduce wind | | | | impact upon our city. In conclusion, what greater |
| speed, support wildlife and make us feel good. It | | | | legacy could we provide for the future than by |
| is no coincidence that the most sought after | | | | securing London's tree stocks for future |
| residential properties are in tree lined avenues or | | | | generations and by initiating a rolling program of |
| surrounding garden squares. The problem, as I | | | | planting significant landscape trees that will be |
| see it, is that no-one has overall control over | | | | appreciated for decades, if not centuries, to |
| London's treescape. | | | | come? |