BristolStreetTrees

Now you see it - Now you don't

2010-09-10T18:17:00.000+01:00

This is Redland Green.

And the photo shows the Ash trees we've been trying to save, together with a Hawthorn that's seen better days, but is still important in the park.

We have watched this tree carefully over the last couple of years and it has to be said that it has been going through a rough patch - perhaps as a result of the construction of the cycle path next to it. So we were wondering if it might do better next year.....

But on Tuesday, this tree was removed by Bristol City Council, quite unexpectedly. No warning, no consultation, nothing.

Redland Green is no stranger to controversy and we have made the case that Bristol City Council should consult before taking decisions like this. The urban forest is inhabited by people - like us.

We've felt for a long time that if the council consulted, it would then be in possession of all the information and therefore able to make better decisions. Also, it would be a way of engaging the local community rather than simply ignoring us. The council knows very well who to consult but it seems to ignore us utterly. It thinks it knows best. But we have successfully challenged, at an expert and technical level, its risk assessments and even had technical papers published in the Arboricultural Journal. We think that the council doesn't always know best.

So we have sent this email to Bristol City Council (which thought the tree was dead - it is now):

FAO Richard Ennion, Bristol Parks Department

cc Bristol Tree Forum
cc Councillors Townsend and Harrison
cc RCAS
cc Redland Green Community Group

Dear Richard,

Earlier this week, probably Tuesday, an ancient hawthorn tree was removed on Redland Green without any warning or consultation. It is likely to have been the oldest tree in the park. As you may know this section of Redland Green is part of a former rural landscape which predates the mainly Victorian houses which surround it.

We will need to discuss how we can protect from BCC the remaining treees of this historic landscape at our next meeting of the Redland Green Community Group on Monday.

We had hoped that Bristol City Council might have learned the value of consulting with the local community before removing such trees, especially following the controversy regarding BCC's plan to chainsaw the ancient ash trees. But it appears not.

Of course, post facto, it is possible to justify the removal of the tree. And yes, we know the standard arguments that can be pulled out, which would apply to pretty much any tree over 50 years old. But this approach is simply unacceptible as it does not allow the community to consider BCC's reasons for removing trees and decide whether we are comfortable with them. Nor does it allow us to obtain technical expert opnion to challenge the views of BCC as we did partially successfully with the ancient ash trees on Redland Green which BCC was determined to remove.

I personally find it hard to understand the reason for removing this live tree, whilst leaving a completely dead tree at the other end of the park. It beats me.

For the moment, I guess all we can do is to get maximum publicity within our community and elsewhere to try and prevent the next episode of random destruction.

Yours faithfully,

Vassili Papastavrou

www.BristolStreetTrees.org

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 16

2010-08-15T20:32:00.003+01:00

We've been banging on about Ginkgos for a while, and still have a couple of posts left to complete the story, here at www.ginkgostreettrees.org, in the fine city of Ginkgo.

Today, however we chronicle where we think it all started.

It could have been an X-Files, Scully and Mulder type invasion from another galaxy. Yes, we suspect Redland was impregnated with Ginkgos years ago, sowing the seeds for their current dominance as Bristol City Council's STREET TREE OF CHOICE.

We know these trees have been with us for years, but previously they were confined to parks, gardens, arboreta and institutional settings. It seems, however, that they escaped sometime in the 1970s into the urban realm.

Specifically into tree pits. In streets.

Like these in Carnarvon Road. Redland.

The first of many, these aliens have quietly positioned themselves in a Victorian suburb, seducing the inhabitants with their charm, to the extent that this road is now becoming the Ginkgo centre of western Europe. They are the Stepford Wives of Bristol's Street Trees, and new additions continue to appear...

But we have questions...

Do the denizens of Carnarvon Road dream about Ginkgos?

Is this invasion benign, or is there something sinister afoot?

Do Bristol City Council have a contingency plan to fight off these potential triffids?

Stay tuned...

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 15

2010-07-24T11:45:00.000+01:00

Why is Bristol City now Ginkgo City?

We're not sure.

We think it might be because Ginkgos are a Highway Tree Officer's dream: slow growing, compact growth, generally fastigiate habit, and minimal leaf litter. Oh, and they are pretty disease resistant too.

We know this because here's one we planted earlier. In a garden in Redland. In 1986. See how well it's grown over the last 24 years? Impressive, especially as it's not planted in a pavement, but into good garden soil. Give it another 300 years and it'll really contribute to the street scene.

There is a problem though.

Female Ginkgos may get a bit smelly after 35 years or so (especially their fruits), but they can't be sexed before then.

We waiting with baited breath for the new Ginkgo City fragrance in 35 years.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 14

2010-07-17T11:10:00.000+01:00

Look.

One of Bristol's famous stumps. In Winterstoke Road, South Bristol.

It's a Lime Tree stump, and there is more than one, because Winterstoke Road was an avenue of Lime Trees. There are a couple of London Planes, too, but they're in the open space by the play area.

We've been campaigning for years to have Bristol's stumps replaced with new trees, so it's good that these stumps have been. But we forgot about the law of unintended consequences...

Yes, Ginkgo City Council have re-planted with Ginkgos. In what was an avenue of Lime Trees.

Perfect.

You can see just how well these Chinese deciduous conifers fit well with the established, remaining Lime trees. Especially in winter.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 13

2010-07-15T16:27:00.000+01:00

Easton Way, Bristol.

Or at least the fairly recently re-vamped bit, where the Council removed a bit of road and installed a cycle lane. Which is good (as far as it goes).

Why are we here? Easton Way is a dual carriageway connecting the Parkway (M32) with Barton Hill Roundabout. But why, in Ginkgo Fortnight (maybe month, soon), is this important we hear you all cry?

It's interesting.

Easton Way has a central reservation filled with London Planes. They were planted as whips (very small trees) and have grown very well over the years to become a magnificent line of trees in the centre of - it has to be said - a rather ugly and inappropriate transport corridor in north east central Bristol.

The trouble with large trees is that they (so we are told by the Parks Department) need lots of space. So we'd expect the even wider 'island' created by the new bike path to accommodate some nice large trees.

But no. Sadly, the 'officers' in Bristol City Council saw fit to plant... A Line Of Ginkgos (and a Pine - nice).

Here at BristolStreetGinkgos we rejoice, not in the opportunities missed to protect ourselves and future generations from climate change by planting large trees, no, we rejoice in the planting of Ginkgos, in Ginkgo City.

Ginkgos are Chinese.

And most of what we already consume here in Bristol comes from China.

Ergo, Ginkgos are the future!!!

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 12

2010-07-14T07:00:00.001+01:00

Here in Ginkgo City (formerly Bristol) we let visitors know what to expect, just as they enter the city... so just as you can pop into Gordano Services for a piss on your way somewhere else, you can also enter Bristol to check out the Ginkgos.

This is the Portway (A4).

Nice wide central reservation.

Nice long line of Ginkgos, courtesy Bristol City Council Parks Department.

Why is this of any interest? Well apparently Ginkgos are superbly suited to narrow streets, whereas London Planes get a bit big and can be difficult to manage.

So it's nice to see the good officers at the Council making intelligent decisions when deciding how to mark a Gateway to Bristol. Yes, this would be a great place for a line of London Planes.

But Bristol City Council knows better than that. Especially their unelected 'officers'.

Thanks guys.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 11

2010-07-09T07:00:00.008+01:00

Kingsdown Parade is full of interesting inhabitants. Some of Bristol's famous movers and shakers.

They'll probably recognise this*:

When I do count the clock that tells the time,

And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;

When I behold the violet past prime,

And sable curls, all silver'd o'er with white;

When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,

Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,

And summer's green all girded up in sheaves,

Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard;

Then of thy beauty do I question make,

That thou among the wastes of time must go,

Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake,

And die as fast as they see others grow;

And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence

Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.

So it's nice that they've been joined by a new Ginkgo which will take 300 years or so to achieve any real stature.

Thanks Bristol City Council. Very appropriate.

* Shakespeare - Sonnet No. 12.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 10

2010-07-08T07:00:00.004+01:00

Ginkgo Madness Episode 10...

We like Ginkgos, we really do. We like all trees.

Ginkgos, however, do not a magnificent Street Tree make.

They take centuries to grow to a decent size, and they never match the stature of, say, a Lime, Beech or Plane. So we give our support to Ginkgos in gardens and parks. Big thumbs up (we're nice).

But they are useless as Street Trees unless the street is really small and narrow (we could name a few streets like this, but Bristol City Council have probably already replanted these with even smaller growing Amelanchiers and Cherries).

Today we feature the "magnificent" Ginkgos outside the City of Bristol College in St George's Road. Big new building, pathetic choice of tree (although they have been in a while, so they've grown. A little).

And it doesn't appear they're going to last... no bark on this one.

This tree will be dead soon - we wonder whether Bristol City Council will replace it.

What species they will choose? We hear Rhus is really fashionable.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 9

2010-07-07T07:00:00.002+01:00

Let's think about development. A rare commodity in the current economic climate.

Back in Victorian days it was rife, so when Bristol Temple Meads Station was built in the 1800s the modern, forward thinking Victorians built a new street, straight through an old medieval part of Bristol to provide a direct route from Bristol Bridge to the railway station. A bit like the M32, only less smelly.

It's called Victoria Street.

This road has suffered since, of course, as WW2 and subsequent low quality development took their toll.

But look at the trees. London Planes. Probably planted in the 1970s, maybe earlier. And carefully protected during the recent building works to the new block on the corner of Victoria Street and Counterslip.

Now let's look at Counterslip, also the current scheme of carefully protected trees during the development of the old Courage Brewery site. What trees are these? Well, they are London Planes. Just like the ones in Victoria Street.

This is interesting because it suggests that someone, in the past, decided to define this part of the city and unify its street scheme by planting a single species of tree. One that's known to grow particularly well in Bristol. Probably a landscape architect, or a planner (urban design wasn't a recognised profession when these trees went in).

Anyway, back to Counterslip. The London Planes are on the left. But look, here on the right, what type of tree are these?

Well, they will be... Ginkgos. The trees that blend in anywhere because they are as useless as chocolate teapots in terms of civic scale and gravitas. These are the trees that now define Bristol. These are the trees that illustrate how unaccountable 'officers' of the Council can change the entire urban fabric of the city without even asking.

We think the London Planes in this area are quite nice. Apparently the parks department think they know better.

So there are also Ginkgos on the other corner too, in Temple Street.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 8

2010-07-06T07:00:00.001+01:00

Yesterday we mentioned the insensitive and inappropriate replacement of a large Acacia tree with a meaningless Ginkgo in Canowie Road.

Here in Eugene Street, behind the BRI, and in true Bristol City Council fashion, they've done the same again. Look at this aerial view from 2003. A tree with a huge canopy.

Then, of course, Bristol City Council did this:

One more large street tree down, one more Ginkgo in the coffin of Bristol's existing and future generations.

Here at BristolStreetTrees we're all thick, so we don't count, but it would be useful if Bristol City Council could employ people with the correct qualifications when arbitrarily changing our streetscapes.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 7

2010-07-05T07:00:00.004+01:00

Here's a tree. Big and nice, but not appreciated by someone in Canowie Road.

So it's been removed by Bristol City Council.

As you can see, this road needs all the help it can get in the tree stakes, so Bristol City Council replace it with...

A Ginkgo.

Thank you. No, really, THANK YOU Bristol City Council. Nice.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 6

2010-07-04T10:43:00.000+01:00

Following our abortive attempt to buy a Ginkgo in Broadmead yesterday, we thought we'd look around.

The thing that immediately struck us was the effective use of Norway Maples. These trees fall neatly into the mantra of 'right tree right place' so much loved by many tree and urban realm professionals.

In fact, most of 'old' Broadmead is defined by this species. Which gives it a sense of place. An identity. An image to be built on. A brand.

So it was fantastic to see that all the new trees recently planted are Ginkgos.

Bristol truly is turning into Ginkgo City. Lucky there are very few known viruses for these remnants of the dinosaur age (we mean the trees... of course!).

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 5

2010-07-02T07:00:00.001+01:00

As Ginkgo Week begins to turn into Ginkgo Fortnight we ask:

Where do you buy good quality Street Trees trees?

Here at BristolStreetTrees we have no idea.

Broadmead, perhaps?

Look, a Ginkgo, bought and paid for by us through the happy medium of Bristol City Council.

Give this tree another 300 years and it'll win the Tuner Prize all on it's own.

Genius.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 4

2010-07-01T07:00:00.005+01:00

Reclaim the road!

Pavement Build-Outs. What are they?

Well, Build-Outs are a modern device to help pedestrians get across our car-dominated streets. They generally take away road space and give it pedestrians. They are an invention of Traffic Engineers.

Traffic Engineers don't like trees near junctions. They like stuff called Traffic. Otherwise they wouldn't be Traffic Engineers. Obviously. So they don't think about trees. Just Traffic.

Bristol City Council Parks Department don't think about Traffic or Build-Outs. Unless they are told by 'the public' that Traffic Engineers are designing Build-Outs. In Bristol. And unless 'the public' suggest to them that they might put trees in the Build-Outs.

But this makes the Parks Department look stupid.

After all, the world is clamouring for joined-up-thinking, but Bristol City Council's Parks Department (who manage trees in streets) can't talk to the Traffic Department (who manage streets with trees). So the Parks Department may look stupid when someone points out an opportunity to plant a new street tree in a new Build-Out. Why hadn't they thought of that? Oops.

Anyway, it takes a while, but eventually it is possible to get a few trees into build-outs. The Parks Department will resist, of course, as it means work, surveys, excuses and consultation. It may even mean looking through books of trees to find the least appropriate species for a chosen spot.

So, they plant...

A Ginkgo.

We are always impressed.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 3

2010-06-30T07:00:00.003+01:00

Episode 3 in an ongoing series reflecting on Bristol City Council's inappropriate and under-hand changing of our Urban Fabric.

It's not just in leafy Redland and Clifton that the Ginkgo Madness is manifesting itself.

This is Duckmoor Road. Southville.

South Bristol is not full of leafy suburbs. There are many important trees, but the spacings are generally wider apart than in the north. Which makes every street tree lost even more important for the future amenity and comfort of the city.

So, what are Duckmoor Road's London Planes are being replaced with..?

Yes, that's right. Ginkgos. Slow-growing, ineffective, easy-to-maintain Ginkgos. Even in locations where there is a hugh amount of space and no buildings anywhere near the tree-pit.

The future residents of the area will no-doubt wonder why flooding, heat-waves, poor health, and mental illness affects them more in 20 years time than it does now. Hopefully some of them will come across this post and start to understand why they were left such a useless legacy by the 'officers' of Bristol City Council in 2010.

Maybe, they too will reflect on just how little the trees have grown over the course of the 21st century, in comparison with more appropriate street tree species.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 2

2010-06-29T07:00:00.015+01:00

It's Ginkgo week here at BristolStreetTrees, and we're documenting Bristol City Council's inappropriate use of replacement tree species in our city's streets. Will they ever learn?

Here's the other end of Whiteladies Road, which we covered on Sunday. It's called Park Row.

Yep, that's right. Instead of going for like-for-like replacement planting, or taking the opportunity to use a wide pavement to put in a few large canopy trees, Bristol City Council's Parks Department has chosen to book-end the planting near the Downs by planting with more inappropriate Ginkgos near the top of Park Street.

Fantastic.

Bristol City Council - Not Getting It - Episode 1

2010-06-27T12:56:00.003+01:00

Those in charge of Bristol City's street trees are currently excelling themselves.

So we'd like to spend a few days reflecting on how unaccountable officers in the Parks Department have the power to change the entire appearance of a city without any consultation, and commission work that seriously damages the city's tree stock, as this photo illustrates:

We covered the stupidity of putting a Lime into the row of Ashes in Ashgrove Road, and putting an Ash into the avenue of Limes in Kellaway Avenue a while ago.

In our next few posts we'll examine the legacy being left for our descendants by people with no training in Urban Design or Landscape Architecture, with no grasp of the health problems associated with Heat Island Effects, without any of the medical understanding of how trees ameliorate urban pollution, and with no understanding of the benefits of large canopy trees from many other perspectives, including urban drainage systems.

After all, if you train as an Arboriculturist you don't need any other skills to butcher a tree, and if you get to plant them you can even have fun leafing through tree books, choosing inappropriate species to impose on the people that pay your wages.

Let's start at the top of Whiteladies Road. Where the Alders (not long-lived, or large growing trees) have been replaced with Ginkgos. Not Limes or London Planes or even Norway Maples, as further down the road. No, slow growing, ineffective Ginkgos.

And why has this been done?

These trees are useless as street trees in all but one way. They grow really, really slowly. And that means they will not become a problem to the Parks Department for at least 100 years. They don't even have big leaves, so there's no sweeping up in the autumn.

Brilliant thinking, Bristol City Council.

What is going on?

2010-06-17T12:26:00.001+01:00

Bristol City Council has chopped down all the street trees it can.

It's now started killing and mutilating the rest of them.

Here's the devastation in Gloucester Road. Whiteladies Road is the same.

Voting for trees

2010-05-05T11:54:00.003+01:00

It is fair to say that Labour, the Lib Dems, Conservative and of course the Green Party all have individual people who care about urban trees. Bristol North West MP Stephen Williams has been extremely good in helping us save the ancient trees on Redland Green and in lobbying the council to allow the tree to be planted on Redland Roundabout. It was a long process.

Yet, we also have committed individuals from Labour and Conservative who have also worked hard to save trees from removal (such as Snuff Mills / Grove Wood) and have promoted urban trees throughout the city.

Following the election, do tell us your positive experiences with the successful candidate. And if he or she is rubbish, let us know.

Planning Department stumped again.

2009-12-05T18:30:00.008Z

The Planning Department is stumped once again and more trees have been chainsawed.

One day later they would have been protected with Tree Preservation Orders. The trees concerned were at Harpers House on Blackboy Hill (on the right as you go up). The planning application is 09/04003/VC. What is going on in the Bristol Planning Department? How much longer will developers run rings around it and chop down trees as they choose?

After the Cotham School Scandal we were all assured that the Planning Department would get its act together and stop this kind of thing happening again. At this stage we are still waiting to find out the details but what seems to have happened is that on 7th October 2009, the applicant notified the Planning Dept (s211 rules) of wish to fell four trees (and keep one). Planning must therefore respond by 18th November or applicant has permission to fell automatically (again - s211 rules of 6 weeks). The TPOs were issued on three of the four trees on 20th November But, the trees had already been chainsawed - apparently in the day or two between the six week period elapsing and the TPO coming into effect.

We will be asking the obvious questions. In future, could the Planners announce their decision before the six week period elapses? And what is the point of issuing TPOs on stumps?

What we said...

2009-10-15T16:35:00.003+01:00

Click here to read

Colston's School again

2009-09-23T12:47:00.004+01:00

Today we see that the application is recommended for approval, including the removal of the tree. Yes, they now intend to replace it, but it's taken a real effort to get even this far. Come and lobby the council next week.

The Poplars at the back of the school are also proposed for the axe - which has certainly upset the neighbours. Here's a letter to the Head from a resident of St Andrews Road:

"Dear Mrs Jones,

You have submitted a planning application to enlarge the

school grounds. That in itself is a laudable enterprise, in

that no doubt it will enhance facilities for your students

and lead to better and more congenial learning environment.

However, part of your plans are to cut down the row of nine

black poplar trees that have been growing for decades along

the eastern boundary of your school grounds. That is neither

laudable, nor 'green'(the web site states you are 'Going

Green'), nor necessary.

Your school web site advertises that you 'specialise in

languages'. Perhaps your German department and the students

studying that language and culture might care to read and

discuss the following poem by Bertolt Brecht (I898-I956),

written in 1950 on the occasion of a poplar tree found still

standing after most other trees in war-torn and ruined

Berlin had been hacked down for fire wood during the

freezing winter of 1946/7:

Die Pappel vom Karlsplatz - Das freundliche Grün

Eine Pappel steht am Karlsplatz

Mitten in der Trümmerstadt Berlin

Und wenn Leute gehn übern Karlsplatz

Sehen sie ihr freundlich Grün.

In dem Winter sechsundvierzig

Fror'n die Menschen, und das Holz war rar

Und es fielen da viele Bäume

Und es wurd ihr letztes Jahr.

Doch die Pappel dort am Karlsplatz

Zeigt uns heute noch ihr grünes Blatt:

Seid bedankt, Anwohner vom Karlsplatz

Daß man sie noch immer hat!

And for the benefit of those not knowledgable of German a

rather loose translation:

A poplar stands on Charles Square

In the middle of ruinous Berlin

And when people go across Charles Square

They see her friendly green.

In the winter of forty-six

The people froze, and the wood was rare

And many trees were felled

And it was her last year.

But the poplar there on Charles Square

Still today shows us her leafy green:

Thank you, residents of Charles Square

That we still have her with us.

I hope you will pass this on to your relevant teaching

staff and I would welcome your feedback concerning the

outcome of this educational piece of unfortunately rather

topical literary analysis. I would be especially interested

in what reactions your students had to the proposed plans to

remove 'their' poplars.

Yours sincerely..."

Doomed?

2009-09-22T12:33:00.004+01:00

Skanska is at it again. Not content with taking out a number of important trees at Cotham School, the day before Good Friday when no enforcement action could be taken, Skanska now expects to do the same again in Cheltenham Road.

Skanska appear determined to chainsaw an important local tree as part of its planning application for new buildings at Colston’s School.

Please let us know if you can help to save this important tree which is to be removed without any meaningful consultation.

See http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/news/Claim-hidden-plans-fell-Bristol-tree/article-1181732-detail/article.html for an Evening Post article outlining Skanska’s approach.

The tree is an important street tree outside the Colston’s school site and is part of the Cheltenham Road avenue of plane trees. During the consultation process Skanska stated categorically, “plane tree on pavement to be retained”. However, by the time the application was submitted Skanska submitted misleading documents which show images with the tree retained and casting dappled shade on the new building. Yet the small print states that the tree is to be removed. Then on 3rd September a flurry of new documents appeared on the planning web site confirming finally, that the tree would go and offering the small guesture of a replacement planting.

We need your help:

If you objected in writing to the planning proposal you can speak at the Planning Committee meeting on 30th September.

We can offer information as to how to contribute to this debate.

Any other activities and press work to highlight the fate of the tree

www.BristolStreetTrees.org contact us: Quercus (at) BristolStreetTrees (dot) org

Background notes:

The application Colston Girls School Cheltenham Road Bristol BS6 5RD was published on the Bristol City Council Web site on 22 May. Google Application 09/01456/FB or use the web link below

http://e2eweb.bristol.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/dcapplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KIURKEDNK8000

A flurry of new documents were posted on the web site on 3rd September, many weeks after the planning application was put in. Such an approach prevents any comment on the new documents as the comment period has expired.

Of particular interested is the arboricultural report, last on the list of associated documents http://e2edocs.bristol-city.gov.uk/WAM/findCaseFile.do?appName=planning&appNumber=09/01456/FB

The tree is listed in the arboricultural report as grade A2, which means that it is an important tree with an expected lifespan of more than 40 years which will make a substantial contribution in the future and should be retained. (According to BS 5837 Trees in relation to Construction)

The importance of the tree was raised by the Bristol Urban Design Forum (letter 10th December 2008 p21 in the “Statement of Community Involvement) which stated that, “we were delighted to hear that every effort will be made to keep the tree”.

The importance of the tree was also highlighted in at least three successive meetings with the Montpelier Conservation Group (also in the “Statement of Community Involvement).

Excerpts of Skanska’s own planning document are included as a PDF (Colstons.pdf). The tree in question is highlighted with red circles which we have added. Only by reading the small print would one have any inclination that the tree was to be removed.

More information on the Cotham Trees is available on the blog site of local councilor Neil Harrison http://cotham.blogspot.com/2009/04/trees-at-cotham-school.html and the Bristol Evening Post http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Inquiry-calls-Bristol-trees-felled/article-1209480-detail/article.html

No Respect: The Law of Unintended Consequences

2009-08-02T11:12:00.007+01:00

Not satisfied with planting a Lime in Ashgrove Road, it seems Bristol City Council are intent on changing the entire character of the city.

Here we see a newly planted Ash in the majestic avenue of Limes in Kellaway Avenue.

And a newly planted Alder, also in Kellaway Avenue.

When we started campaigning for the replacement of all the trees being felled in Bristol we had no idea that we'd be having such a far-reaching and long-term impact on our Victorian Legacy.

We wonder if, in 100 years, we at Bristol Street Trees will be thanked for unwittingly changing all the avenues of single species of tree into mixed-up, random lines of virtually any and every tree species?

Hopefully our ancestors will blame the Council.

Parks Department: Secret Agenda

2009-07-19T11:40:00.006+01:00

Bristol Street Trees is pleased to be making a difference. The council are now replanting trees. Sometimes.

But we've noticed they are subtly changing the species. This stump, for example, is an Ash.

This is in an avenue of Ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior), in Ashgrove Road.

But it's been cleverly replaced... with a small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata).

A Lime. In Ashgrove Road. In an avenue of Ash trees.

Maybe the Parks Department have a hidden agenda. We reckon they are probably closet road name changers. Limegrove Road anyone?

Roundabout Tree Planted

2009-07-17T13:00:00.002+01:00

It's there!

After years of trying, over 250 emails, countless meetings and discussions, we finally have a London Plane (Platanus x Hispanica) in the roundabout in Redland Road. We need more in soulless bits of street like this. Suggestions welcome.

Canynge Square

2009-01-20T18:19:00.000Z

RIP