Tree campaign in Sheffield in 2016 (continuation thread)

[Longcol 594]

I note that you make no attempt to answer the question posed Longcol. How does the council intend to 'replace' canopy cover and the associated ecosystem services provided, on Humphrey Road?

 

Are you expecting the council to produce a street by street tree strategy now?

 

Anyway, getting back to the discussion about canopy cover in Sheffield's urban forest "urban forest" - it's increasing isn't it - are rather inconvenient fact for the tree campaign - just like trees hardly provide any protection from vehicle pollution to pedestrians walking along busy roads, like trees didn't prevent flooding in 2007, like deciduous trees don't do much for us at all in the winter.

 

BTW I note that the STAG facebook page is no longer public - bad news to bury?

[Mindfulness 10]

Are you expecting the council to produce a street by street tree strategy now?

 

That is not how a tree strategy works Longcol. A tree strategy is a planned, integrated and systematic approach to the sustainable management of the urban forest, of which street trees are a significant part. This needs to be drawn up by competent, experienced arborists and highway engineers. Had one been in place, Humphrey Road would NEVER have happened. The minor pavement ridging that Amey used as an excuse to fell all of these HEALTHY old trees, would have been balanced by the monetary worth of the ecosystem benefits afforded by their large crowns. The trees would have been protected and the pavements would have been fixed, according to current best practice.

[Longcol 594]

That is not how a tree strategy works Longcol. A tree strategy is a planned, integrated and systematic approach to the sustainable management of the urban forest, of which street trees are a significant part.

 

Under 2% of the trees in the urban forest grow in the pavement and roadside grass verges - "street trees".

 

From observation a significantly greater number of trees can be found in close proximity to roads can be found in private gardens, public parks, verges between footpaths and buildings, woodland, copses and other locations within a few yards of roads. None of these are affected by Streets Ahead.

[Mindfulness 10]

All campaigners are asking for, is that SCC comply with the current industry good practice that SCC already claim to comply with. Compliance with the UK Forestry Standard, BS5837; UKRLG guidance and NJUG, would be a good indicator of fulfilment of the Duty of Care and responsible, competent management.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Mindfulness

[valderama 10]

Intersting article in this months Arb association magazine on Sheffield's street trees and the street's ahead project.

 

Sorry i dont have a link.

[Mindfulness 10]

Here's the Arb association page:

http://www.trees.org.uk/

 

And a link to an article from March, criticising Sheffield Council:

http://www.hortweek.com/tree-felling-sheffield-criticised-consultant/arboriculture/article/1387442

 

"You don't have to fell trees to repair a footpath"

 

The only reason HEALTHY trees are being felled in Sheffield, is to increase Amey's profit margins. SCC did NOT employ arboricultural consultants and engineers, with the appropriate level of experience of highway tree management, BEFORE signing the 2.2 billion pound contract. Basic and glaring error! We are getting cowboy management, because that is what we paid for.

Edited May 30, 2016 by Mindfulness

[valderama 10]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B93oNgqI3WBVSElsVHJrdDZYTjg/view?usp=drivesdk

 

This is the one.

[Mindfulness 10]

Another great article:

http://www.hortweek.com/according-barrell-highway-engineers-failing-champion-trees/arboriculture/article/1372271

 

"The current generation of highway engineers is presiding over local decisions to meet their own narrow objectives, to the detriment of the wider population. We have the technology to get more trees into our streets. The challenge is persuading highway engineers to look beyond the roads and begin to work for the communities they serve, not outdated mantras"

[Solomon1 10]

Lol - that tree should be a prime candidate for a Tree Preservation Order

 

Indupitably

[High Greener 10]

All those trees gone, utterly shameful

[Eater Sundae 12]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B93oNgqI3WBVSElsVHJrdDZYTjg/view?usp=drivesdk

 

This is the one.

 

Provides an alternative view to the usual links on this thread. Refreshing to see a bit of balance.

[Mindfulness 10]

All those trees gone, utterly shameful

 

It actually really is High Greener, 4000 in total now. This PFI deal has been an ‘off the shelf contract’ which no-one in SCC appears to have properly scrutinised. Keeping trees is not on Amey’s radar and ultimately this has nothing to do with trees, but about paths. So Amey is chopping trees, so it can flatten paths and save money in the longterm for its shareholders. But SCC or Amey have yet to admit this in public and until they do, we cannot have an honest conversation. Mediation and collaboration is the only way forward from this point and to reach some kind of compromise. So do Steve Robinson, Head of Highways and Bryan Lodge, the new Councillor for the Environment, have the kind of skill sets to navigate such negotiations? Let's hope so, for everyone's sake.

Edited May 30, 2016 by Mindfulness