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Trees to be felled on Midsummer Common despite locals' opposition.

Cameraboy | 17.01.2011 20:51 | Social Struggles | Cambridge

A rather strange thing is happening on Midsummer Common in Cambridge.

Trees are being felled, despite minimal public consultation and local residents' very visible opposition, and yet we are supposed to believe this is Cambridge City Council acting democractically.

Some of the many artful protests by locals.
Some of the many artful protests by locals.

What would Nature do?
What would Nature do?

One of the most decorated trees, near Elizabeth Way.
One of the most decorated trees, near Elizabeth Way.

Save my life!
Save my life!

One of the felling notices attached to a "shrubby" tree.
One of the felling notices attached to a "shrubby" tree.

Detail of notice, showing explanation given.
Detail of notice, showing explanation given.

One tree has been felled already.
One tree has been felled already.

Red ribbons clearly evident on felled tree.
Red ribbons clearly evident on felled tree.


A local group, called Rebel Arts, along with other Cambridge residents have decided to highlight the issue by tying red ribbons around all the trees that have removal notices upon them.

Some trees have also been more elaborately decorated with heartfelt messages and artwork from local people to publically voice their dismay at what it is happening.

One of attached Council notices proclaims the reason for the fellings as being:

"a poor weak form and because of its specie will not grow [sic] much larger than already evident, by nature it is a shrubby bush" (See picture).

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but the last time I checked it was not a crime (environmental or otherwise), for a lifeform to be "a shrubby bush", and yet we are being told by Cambridge City Council that because this is the case, these trees are to be felled (i.e. killed), to be replaced by Willows, most likely because somebody somewhere in the council deemed them to be somehow not aesthetically pleasing.

We have yet to discover what aesthetic and/or environmental criterion is being used by the Council to make these deicisions.

A public consultation was conducted, although it was given scant publicity, so very few people responded to it as a result.

One tree has already been felled, even though red ribbon protests from local residents are clearly visible on the trunk of the felled tree (see pictures).

Is this another case of a local authority attempting to take a unilateral decision on a matter of public of concern..?

I suspect we shall soon find out.

Cameraboy

Comments

Display the following 5 comments

  1. council tax — anarchist
  2. not a big deal? trees aren't sentient. — anon
  3. The decisions are made by sentient beings! — Cameraboy
  4. But... — ?
  5. Tree support — Hugh Kellett