Plumtreeooze

      Resin on the plum tree, rich in terpenes, sealing an old injury.

Chopped

                      Annual pollarding of the chestnut tree.

Unquantifiable Hazards

 

Fire up the tree

Foes' gifts are no gifts:

"Foes' gifts are no gifts: profit bring they none" - Sophocles



Maybe Bristol City Council think that by planting about 20 trees near the site of the former chocolate factory in Greenbank, along the Bristol-Bath cyclepath, we'll turn a blind eye to the highly dubious sale of the verge here to developers Squarepeg, who'll soon be ripping out mature trees and the hedgerow to build houses in this linear park.



It'll take more than a few Discovery apple trees and Conference pears to camouflage the impending eyesore, although perhaps I'm being a bit harsh and shouldn't look a gift orchard in the mouth. I should mention that I'm only assuming that BCC are responsible, going by the evidence of the labels attached to a few of the trees. Maybe it was a bit of guerilla gardening action or a gift from the late - sometimes cantankerous, always green and busy - Pete Taylor.

Whatever, whoever, it's certainly an antidote to the mass tree cull going on further up the cyclepath towards Fishponds that I haven't been able to bring myself to photograph. Others have, here.

Tree down

Even when you can see that maybe it was getting to be a problem, blocked out some light and perhaps might have posed a risk to local residents in a violent storm, it's still gut wrenching to see another mature tree felled, like this cherry in Edward Street, Redfield.



It was heavy with gorgeous pink blossom a couple of weeks ago. Had I known of its impending execution (what happened to tree preservation orders and published notices of intent ?) I would have photographed it then.

Whoops !

My superpowers have got me into trouble again. There I was last week, taking an innocent (OK, strictly illegal) cycle through Eastville Park, eulogising about the autumnal trees, flippantly remarking that I'd probably put the curse on them, following the debarkle with the ash tree which I photographed on the cyclepath, just days before it was unexpectedly felled, then this happens, 200 metres away.....





It all seems a bit pointless and is shoddy work too, though at least there should be enough wood for my crucifixion.



"It's happening, Reg. Something's actually happening, Reg. Can't you understand?"

Danger ! Falling apples

It seems that cycle friendly developers Squarepeg have missed a trick. Having reported an ash tree on the site of their proposed development to the council for causing a danger to cyclists, resulting in its felling, they failed to take the opportunity to snitch on an apple tree just a few yards away.

Haven't they heard the Isaac Newton story ? Don't they realise that cyclists are in danger of serious injury from falling apples, especially at this time of year ?

I checked again today, to see if it had all been a bad dream.



No - it's definitely gone.

In these times of squeezed budgets, far more cost effective to cut a tree down than prune it occasionally. (Unless it's in Clifton)

Well - new beginnings. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Unfortunately, as true literally as metaphorically, for developers with profit in mind, but the answer's always 'plant more'.

Tree Fellas

Hmm - this is getting quite interesting. I had an email from the council today, confirming that it was Squarepeg, the developers of the chocolate factory, who told them that the ash tree on the site of their proposed development was causing a danger to cyclists and got them to come and cut it down.

Now why would they do that ? Out of concern for cyclists or because the tree stood on the very spot where they intend building a monstrous tower block, fronting onto the cyclepath, in a frightening bit of greenwash to tack on to their plans for the rest of the site ?

Meanwhile, on the Indymedia site where I published the story, there have been denials of involvement by Squarepeg and, peculiarly, Chris Hutt - who originally told me of Squarepeg's tree survey - accused me of not checking my facts. I can only assume that Squarepeg have been getting to him and he doesn't wish it to be known that he was the one to inform me.

"Can I suggest that Indymedia gets its facts right before making inacurate accusations. This is nothing to do with Squarepeg. Please correct your blog." Jenny Gee, Spokesperson for Squarepeg.

I take no pleasure in confirming the suspicions of subterfuge relating to Squarepeg's involvement in all this and am more frightened than outraged by their point blank denial of involvement and their sinister PR parrot who's been trawling local media in an attempt to drown any voices of dissent.

LEAVE OUR CYCLETRACK ALONE !

I urge everyone to register their objections to the development of the cyclepath verge with Bristol City Council.

Comment here - link


Bristol Indymedia story - link

Gone But Not Forgotten

So much for public consultation ! Squarepeg have already instigated outrageous vandalism by ordering the felling of a magnificent ash tree on the verge of the cyclepath that caused no threat to anyone and was enjoyed daily by hundreds of people and used by nesting birds. Where was the legal notice of intended felling ?

When did Squarepeg purchase the cyclepath verge and why weren't we told ? I could accept the plans for developing the old factory site, but stealing our back yard and destroying the green corridor to make it their own front garden to maximise their profits is criminal. In what way is destroying a magnificent mature tree 'positive for Easton' ? There was simply no need for this disgusting arrogance.