Wood for the trees

Today I have been on a demonstration. Organised by STAG, the Sheffield Trees Action Group, we encircled Sheffield Town Hall with yellow ribbons to raise awareness of the plight of Sheffield's trees. If you have been following the tale of the trees in Sheffield you'll know that a dawn raid to cut down trees on Rustlings Rd made the world news a couple of months ago. If you are familiar with Sheffield as a city, you will also know that its leafy suburbs and urban woodlands, combined with a setting flanked by hills and defined by river valleys, snaking out to the Peak District, all make Sheffield one of the greenest and most attractive cities in the country. Sadly the local council doesn't seem to be able to see the wood for the trees, and have committed to a contract that involves felling healthy mature trees in order to do work on pavements and utilities. When the news broke about Rustlings Rd I was reminded that my late father in law was born there. As we wait for the arrival of the second baby in our family to be Sheffield born, I have thought about the city he was born into. Did he hear the leaves rustling outside his bedroom window? He didn't live here for long. We all thought he was from Widnes! It was only when we moved to Sheffield in the early 1990s that he revealed it was his birthplace. Listening to Radio 4 this morning, I heard an item on the problems and dangers of city pollution. Trees and green spaces are one of the answers to minimising its harmful effects, improving health and the quality of life as urban sprawl spreads. Ironically much of Sheffield's urban woodland is a legacy from its early days as an industrial centre. Smelting required charcoal, also known as white coal. Woodland was managed to provide the fuel needed. Nowadays this same woodland is a rich resource, both environmentally and ecologically. Tree lined roads help balance traffic pollution. Sheffield is streets ahead, and other cities should be green with envy at what Sheffield residents take for granted and the local council seems unable to appreciate. Looking back at the woodland heritage of the area, management was key. It is obvious that opportunities for managing the rich resource of Sheffield's trees have been badly handled, as has the public relations disaster of recent felling. As we circled the town hall with yellow ribbons, wearing yellow coats, jumpers, hats and scarves, whatever we had got to make a splash of colour, there was a real sense of celebration and purpose. Once upon a time we might have been dismissed and disparaged as tree huggers, but environmental science and town planning is on the side of the trees now. From fuel for the furnaces to safe air to breathe, we have so much to thank them for.