Oh dear Boris

[David Humphries]

How is it, that Politicians always get their figures wrong.

 

Was at a Capital Woodland Conference yesterday at City Hall.

Some interesting speakers and afternoon workshops on Biodiversity, Ad

aptating to cimate change, Urban Tree strategies and Woodlands and healthy living.

 

Lots of positive interaction going on, picked up some useful information.

 

 

However, the overidding fact of the day that's gonna stick in mind is ;

 

NewYork and Tokyo are embarking on very ambitious projects, to plant their cities with a Million new trees (don't know how sustainable this will be)

 

Boris Jonston, the very "optimistic and dynamic" Mayor of this great capital city of ours, is opting for, wait for it................................10.000

 

 

 

 

 

Haven't found out where yet, but one of the London Boroughs has decided to tackle Global warming head on,

and is planting Olive Trees on their streets.

 

 

.

[Andy Collins]

10,000 may seem a drop in the ocean in comparison to other cities, but it is a positive move in the right direction. Without getting all political, there are far more important issues that need addressing in our communities, where hard-pressed funds can be spent. Joe and Joanna Public, on the whole, would see the planting of 10,000 trees bottom on their scale of needs.

[Bundle 2]

10,000 may seem a drop in the ocean in comparison to other cities, but it is a positive move in the right direction. Without getting all political, there are far more important issues that need addressing in our communities, where hard-pressed funds can be spent. Joe and Joanna Public, on the whole, would see the planting of 10,000 trees bottom on their scale of needs.

 

Uh...! I'm not sure what your point might be trying to say in light of the hugely expensive and massively over-budget Olympic effort....Its seems a popular choice to spend out on a project aimed at promoting our profile when imo it is awkward timing to say the very least....

Olmpic games are fine but we are not competing to see who can waste the most money .....( Hard to believe I know when you look at the attempts made by governments to kickstart failing economies with money we havent got!!)

[Andy Collins]

Uh:bash: dont see your point either, I was referring to communities needing funding, not yet another white elephant for us to pour money into. Realistically, most of the populace would not care less whether there were 10, 10,000, or a million trees planted, they are more worried about how they can afford to meet their bills etc. The kind of trees to be planted, will they be more Planes, Oaks or will they be a token 10,000 Acers and smaller onamentals? Seems to be the way "forward" these days, planting for today, shortlived trees, no real thought to replace the veterans with an eye to have future veterans.

[Bundle 2]

Andy...if you read my post, I think you will find thats exactly the point I make...perhaps with one exception....I do not value urban treestock as " a white elephant"

ftr...the average life expectancy of an urban tree has been estimated @ 30 yrs....

[treequip]

>>>>>Begin Rant<<<<<

Before we get all excited about this lets not lose sight of the fact that we are talking about political claims and promises. There is no guarantee that any of the claims are true or will be effectively implemented, if at all.

Believe it when (if) you see it.

Ambles off muttering about elected politicians, lies and ineptitude.......

>>>>>>>End Rant<<<<<<

[Andy Collins]

Andy...if you read my post, I think you will find thats exactly the point I make...perhaps with one exception....I do not value urban treestock as " a white elephant"

ftr...the average life expectancy of an urban tree has been estimated @ 30 yrs....

 

Oh dear, this isnt going too well. I was referring to the Olympic arenas turning into a white elephant, much the same as the o2 and other acts of wisdom we're blessed with!

Urban trees.......30yrs???? Maybe in some areas, I'd give them 5mins in my local town, before they are broken off on a Friday night!! We, as arborists may appreciiate the trees, but how many would sooner see the money put into caring for the elderly, the sick and the young? With our economy in a severe downturn, surely priorities have to take over.

[David Humphries]

[quote name=Andy Collins; I was referring to the Olympic arenas turning into a white elephant' date=' much the same as the o2 and other acts of wisdom we're blessed with!

.[/quote]

 

Andy, have you been to the O2 recently ?

If not you may be suprised.

It is a veritable kalaedoscope of people and noise almost every night of the week these days.

 

Most, if not all of the top bands from around the world literally fight each other to get their gigs on there.

One of if not the very best sound stage in the world for twenty thousand, then there's the smaller stage (3000 seats), 2000 seat Cinema and smorgasboard of different eating experiences.

 

Was talking with one of the Quantity Surveyors of the site recently, he told me the original spec for the skin (which is German btw) was for 10 yrs, but they now see the life span, with maintenance lasting closer to fifty years.

 

Took my lad to see Nemo Disney on ice a few weeks back, both were suitably flabagasted at the spectacle of the show and arena.

 

Looks like delivered legasy to me

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

10,000 may seem a drop in the ocean in comparison to other cities, but it is a positive move in the right direction.

.

 

 

When you start breaking it down, the numbers are actually pretty insignificant.

 

 

 

10000 new trees

 

32 London Boroughs

 

My Borough for instance, Barnet, is (33.5 sq mi) a fair size but not the biggest.

 

That equates to 312.5 trees planted over a borough of the above size.

Not many really is it.

 

How many trees does barnet lose per year ?

I don't actualy know, but imagine it's astronomically higher than the proposal average of the Mayors strategy

 

 

 

 

 

.

[Andy Collins]

It would be interesting to find out, in comparison, how many trees a borough council in my area would plant in the same period. Of course it would be pro rata for the size of the borough.