[Discuss] Alexandra Gardens Tree Felling Proposals

[AE Hill]

Hello :

I have put together as an attachment a short relatively non-technical 
document about the scientific and logical issues behind the proposed 
tree felling in Alexandra Gardens for anyone who might wish to read 
it. The aim is to make people think about the often re-iterated 
statement by the Chief Arboricultural Officer (the form varies) to 
the effect that the trees have been shown to be the agent creating 
the subsidence upon which the felling proposal rests.

Until we see the independent surveyors report, which the Council 
officers have not yet released, it is impossible to judge the 'data' 
on which this conclusion is based. However, I have tried to show that 
it is not at all simple and that we should rid ourselves of the 
simple equation of (tree roots)=(serious water 
extraction)=(drying/subsidence)=(required felling) which seems to be 
axiomatic in the minds of many people.

Anyone really interested (and with a bit of time !) should read - or 
pick the relevant plums out of - the London Tree Officers Association 
report of 2008, which makes the case against blaming trees for too 
much of the subsidence in London and the role of the insurance 
companies (see relevant bits above, also).

Adrian Hill
29 Alpha Road
Cambridge CB4 3DQ 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://soscambridge.org.uk/pipermail/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk/attachments/20100921/ccb2855a/attachment-0002.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Alexandra trees and water.doc
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 35840 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://soscambridge.org.uk/pipermail/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk/attachments/20100921/ccb2855a/attachment-0004.obj>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: LTO Association highlights.doc
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 27648 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://soscambridge.org.uk/pipermail/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk/attachments/20100921/ccb2855a/attachment-0005.obj>