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<TITLE>Re: [Discuss] Fwd: Special Meeting on Thursday to discuss tree planting plans on Jesus Green and Midsummer Common</TITLE>
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I think this native species argument is specious . Many of the trees we admire are not native. Horse chestnuts for instance were I introduced only in the last century, around the same time as Leylandii.There is a very good reason to have dense conifers around the swimming pool as swimmers appear to agree . They are a windbreak , provide privacy and a sound barrier against the skatepark. Reduce them yes but if you get rid of them, the whole pool will be exposed for ages. These trees can be readily trimmed and reduced by a half if need be, why kill them?<BR>
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The conifers at the corner of Park Parade are to be axed. Why? They provide shade for players ( I play there and they’re very welcome) a screen against those over-high flats behind and smell nice. They are green and peaceful and alive and flourishing despite one of them losing a branch. The judgement of Ms. Oviatt Hamm that they are ‘ ill formed’ is just the kind of aesthetic no one wants. She has decided on limes for that corner . That’s a mistake because <BR>
</SPAN></FONT><OL><LI><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>they won’t be big enough for decades to cover the brick backdrop
</SPAN></FONT><LI><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>they drop secretions on the tennis courts<BR>
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She assured us at the meeting that regular clean ups would be instituted. Are you confident that this will happen? And why remove healthy trees even if they’re not a fashionable ? People in the past put them there and thought they evenutally would look nice. They do. We are being brainwashed into thinking of them as unwelcome intruders and a ‘mistake’’ . If they provide a green screen, provide a function are not interfering with anyone and flourishing why is no one standing up for them? I think it will be a wasteful shame to chop them down, and indeed those around the swimming pool which could be managed much more cheaply – however strangely money doesn’t seem to come into this as they have £50K to ‘spend’and no one wanted their grandiose chop and plant schemes so they’ve left taking it out on the poor old conifers. I say no.<BR>
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On 25/9/10 14:35, "CONSTABLE PETER" <p.constable@ntlworld.com> wrote:<BR>
<BR>
<FONT COLOR="#0000FF">> Slight correction. Trees at swimming pool are not to be 'chopped".<BR>
> Consultation referred to leylandii hedge and proposal is "to plant to<BR>
> the front,bulking up the hedge with a native specie<BR>
> hedge, followed by a phased removal of the leylandii" (presumably<BR>
> after the new one provides cover). Hope this helps.<BR>
> Peter<BR>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------<BR>
> From: Joanna Gordon Clark <skyclarker@yahoo.co.uk><BR>
> Date: 24 September 2010 18:25<BR>
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Special Meeting on Thursday to discuss tree<BR>
> planting plans on Jesus Green and Midsummer Common<BR>
> To: SOS Cambridge discussion list <discuss@soscambridge.org.uk><BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> Adding my name and voice to your list. Can't believe they are gong to<BR>
> chop the swimming pool trees, yes it is absolute madness. Uniformity<BR>
> is not wanted and healthy trees must not be chopped. The plane trees<BR>
> in Alexandra Gardens must not be felled, I think the argumetns against<BR>
> prevail entirely.<BR>
> <BR>
> Do we know what the cost of the work to the man in Holland St. 's<BR>
> house would be? I mean, I do have sympathy with anyone whose house<BR>
> and perhaps huge investment is suffering from soil movement - but we<BR>
> don't have to agree to chop trees. We can: either give the council<BR>
> enough arguments to fight off the houseowners' insurers, by makign it<BR>
> clear that the trees cannot be blamed for this, sicne they have<BR>
> co-existed with the houses for 100years at least,but the clay can be<BR>
> and that other factors,- climate, water mains bursting and brick pit<BR>
> behaviour - will very certainly ahve influenced the soil movement.<BR>
> That being the case, no tree can be found guilty.<BR>
> We need a 'beyond all reasonable doubt' for the trees.<BR>
> <BR>
> Could we agree that the Alexandra Gardens trees should simply not be<BR>
> felled, and other solutions found, including, as I think, that we find<BR>
> sources of funding to pay for the work to the house if the council<BR>
> refuses to play ball, and that no trees on Midsummer common or Jesus<BR>
> Green be felled for purely aesthetic reasons as present by teh council<BR>
> . I cannot believe that we are being ignored by the council.<BR>
> Ok I hardly ever get to email and it is wonderful to find you all out<BR>
> there saying and doing things, my phone os 07847922023, and I would<BR>
> like to see a petition or a lshort letter sent out to all people in<BR>
> Cambridge at least, about the Alexandra Gardens trees, - this because<BR>
> of the time factor and they being so precious to so many locally.<BR>
> <BR>
> I am horrified to find out about the Jesus Green etc. plans, and<BR>
> wonder what we can do to stop them, only I have to focus right now on<BR>
> the Gardens. I live on Vicotria Road, 103, in fact, and am so happy to<BR>
> hear all you people being tree defenders.<BR>
> <BR>
> I suspect that some people may want to sit in trees to rpevent felling<BR>
> when push comes to shove as it were, and that we shoudl also have tree<BR>
> parties, with local schoolchildren also, to celebrate these trees, all<BR>
> of them and to come and sit under them and be motivated to take<BR>
> positive action towards saving them. They can't save themselves....<BR>
> eheu<BR>
> Joanna<BR>
> <BR>
> Joanna<BR>
> <BR>
> ________________________________<BR>
> From: Ellie Stoneley <elliestoneley@googlemail.com><BR>
> To: SOS Cambridge discussion list <discuss@soscambridge.org.uk><BR>
> Sent: Thu, 23 September, 2010 14:55:26<BR>
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Special Meeting on Thursday to discuss tree<BR>
> planting plans on Jesus Green and Midsummer Common<BR>
> <BR>
> I would second that ...<BR>
> just fyi - I have 'tweeted' about this and the meeting tonight from<BR>
> @FofSC the Friends of Stourbridge Common twitter account and also<BR>
> featured it on our new website please could you note the new website<BR>
> address ... forward me links to your sites as you would like and any<BR>
> other local news you would like including<BR>
> <a href="http://stourbridgecommon.wordpress.com">http://stourbridgecommon.wordpress.com</a><BR>
> good luck tonight - I can't make it due to long standing commitment<BR>
> but would add my voice to those already shouting about trees going out<BR>
> of fashion and so on ... there are not enough trees in Cambridge as it<BR>
> is<BR>
> all the best<BR>
> Ellie<BR>
> <BR>
> On 23 September 2010 13:20, Anne Garvey <annemgarvey@ntlworld.com> wrote:<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#008000">>> <BR>
>> Thanks Peter – but I honestly think there should be zero tolerance on felling <BR>
>> perfectly healthy trees just because they’re no longer fashionable.<BR>
>> <BR>
>> For instance the Copper Beech outside your house is earmarked for the axe – <BR>
>> simply because it’s the ‘wrong colour’ and they want a green line of trees.<BR>
>> <BR>
>> With reasoning like this, 10 trees is a lot. The conifers alongside the <BR>
>> tennis court and swimming pool are being axed for no good reason, and no one <BR>
>> was given any option on that – choice on that questionnaire was between two <BR>
>> types of replacement hedge. Like the majority of swimmers, I feel the <BR>
>> conifers by the pool are a useful screen for privacy and for wind.<BR>
>> <BR>
>> <BR>
>> The bottom line should surely be NO removal of trees other than for good <BR>
>> sound reasons. I think that was the will of the majority and certainly the <BR>
>> view of everyone I talk to . I should like this policy adopted.<BR>
>> <BR>
>> <BR>
>> <BR>
>> Best wishes<BR>
>> <BR>
>> <BR>
>> Anne<BR>
>> <BR>
>> <BR>
>> On 23/9/10 11:45, "CONSTABLE PETER" <p.constable@ntlworld.com> wrote:<BR>
>> <BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#FF0000">>>> Anne<BR>
>>> Tonight's proposal is to plant 50 new trees and 10 replacements on<BR>
>>> midsummer common and 20 new trees with 5 replacements on Jesus Green.<BR>
>>> The wholesale felling options were opposed by a very large percentage<BR>
>>> of the 400 or so respondents to the questionnaire.<BR>
>>> We may be able to influence tonight's decision and reduce the<BR>
>>> replacement numbers.<BR>
>>> <BR>
>>> So the work we done by cambridge people has been effective and the<BR>
>>> Alexander Gardens issue has been deferred. Madness does not entirely<BR>
>>> prevail and our efforts should continue to bear fruit.<BR>
>>> Let's be positive.<BR>
>>> Yrs<BR>
>>> Peter<BR>
>>> <BR>
>>> On 23 September 2010 10:22, Anne Garvey <annemgarvey@ntlworld.com> wrote:<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#800080">>>>> If only they were tree planting plans – it’s the tree felling to provide<BR>
>>>> uniformity of species – and they told me, colour, all green which is a form<BR>
>>>> of madness.<BR>
>>>> <BR>
>>>> <BR>
>>>> On 22/9/10 21:35, "John Lawton" <chair@soscambridge.org.uk> wrote:<BR>
>>>> <BR>
>>>>> Just a quick reminder of the special session of the West / Central<BR>
>>>>> Area Committee on<BR>
>>>>> Thursday, 23rd September at 7.30pm to discuss the tree planting plans<BR>
>>>>> developed by the council.<BR>
>>>>> <BR>
>>>>> The meeting will be held in the Small Hall at the Guildhall in Cambridge.<BR>
>>>>> <BR>
>>>>> The meeting details are here:<BR>
>>>>> <BR>
>>>>> <<a href="http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/democracy/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=50">http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/democracy/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=50</a><BR>
>>>>> 2><BR>
>>>>> ht<BR>
>>>>> tp://www.cambridge.gov.uk/democracy/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=502<BR>
>>>>> <BR>
>>>>> <BR>
>>>>> Do take this opportunity to have your say. See you there!<BR>
>>>>> <BR>
>>>>> John Lawton<BR>
>>>>> SOS Chair<BR>
>>>>> <BR>
>>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------<BR>
>>>>> Save Our green Spaces<BR>
>>>>> <a href="http://www.soscambridge.org.uk">http://www.soscambridge.org.uk</a><BR>
>>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------<BR>
>>>>> <BR>
>>>>> <BR>
>>>>> _______________________________________________<BR>
>>>>> discuss mailing list<BR>
>>>>> discuss@soscambridge.org.uk<BR>
>>>>> <a href="http://soscambridge.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk">http://soscambridge.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk</a><BR>
>>>> <BR>
>>>> _______________________________________________<BR>
>>>> discuss mailing list<BR>
>>>> discuss@soscambridge.org.uk<BR>
>>>> <a href="http://soscambridge.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk">http://soscambridge.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk</a><BR>
>>>> <BR>
>>>> <BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#FF0000">>>> <BR>
>>> _______________________________________________<BR>
>>> discuss mailing list<BR>
>>> discuss@soscambridge.org.uk<BR>
>>> <a href="http://soscambridge.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk">http://soscambridge.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk</a><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#008000">>> <BR>
>> _______________________________________________<BR>
>> discuss mailing list<BR>
>> discuss@soscambridge.org.uk<BR>
>> <a href="http://soscambridge.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk">http://soscambridge.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk</a><BR>
>> <BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF">> <BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> --<BR>
> ellie stoneley<BR>
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