Pete
Street trees can be very positive in the right locations, but are not appropriate in everywhere. For example trees were rarely present in the historic centres of our cities and their introduction now would destroy some of the special urban character of these areas - a balanced approach is required
Pete Staple hill
great care should be exercised when planting trees along a public thoroughfare, should an accident occur these attractive trees take lives so they should be sited well back from the highway, plant them by all means to make the city as attractive as the centre once was but use a little foresight.
Wendy
As many of Bristol's front gardens dissapear, making way for driveways - the loss of our soft landscape escalates, with an increase in the city temperatures and surface water runoff. Additional street trees would help mitigate this effect and help balance the loss of amenity. The effect of magnificent street trees can be appreciated by residents and visitors alike and enhance Bristol's credentials as a forward thinking envionmentally aware city.
Desi Tutu
Trees are horrible nasty beasties. They spew out all sorts of noxious hydrocarbons, polluting the air and creating a haze. They use up the carbon dioxide, making the weather colder over time. And they spew leaves all over the place like some nutter throwing papers all over the street. Cut'em all down if you ask me.
Andrew Buckley
Trees are a great benefit but need to ensure the right type of tree is planted in the right place to avoid potential subsidence and other claims which will prove costly to the council (and of course council tax payers). Perhaps better to plant more trees in open spaces for people to enjoy.
Grahame Priest
Andrew Finn says "trees can be killers..." Yup - killer trees on the loose. Killer bollards too no doubt. Maybe even a killer lamp-post or two... Just because some driver or other can't avoid a tree(!) doesn't mean we shouldn't plant 'em. Though I'll grant we ought to put up a notice - perhaps like the one at Bristol Airport - "Caution. Steps!" Even talks to you as well. Lol.
Susie
I think the city needs as much green as possible. It keeps us human.
Sarah
The Council needs to have an adequate budget to maintain the trees. In our street they no longer pollard the trees annually putting our homes at risk of subsidence and damage from overlarge trees
Elaine Lambert
Trees are a good way to encourage nesting birds in to our city. With respect for people's property, views and non-restricion of light, not pruning them in the nesting season and careful selection of the type of trees planted, I think it would be a lovely idea for everyone to enjoy. We take enough natural habitat out of the city, why not put a little back?
marilyn mondoe
I have just moved from London in Stoke Newington where the local council let individual home owners buy there own tree to have directly outside their house. It was very reasonably priced and the council came and planted it - you also had a choice of tree. Alot of people loved the scheme and Hackney is tree lined now because of it.
Hugh Holden, Chair, Bristol Parks Forum
I fully support this campaign.There has been a significant recent loss of mature trees throughout Bristol, and very little has been done to replace them. Now that funding has finally been made available, thanks both to campaigners and Parks Division , the BPF will be pressing for a programme of replanting to start as soon as possible.
Nigel Hopkins
Trees in the city and town centre provide a sense of harmony and soul to a place. Especially older trees in the streets which reduce the greyness of city life.
Viv Rayner
Yes - wholeheartedly agree. No matter how hard we work temperatures are going to rise so we need to make our cities more liveable - instead we are turning them into concrete deserts. We need to be planting now so we have the shade when we need it and need it we will.
Bill
The benefits of street trees are enormous, and we will need them even more in the future - the bigger the better as they will do so much to cool our cities and improve our air. They also ameliorate and cool run-off from hard surfaces, which helps prevent heat pollution in our rivers and coasts. As for Ken's remarks, surely humans damage much more of our environment than trees - there are plenty of engineering solutions that will allow large trees and buildings/pedestrians/cars to co-exist quite happly. Shouldn't a tree should have more rights than a runaway vehicle (although I do still mourn the passing of Mark Bolan)? And Linda, London Planes are only dense if they've been pollarded by the council - they are late into leaf and drop them quite early. Also, they don't support any more aphids than other trees (unlike some Limes). Rowans are beautiful, but are not good street trees - they contribute virtually nothing either visually or in biomass. Let's get Bristol Council on the right track, planting, replacing and maintaining trees that will last for generations to come!
Andrew Finn
Street trees not only add aesthetic value to an area, but can also help to reduce carbon emissions, definately a plus. However, there must be sensible consultation, as trees can be killers, as we are I'm sure all aware happended when a car crashed in to one in the early hours of New Years day on Whiteladies Road.
Chris
I think planting trees is a good idea, but lets not plant them right on the kerb. Anyone who has tried to drive a double decker bus along Wells Road will agree with me.
Christian
Trees help you stay in touch with the seasons and they are a whole eco-system in themselves. Perhaps if we had more trees we'd have more urban birds too.
Dave
The Roots could cause damage to the Foundations of Buildings close by.
Chris
Trees put in correctly in the right place will make the city look clean and less industrial, this is a must in my opinion
Kate
We need more green in the city to liven it up
Ken
Trees can damage walls, pavements and in the case of a runaway vehicle could easily cause death. In an urban environment there are pluses and minuses and accompanying costs. An area like the Downs is appreciated because of the accompanying landscape trees. So trees are fine in certain places, but not all.
Linda
I agree that the street trees are a good idea but more thought needs to go into what trees are planted. London Planes were often planted because they have high pollution tolerance, however they are huge and dense letting little light through. I live on an avenue planted with these and they cast a very dense shade not to mention the sap that the resident aphids drop. Some birch and rowan varities make more suitable trees for the smaller streets in Bristol. But i do agree in principle that streets with trees are more attractive, particularly now that people seem to be turning front gardens into driveways (but that's another issue entirely).
Sue Thurlow
Even more important than adding new street trees is to do all we can to keep the magnificent mature street trees and landscape trees we already have. The planners need to support the people of Bristol by looking very critically at any applications which involve the destruction of trees that contribute to the greening of the city. We can all support that drive by lodging objections to the relevant plans during the consultation process, as I am over the lovely plane tree at the southern end of Welsh Back which is currently threatened by a development.
John Walker
Yes I agree, the council must save street trees and have a policy and the budget to plant street trees. The council are at the moment planning to cut down a healthy and mature 20 meter 60 year old London Plane on the corner of Welsh Back and Redcliffe Bridge. This disgraceful as it is council property and on the Brunel Mile. Green Council - I think not !
Alan Wright
What a splendin idea. For thelast few years Bristol Council seems to have been determined to stop trees 'getting in the way'. For every tree that has been taken away, two should be planted.
