I first came to Sheffield in 1997 as a fresh-faced 18 year old. One of the reasons I liked Sheffield so much was the abundance of trees,
A GUEST BLOG BY ... Janine Kara Hammond to Bryan Lodge Sheffield City Council, Cabinet member for the Environment)
Dear Bryan I first came to Sheffield in 1997 as a fresh-faced 18 year old. One of the reasons I liked Sheffield so much was the abundance of trees, it was so different from other cities, almost like a village. The people of Sheffield as friendly and welcoming as the trees and other green spaces. I came to love Sheffield and consider it my home more than any other place has been. I have since been away and come back again, knowing that my heart lies in 'The Greenest City in Europe'. I embraced the loving, caring, multicultural, nature-loving spirit of the city. The nearby Peak District almost an extension to the green trails of Sheffield, being able to walk there via Endcliffe and adjoining parks. The people of Sheffield form a community more like a village, where you can make friends at the bus stop or walking down the street. The people as much a living part of the city as the trees and nature that entwine the streets and houses. To lose the trees is like Sheffield losing it's soul.
I have been following the Save Sheffield's Trees campaign as best I can in between working full time and living my life. I attended a march last year outside the town hall and I loved the spirit of all who attended. I am members of all the groups on facebook and donated to the crowd funding page when they went to court. But sadly the campaign is not stopping the felling of all the beautiful healthy trees and Sheffield council and Amey are not listening to the people of Sheffield. They are not paying attention to people who have spent their valuable time looking for solutions that will prevent the felling of trees and allow them to continue to live their 100's of years still with us next to our houses, lining our streets, in our parks.
Surely you know that the sapling replacements will not provide the same canopy cover or flood defence (there was a flood just down the road from Rustlings Road today, where several trees were felled). Saplings will take many, many years before they will be even close to as beneficial as mature trees. Oxygen production and carbon dioxide absorption will be much less. What about wildlife?? Birds cannot nest in saplings! Also very importantly the effect on people's mental health. It has been spoken of and documented many times how trees have a calming/anti-depressant effect and the quality of life of those around them is much improved compared to those who don't live around trees. Saplings will be smaller and less green and so will have less mental health benefits than older, mature trees that have character and likely a story or 2 to tell. The trees of Sheffield helped my mental health greatly when I was going through tough times, just a walk around the beautiful tree lined streets would help clear my mind and release endorphins. Not to mention trees that have been there many, many years and have lived through wars, through disasters and who hold a lot of sentimental value to the residents of Sheffield.
Please, please, please will you stop this senseless murder of Sheffield's trees and instead listen to the people who live here. Design a strategy that aims to retain as many trees as possible. Yes it will be hard work, yes it will take time, but what kind of world is this if everything is done just because it saved money or because it took less effort?
Thank you for listening. Janine Kara Hammond
