26 October 2020
That’s a phrase I’ve heard a few times in my life; it’s never been attributed to anyone in particular, yet it doesn’t make it any less meaningful or ‘true’. We live in a time where now has never felt more late, and our trees and natural spaces are ringing with purpose.
The people of Sheffield learnt the hard way that eternal vigilance is the price we have to pay in order to protect the natural world. Too late they realized that the PFI contract signed between Sheffield City Council, Amey and the Department of Transport led to the mass felling of healthy trees. Protests began in 2012 as outraged residents fought to save the trees but not before thousands were felled. The council issued a full apology to the people of Sheffield last month after fully accepting the findings of a damning report which revealed it had misled the people of the city over its strategy for felling thousands of street trees.
I think we have not been vigilant enough regarding standing up for our trees and landscapes but it is not too late. We can prevent the next Cubbington pear tree from destruction.
The Stafford and Stone Green Party have planted hundreds of trees and are looking into setting up tree warden networks managed at the local level by tree warden coordinators often independent volunteers. We need to protect what we value. This initiative could be part of the council’s local development plan. In addition we will be asking the council to adopt the 5 points identified by the wildlife trusts which will help to protect and restore our local natural heritage.